Ross was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1876. In Kansas she graduated from high school, teacher-training and taught kindergarten. In 1902, she married William B. Ross moved to Wyoming where he became Governor in 1923. In 1925 by special election she became the Governor of Wyoming after her husband’s sudden death-the first female governor in the United States. She pushed progressive issues including requiring municipal/county budgets, bank regulation, safety standards for miners and women and regulation of child labor. Her staunch support of prohibition, lost her re-election in 1926.In 1933, Ross became the first female Director of the U. S. Mint, serving for 20 years. Ross managed innovations in coin manufacture, construction of new buildings and increased demands for currency.In retirement she published numerous articles, maintained a full schedule of speaking engagements and remained active in the Democratic party. She died in Washington, D.C. in 1977 at the age of 101.