Alexander Coffman Ross was an American song writer and jeweler.
Background
Alexander Coffman Ross was born in Zanesville, Ohio, one of twelve children of Elijah and Mary (Coffman) Ross. Elijah Ross, who like his wife had been born in Pennsylvania, settled in Zanestown, afterwards Zanesville, in 1804. He was a gunsmith and during the War of 1812 was ordered to remain at home to repair guns, swords, and military accoutrements.
Education
As a boy he had supplemented the elementary education he received at home by reading as widely as possible, especially on scientific subjects. Ross became familiar at an early age with the repair and manufacture of guns in the little shop kept by his father, soon learned to handle tools, and at seventeen was apprenticed to a jeweler of the town.
Career
After completing his knowledge of his trade in New York, Ross returned to Zanesville. He was a jeweler by trade until his retirement in 1863. He died in Zanesville.
An amateur photographer, he took in 1839 what he believed to be the first daguerreotype taken in the United States west of New York; he afterwards made improvements in his process and took good daguerreotype portraits as early as 1843. He was a lover of music as well; in New York he had been a member of an orchestra led by Ureli C. Hill.
He also had a fondness for the circus and was quick to pick up the popular songs that in those days were sung by the clowns. It was his interest in both popular songs and politics that brought him his chief distinction. In the presidential campaign of 1840, which has been popularly known as the "Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign" but was preeminently also the campaign of music and song, he took an active part.
For a Zanesville club, organized in enthusiastic support of Harrison and Tyler, Ross wrote to the tune of "Little Pigs" the famous "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too, " contriving the chorus in church, it is said, while the sermon was being given. Soon afterward, at a great Whig meeting in Lafayette Hall, New York, at which he was present, the chairman called for some one to sing a song before the speaking began. Ross volunteered and, answering the questions of the crowd as to his identity with "I am a Buckeye, from the Buckeye state, " sang his song, the chorus of which was as follows: For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too--Tippecanoe and Tyler too; And with them we'll beat little Van, Van, Van, Van is a used-up man; And with them we'll beat little Van. It was followed by a storm of cheers, encored over and over again, and almost overnight became famouse song.
Achievements
Ross's fame rested mainly on his song "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too". It was the most popular song of the presidential campaign of 1940.
He was also very influential in bringing many musical troupes to Zanesville.
Interests
Photography
Connections
On April 2, 1838, Ross married Caroline Granger, by whom he had three children.