Whatever happened to Reverend Ross?

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

• A True Bow Island Mystery

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Readers, can you help solve a decades-old local mystery?

Step into the past and unlock the secrets of a century-old mystery that has baffled historians and genealogists alike. We invite you, with your curiosity and keen eye for detail, to join the quest to uncover the fate of Reverend Robert Ross, a Presbyterian minister who vanished without a trace from Bow Island, Alberta, over a hundred years ago. 

What happened to him? Why did he leave? Your insights could hold the key.

Meet William J. Anhorn, from Medicine Hat, a prolific writer, amateur genealogist and local historian, who styles himself on his own website as “The Mad Hatter Historian.” Born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Anhorn has spent years weaving together the threads of history and genealogy into interesting short stories. After a successful career in law, he has turned his investigative talents to the mysteries of the past, contributing his findings to the Alberta Genealogical Society (AGS) and offering interesting articles to those interested in history and genealogy, which, as he states, “often intersect with amazing results.” His latest puzzle is no exception, as he tells the story about the disappearance of Reverend Robert Ross and the resulting aftermath. 

Anhorn explains, “As a member of the Medicine Hat branch of AGS, I volunteered to assist in locating a lost family member. The inquiry began with an email from Belfast, Northern Ireland from a distant family member seeking assistance and information regarding Reverend Ross, who disappeared from Bow Island around 1910. Despite exhaustive searches using modern technology and archives, the minister’s fate remains unknown.”

The story of Reverend Ross is as much a compelling human interest story as it is a mystery as the story details the “trials and tribulations” of his wife and young family after the disappearance of their husband and father. In 1908, he and his family settled in Bow Island, having immigrated from North Dakota, attracted by the promise of new opportunities under the Homesteads Act and to join other family members in the Bow Island area. As an ordained minister, he served the local Presbyterian community, making his presence felt through church services and community involvement. Yet, between December 11th and December 18th, 1910, he vanished, leaving his wife Pearl and their three young children behind.

The aftermath was devastating. Pearl Ross, left to care for their children, faced insurmountable challenges. She persevered but ultimately succumbed to the Spanish Flu in 1918, leaving a fragmented family in her wake. Their son, Earl Ross, recalls his mother’s strength but also the toll of her struggles, calling her a “good mother.” He was 11 when she passed away.

Despite the passage of time and the diligent efforts of Ross family, historians, and amateur genealogists, the mystery of the minister’s disappearance remains unsolved.

“Hope continues that with modern advancements, there may be some information as yet undiscovered, which may offer some clue or shed some light on the disappearance of Robert Ross,” Anhorn says.

This is where you come in. Your participation could unearth new insights or connections that have eluded others. Stories are passed down through generations and it is likely that there is a tale out there in our own community that will shed light on the ultimate fate of Reverend Ross. Did he slip away in the night? If so, why has no trace of him ever been found? Did he meet with misadventure? Was anyone else involved?

To delve deeper into the story and explore the Ross family’s legacy, pull up an armchair and pour a cup of tea. You can access the full story digitally by accessing the link below, where you can dive into the many multi-faced details of this intriguing mystery and perhaps, help solve it. Or, you can go to the website of the Mad Hatter Historian at (http://wjanhorn.ca) or simply Google The Mad Hatter Historian.

 At the very least, discover more about a family, whose resilience and faith in God left an indelible mark on this community. The lives of Pearl and her three young children, whose endurance in the face of calamity is an inspiring story – one of both triumph and heartache. 

The history of the family, what happened to Pearl’s sons after the tragedy, the resilience of Pearl herself– it all makes for fascinating reading, in addition to revealing a captivating real life mystery. 

The story is titled, “Gone But Not Forgotten: The Inexplicable Disappearance of the Reverend Robert Ross and the Captivating True Life Story of His Wife Pearl Ross and Her Young Family.”

Read it at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VhWHMG2ihhpKqfzwmnA8uD4CuMkAyEze-IXGrh4iEmw/edit?usp=sharing and maybe you can help close the chapter on one of Southern Alberta’s longest running mysteries.

Any comments or information can be forwarded by email to: The Mad Hatter Historian, wjanhorn@gmail.com.