Describe Frank Ross.

• A. Frank Ross had a kindly disposition; was gentle and honorable; had a common-school education; Cumberland Presbyterian; Mason; Confederate veteran; wounded at Chickamauga; wore brown woolen coat and black Sunday hat; carried $250 and two California gold pieces.
• B. Frank Ross was a harsh businessman known for stinginess.
• C. Frank Ross was an outlaw with a loud hat and many scars.
• D. Frank Ross was a farmer who rarely rode horses.

Answer: (A)

Frank Ross is depicted as a steady, kindly, and honorable man whose life story and character are laid out through specific, era-informed details. The description notes a common-school education, membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian church and the Masons, and service as a Confederate veteran who was wounded at Chickamauga. These elements place him in a particular social and historical context, suggesting reliability, moral uprightness, and a background rooted in traditional community and values.

The tangible details—a brown woolen coat, a black Sunday hat, and carrying money plus two California gold pieces—further anchor his persona in a modest, practical, respectable existence. Taken together, these features create a portrait of a trustworthy, respectable man rather than someone harsh, criminal, or merely a farmer. The other sketches describe traits and roles that don’t align with this portrayal, which is why the described character best fits Frank Ross.