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Giles County, Tennessee
Rose Biographies
HON. SOLON E. ROSE, of Pulaski, is descended from an old and honored family of Scotland, whose history can be traced back for many generations. Col. William ROSE, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Virginia, born in 1779. He moved to Giles County, Tenn., in 1813, and was one of the early pioneers. He wedded Elizabeth W. MEREDITH, a lady of Welsh ancestry, who bore her husband a family of seven sons: Edward W., William M., Alfred H., Robert H., Fielding, David E. and Solon Eldridge. The father was one of the foremost men in the community in which he resided. He died in l85l, preceded by his wife in l820. Solon E. ROSE was born in this county August l8, 1818, was educated at Wurtenburg Academy in Pulaski, and was reared to years of maturity in his native county. At eighteen years he took part in the Florida war participating in the battles of Withlacoocha, Panasophca and the Wahoo Swamp. In 1839 he began the study of law, and when in his twenty-second year was licensed to practice. After remaining for a time in Pulaski he removed to Lawrenceburg, and in 1843 was elected attorney general, a position he retained six years, declining a re-election. From 1848 to 1859 he was president of the Lawrenceburg Bank, and was also connected with other enterprises. During the latter year he returned to Pulaski and formed a partnership with Judge J. A. TINNON in the practice of the law, which continued until 1883, when Judge TINNON was elevated to the bench. For the last fifteen years he has been president of the Giles National Bank of Pulaski. It would require a volume of no small dimensions to give in detail Mr. ROSE's political career. It will suffice to briefly state that he has been active in advancing the cause deemed best for his country's good; that he has occupied numerous positions of honor and trust, and that he has reflected honor and credit upon the same. He is a Democrat. Mr. ROSE selected for his helpmate through life Miss Marcella, daughter of M. H. and Ethalinda (BUMPASS) Buchanan, and to their union four children were born: Solonia M., born November 16, 1844, now Mrs. John D. FLAUTT; William Haynie, born April 19, 1847, and now a resident, of this county; Elizabeth E., born in 1849, and died in 1858; and Solon E. F., born December 19, 1850, now residing in Mississippi. Mr. ROSE began life without financial means, but by adhering to strict business rules in general, and the golden rule in particular, he has amassed a comfortable fortune and won the esteem of the best citizens of the State. (Goodspeed's History of Giles County, 1886)
Ed. Note: M. H. Buchanan was Maximilian H., son of William Buchanan. See McCallum's History of Giles" for more re Buchanan and Bumpass, and for Col. Rose's Forward to that history. See also the biography of Capt. John D. Flautt
Alfred H. ROSE, merchant of Lawrenceburg [Lawrence County], Tenn.,m was born in Brunswick County, Va., November 23, 1808, and is a brother of Judge R.H. Rose, of Lawrenceburg, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these pages. Our subject's parents, William and Elizabeth (Meredith) Rose, were natives of the "Old Dominion." The father emigrated westward and located in Giles County, Tenn., with his family, in 1841 [?]. Here our subject was reared and educated. After attaining his majority he located in West Tennessee, in Hardeman County, where he followed agricultural pursuits successfully for fifty-five years, although, like many others, his financial condition was sadly impaired during the late war. He was magistrate in Hardeman County for twenty-eight years, and for twelve years was chairman of the county court. He is, and always has been, an unswerving Democrat in politics, casting his first presidential vote for Jackson, in 1832, In June, 1884, he left Hardeman County, and after a short stay, both in Lawrence and Giles County, he engaged in the mercantile business in Lawrenceburg which he continued up to the present time. January 28, 1828, he married Mildred Eastham, of Virginia, who died in October, 1858. to this union were born eight children, three now living, viz.: W.S., Medora (wife of James J. McCollum) and Mary Ann (wife of Mc. Alexander). April 11, 1871, Mr. Rose married Mrs. Victoria Maddox, who died May 3, 1883. She left one son, Alfred P. Although Mr. Rose is comparatively a citizen of Lawrence County, he is one of the pioneers of Tennessee, and a reliable, enterprising citizen. (Lawrence County Goodspeeds Biography)
Robert H. ROSE [of Lawrence County], the oldest living member of the Lawrence County bar, was born in Brunswick County, Va., January 2, 1818, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Meredith) Rose. Our subject was reared in Giles County, and secured a good academical education in his youthful days. He was a soldier in the Florida war, and at its close, in 1836, he began the study of law. He entered the office of E. J. Shield, of Pulaski, member of Congress from this district, and was admitted to the Giles County bar in 1840. He remained and practiced law in that county until 1850, when he came to Lawrenceburg, and has since taken an active and leading part in representing his profession at the bar. In 1861 he was elected judge of this circuit, which office he held in an able manner until 1865, when he was elected chancellor of the district. In 1868 he with many others, was removed by Gov. Brownlow's orders, causing another election. Since then the Judge has been incessantly engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been justly successful. He is a Democrat in politics, an ancient Odd Fellow, and Episcopalian in his religious faith. He is a lawyer of ability and high standing in the profession. (Lawrence County Goodspeeds Biography)
CASWELL E. ROSE, a prominent grain dealer of Nashville, is senior member of the firm of The Caswell E. Rose Company. A native of Tennessee, his birth occurred in Pulaski, on the 9th of December, 1858, and he is a son of William M. and Alethea L. (Tipton) Rose. On the paternal side he is of Scotch descent, the family being members of the Clan of the Roses of Iverness, Scotland, and on the maternal side he is of Irish descent. The father, William M. Rose, was born in Virginia and was by occupation a farmer and merchant in Giles county, Tennessee, where he located in 1811, being among the early settlers of that section of the state. He had three sons in the Civil war. Harding M. Rose was a member of the First Tennessee Regiment, Colonel Maney's division, and he also did special scout work under General Forrest. Washington Rose was wounded in the early part of the war, being so disabled that he was forced to withdraw from active service. John F. Rose was in the ordnance department. The family were stanch defenders of the Confederacy. They led honorable and upright lives and were held in high esteem by all who knew them. In Lawrenceburg, in 1850, was celebrated the marriage of William M. Rose and Miss Alethea Tipton, a daughter of General Edward Tipton, an outstanding figure in pioneer days. By occupation he was a surveyor and he outlined and marked more counties in this state than any other surveyor. He was a direct descendant of General Jonathan Tipton, who was very active in the settlement of the turbulent affairs existing during the formation of the state of Franklin, under the leadership of General Sevier. To Mr. and Mrs. William M. Rose seven children were born, two of whom died in early childhood.
Caswell E., whose name introduces this review, was the fifth in order of birth. In the acquirement of his education he attended the common schools of Giles county and completed his literary work under the tutelage of Colonel Alf Abernathy and Colonel C. G. Rogers, prominent educators of Middle Tennessee in their day. After putting his textbooks aside Mr. Rose taught school for some time in his native county. In 1880, however, he came to Nashville and entered mercantile circles, becoming associated with L. H. Lanamier & Sons, wholesale grocers. Subsequently he entered the employ of G. P. Rose & Company, successors to Smith & Rose, who were engaged in the salt, grain and hay business, and he later acquired a partnership, which was maintained until 1898, when he started in business on his own account under the name of Caswell E. Rose. He has since been active in the grain trade and has achieved well merited success. Thomas Newhill was admitted to the business and the company is now known as the Caswell E. Rose Company. Mr. Rose is a practical business man and his executive force, keen sagacity and discrimination have been prominent factors in the development of the concern, its growth being notable even in this district of rapidly developing enterprises. Although his business makes full demand upon his time and energies he is not self-centered and has contributed in a marked degree to the furtherance of many movements for the improvement of the general welfare. He has always been a stanch prohibitionist and during the incumbency of Dr. E. E. Folk, as president of the Anti-Saloon League of Tennessee, Mr. Rose was one of the state committeemen and served for some time on the headquarters committee. The Anti-Saloon League has had a long but successful fight to suppress the sale of alcoholics, and its later activities have been to aid in law enforcement, suppressing illicit distilling and bootlegging.
Caswell E. Rose is well informed on all important questions and issues of the day and takes an active interest in civic affairs. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is a zealous worker in behalf of the Elm Street church in Nashville, of which he has been an officer since 1885. He is a member of the committee of directors of the Methodist Publishing House in China and a member, since its conception, of the Nashville Church Extension Committee, which later became the present Nashville Methodist Union. He is now treasurer of the Centenary Methodist Institute, Monroe and Seventh avenue, North, and has served as a member of the building committee in the erection of the institute. Mr. Rose is unmarried. He is residing just outside the city limits on Franklin pike, where he owns a beautiful home. (Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2, John Trotwood Moore and Austin P. Foster, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1923, pp. 578-580)
Note: See also Lawrence Co, TNGenWeb Goodspeeds Biographies for more biographies from that county, many of them with Giles connections.
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