Biography of James E. Rose, pages 924 / 925 / 926.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James E. Rose, attorney at law, of Auburn, Ind., was born Dec. 22, 1832, in 
Mecca, Trumbull Co., Ohio.  His father, John Rose, was a native of Maryland, 
and his mother, Sarah (Coats) Rose, was a native of New York.   The 
ancestors of both the Rose and Coats families came from England. On Sept. 2, 
1836, John Rose, with his family, consisting of his wife and four sons, of 
whom James was the youngest, and two daughters, started from their home in 
Mecca, Ohio, on a journey to a new home in the West, arriving in this county, 
in what is now Stafford township, on the 3rd  day of October, having spent 
thirty-one days in performing a journey that can now be accomplished in six 
hours.  De Kalb County was then a wilderness, there being but a few 
“settlers” and not twenty acres of improved land in the county.  It was 
several years before the settlement became large enough to enable the 
neighborhood to organize a school, and in the meantime James was 
instructed by his mother and older brother, improving the evenings in 
receiving instruction by the light generously reflected by the cabin fire-
place.  At the age of sixteen he had acquired sufficient education to 
teach a common school. He taught school during the winter months and 
worked on his father’s farm during the summers until he had reached his 
twentieth year, when, being desirous of obtaining a better education that 
the schools of the county afforded, he went to Leoni, Mich., and entered 
the preparatory department of the Michigan Wesleyan University.  After one 
year spent in that department he entered upon the scientific course in the 
university proper, and continued in the university until May, 1858, at the 
close of the junior year, he left the university and married Miss Mary J. 
Moss, of Leoni, Mich.  He then returned to his old home in this county and 
worked on a farm until October, 1862, when he moved to Auburn and accepted 
the principalship of the Auburn schools. At the close of the winter term of 
school he entered the law office of James B. Morrison, Esq., as a student, 
where he remained until December, 1863, and then removed to Butler, in this 
county, and formed a partnership for the practice of law with Hon. E.W. 
Fosdick, devoting his time assiduously to his studies; the business of the 
firm not being sufficiently large to interfere materially with his study 
for two years.  This partnership continued until the firm of Rose & Fosdick 
had established a good business, when by mutual agreement the firm dissolve.  
Mr. Rose continuing in the practice at Butler until October, 1872, when he 
removed to Auburn and continued the practice of his profession alone until 
July, 1873, when he formed a partnership with Hon, E.D. Hartman, which 
continued under the firm name of Rose & Hartman until July, 1881, when 
they dissolved the partnership.  Mr. Rose continuing in the practice 
alone,  Mr. Rose’s wife died Feb. 5, 1872, leaving three children, two 
sons, Frank E. and James H., and one daughter, Ella J.  He was again 
married during the summer of 1872 to Miss Ellen D. Aldrich, of Butler, who 
died March 22, 1873, leaving one child, who died soon afterward.  He was 
again married in, September, 1873, to Miss Mary F. Nimmons, of Butler. 
They have three children---May E., Inez P. and Laura A.  Mr. Rose has been 
actively identified with the Republican party since arriving at his 
majority, contributing liberally of his time and money for its success; 
not for the personal reward that it may bring him, but in the zealous 
discharge of a duty.  He is member of the Presbyterian church of Auburn, 
and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained to the degree 
of Knight Templar.  He is a zealous advocate of temperance and a practical 
temperance man.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com