John Ross Price was born on June 16, 1892, in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Price was a farmer in Wentworth, North Carolina, when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was inducted into the service in September of that year, serving variously with the 322nd Infantry, the 116th Engineers, and the 509th Engineers. From March 1918 to June 1919, Price was deployed overseas. He was honorably discharged from the service on June 22, 1919. He died in Reidsville (Rockingham County) on March 4, 1936.