California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JAMES MONROE ROSE. To James M. Rose belongs the distinction of having been one 
of the early settlers in Fresno county, Cal., for in 1878, when the county was new and unde- 
veloped, he took up a half-section of government land about five miles southeast of the present 
site of Sanger, and upon this land he followed farming for sixteen consecutive years. Selling 
out he resided in Fresno for a few years, but for some time past he has been living retired at 
the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. W. A. Poole, who resides on a fruit ranch one and one- 
half miles east of Fowler. An Ohioan by birth, Mr. Rose was born July I, 1823, and is a son 
of John and Sarah (Baker) Rose, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Virginia. 

The history of his ancestors chronicles the fact that both the Rose and Baker families were 
active participants in America's war for freedom. The paternal grandfather of James M. 
Rose was of German nationality, and upon coming to America took up his residence in Penn- 
sylvania. The father of James M. Rose went to Illinois in 1825, locating in Green county, and 
for a number of years he followed farming and contracting in that section. He died in that 
state at the age of sixty-five years. James M. Rose remained at home assisting his parents un- 
til his marriage in 1848, at which time he was united with Eliza Jane Lakin, who was born in 
Illinois in May, 1827. After many years of happy wedded life she died in March, 1898, 
leaving eight children. 

In 1852 Mr. Rose removed with his family to Texas, where he resided for about nine years, 
during which time he was engaged in farm pursuits, and in addition, devoted some attention 
to contracting and building. Crossing the plains to California in 1861 he spent the following win- 
ter in San Bernardino county, and the next spring (1862), he went to Sonoma county and 
located on a farm. He followed farming uninterruptedly for fourteen years and in the fall 
of 1876 was induced to go to Tulare county. It was a couple of years later that Mr. Rose took 
up land in Fresno county, since which time he has been identified with its progress and de- 
velopment. His eldest son, John S., born 1851, resides in the vicinity of Sanger, owning a forty- 
acre tract adjoining that of James A. Another son. Matthew S., who was for a time supervisor 
of Fresno county, died January 28, 1903. The third son, Lewis A., is a resident of Modesto. 
A daughter, Martha, became the wife of Samuel Johnson, and resides in San Mateo county. For 
many years Mr. Rose has been an active member of the Methodist Church. In national affairs 
he votes the Republican ticket.