Simon Ross, born in South Carolina in approximately 1830, served in Company K, 49th USCT. That regiment was originally organized as the 11th Louisiana Infantry (African descent) and performed garrison duty at Vicksburg. He also served in Company I, II th USCT, for a time. After the war Ross came to Champaign and worked as a laborer. He died on 15 February 1883 and is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Urbana.