Biography - John Rose
JOHN W. ROSE, the efficient and capable Clerk of the city of Litchfield, has occupied his present office for the past ten years, and during the entire time has given entire satisfaction.
Mr. Rose was born in Grisham Township, near the present site of Donnellson, October 16, 1847, and has the honor of being the son of two worthy people, Henry and Leah (Meisenheimer) Rose, the former of whom was one of the early settlers of the county, having come from his native State, Kentucky. His good wife was a native of North Carolina and both were of German descent. These two parents died when their son, our subject, was still quite young, the father passing away when John was only three years old, and the mother leaving the little helpless fellow a year later.
This child, who was destined to be our subject, grew to manhood in his native county and received a good common-school education. During this time he had no permanent home, but he was a plucky fellow and never allowed anything to discourage him. Desiring more of an education than was afforded by the public schools, he earned sufficient money to carry him through a course at Lincoln University, Lincoln, Ill. After finishing his course he returned to his native place and engaged in school teaching, following this avocation for twelve years, from 1868 to 1881, although not all the time in Illinois, as he was at Independence, Kan., from 1872 to 1874, teaching in the city schools. During all of his experience as a teacher he gave entire satisfaction, and the educational interests lost a valuable advocate and promoter when Mr. Rose abandoned that pursuit to respond to the call of his city.
In 1883 the City Council appointed Mr. Rose, without regard to politics, to fill a vacancy in the position of Clerk. So creditably did he serve, that he was elected the following year for a full term and has been re-elected ever since. It would be impossible to find any one who could fill the position in any more creditable manner than this intelligent gentleman does. Upon his appointment to office Mr. Rose concluded to represent several insurance firms, and now is the agent of twelve of the best corporations of that nature. In addition to the very fine business he is attending to in that line, he deals in real estate, and is a Notary Public, although he only aims to carry on the insurance business in addition to the duties of his office. By virtue of his office of Notary Public he is able to do conveyancing.
Mr. Rose is a member of Charter Oak Lodge, A. F. and A. M.; Elliott Chapter and St. Omer Commandery, and has been the Master of the lodge for five years. He was honored in 1883 by being appointed Deputy Grand Lecturer for the State of Illinois. In 1890 Mr. Rose was appointed Grand Examiner by Grand Master John M. Pierson, of Godfrey, which honorable and important position he still retains. In politics he upholds the principles of Democracy, but his wife just as ardently sustains the principles of the Republican party.
Mr. Rose married Miss Mary J. Green, the daughter of Thomas and Amanda Green, of Raymond Township. This lady first saw the light of day in Fail-field County, Ohio. The day that saw these two people made one was October 20, 1870, and since that time four children have come to brighten their home, but two died in infancy; those surviving are: Pearl J. and Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Rose are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Rose is Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Stewards. Mrs. Rose is a Director in the Litchfield Library Association and also is one of the Grand Officers of the Order of the Eastern Star, a connection of the Masonic order.
Such people as these make a city important in a county, and if all the citizens of Litchfield had its interests as much at heart as Mr. Rose and his estimable and capable wife, the city would soon be one of the first in this portion of the State.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 353-354.
