OHDEFIAN-L Archives

Archiver > OHDEFIAN > 2000-02 > 0949682601


From: "odie" <>
Subject: [OHDEFIAN-L] ROSE family N.Y.>Ohio>Michigan
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 11:43:21 -0500


Taken from the Portrait and Biographical Album of Mecosta County
Michigan
1883---Chapman Brothers
page. 411

James E. ROSE, farmer, sec. 17, Big Rapids Tp., was born in Defiance
Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1854. Freeman ROSE, his father, was born in
Pierrepont, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., May 25, 1820, and died Jan. 11,
1883. He was of Irish and English lineage, and moved to Defiance,
Ohio, and removed thence to Michigan, settleing in Big Rapids Tp.,
Dec. 20, 1856. His was the fourth family in the township, and their
experiences exhibit all the characteristics of pioneer life. Freeman
ROSE married Sally M. LLOYD, March 9, 1854. She was born in Russell,
N.Y., Feb. 9, 1823, and became the mother of four children, two of
whom only are living---Mr. ROSE of this sketch, and Harriett Lucy
(ROSE) FIFIELD, born Sept. 15, 1857.
Mr. ROSE holds the homestead on which his father located in the
earliest days of the history of Mecosta County. His mother is the
object of his special charge, and relates graphically the incidents of
her pioneer life in the township. Much of the time she lived alone
with only her baby son for companion, her husband being under the
necessity of leaving home to find work to support his family. A call
at her door at midnight was a frequent experience, and many times she
left her bed to admit strangers for shelter and food. Her husband
would have abandoned the place but for her inflexible determination to
establish a home here, and when people who were amazed at her
resolution and persistent endurance remarked, " I should think you
would die here!" she repied, " I did not come to die---I came to
live!" and she carried out her determination worthily. Let us hope
she may live to celebrate her centennial birthday in the county of
whose wonderfully rapid progress she has been an eye-witness.
Among those we selected to represent the pioneers of Mecosta County,
in the portrait department of this Album, there are certainly none
more worthy than Mr. and Mrs. ROSE, and it is with great pleasure that
we present portraits of each of them in connection with this sketch.

This thread: