Robert
H. Rose, attorney at law, Smethport borough, was born at Silver Lake, Susquehanna
county, Penn., December 7, 1847. His grandfather, Dr. Robert H. Rose,
of Philadelphia, was very prominently identified with the early history
of Susquehanna county, buying from the Francis estate 100,000 acres of
land, and building a beautiful residence on the banks of Silver Lake, where
he finally took up his abode, Silver Lake, still remaining the property
of the family. Edward W. Rose, father of the subject of this sketch,
moved from Silver Lake to Montrose, same county, where he was in the mercantile
business for years, and here, at the academy, young Robert H. commenced
his classical education. In 1868 he graduated from Cortland Academy,
at Homer, N.Y., after which he became a student in the law office of Fitch
& Watson, prominent attorneys of Montrose, Penn., and in 1873, he was
admitted to the bar in Susquehanna county. In December of that year
Mr. Rose came to McKean county, and to Smethport, as attorney and agent
for the Bingham estate. The Binghams were the original owners of
nearly all McKean county, as well as Potter and adjoining counties, and
the largest owners of oil territory int this field. Mr. Rose is still
attorney for the Bingham estate and acts for Robert C. Simpson, attorney
in fact for the trustees. The first law partners of Mr. Rose were
Hon. David Sterrett, now of Washington, Penn., and Hon. W.W. Brown, now
of Bradford, Penn., the firm subsequently changing to Sterrett & Rose,
and now, by the retirement of Mr. Sterrett after ten years' copartnership,
Mr. Rose is alone, his office being in the Hamlin Bank building.
In addition to his other interests, Mr. Rose is attorney for the county
commissioners; and in this connection, at the time of his appointment,
a local paper paid him the following just tribute to his ability as an
attorney and his integrity as a citizen: "The Appointees. The
new board of commissioners appointed, as their legal counsel, Hon. Robert
H. Rose. Mr. Rose is one of the younger, yet one of the ablest, members
of the bar of McKean county. He represented this county in the legislature
of 1885 with great credit, and as a member of the law firm of Sterrett
& Rose he has very considerable legal experience. Other attorneys
sought the position who were backed by strong friends, but the commissioners
finally decided in favor of Mr. Rose, and no one can deny but that the
selection is a singularly meritorious one." Mr. Rose has been actively
engaged in the oil trade since 1878, and is a member of the Bradford Exchange;
has operated in the Bradford, Alleghany and Washington fields largely,
and is recognized as a thorough, able and successful business man and financier.
On September 5, 1877, he was married to Laena D., daughter of Hon. Henry
Hamlin, and their union, a most happy one, has been blessed in the birth
of their two children: Robert Craig and Marion. Mr. Rose has
represented his district in the State legislature, where he made an enviable
record. He takes a just pride in being a thirty-second degree Freemason,
a Knight Templar, and a member of the consistory at Pittsburgh; as also
a member of the Mystic Shrine. In his political views, Mr. Rose has
always been a Republican. His home is one of the fine residences
of the borough, and he is recognized as one of the leading representative
citizens. Mr. Rose is of a remarkably genial and kindly nature, and
his home is the center of a refined social life, to which his own personality
gives much of the zest. Here he has also given free scope to his
love of the fine arts, notably pictures by modern artists, of which he
is an enthusiastic admirer and intellegent judge.
1891:
New Owner For Mansion! McKean Counry Miner Judge Morrison on Wednesday sentenced Mrs. Bradey, Bradford's chicken thief, to two years and four months in the western penitentiary. She will have no chicken on toast for a long time. |