John Thomas Rose

    John Thomas Rose, deceased, resided on rural free delivery route No. 1 out of Fairbanks, Indiana. He was reared in Randolph County, North Carolina, the date of his birth being February 20, 1839, and he left home at the age of sixteen years. He was the son of Thomas and Jerusha (Dillon) Rose, of North Carolina. Young Rose worked at teaming until nineteen years of age, and then went to Henry County, Indiana, remained about one year and came to Sullivan County of this state, where he followed farming until he enlisted in the Union cause, as a Civil War soldier in the autumn of 1861, being a member of the Fifty-first Indiana Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. About one year later he was transferred to the marine corps and served in that department until his discharge at the end of three years of service. He then returned to Fairbanks Township and was united in marriage to Rebecca Drake, after which he settled in Turman Township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and where five years later his wife died. By this marriage two children were born, as follow: Jerusha, Mrs. John Ridgway and Emma, Mrs. William Thomas, both of Fairbanks Township. After the death of his wife Mr. Rose went to Hudsonville, where he was in business a few years, and in 1878 came back to Fairbanks Township, and later he bought three hundred and sixty-five acres below Graysville, now known as the Hawkins farm. He operated that farm and raised blooded horses and other stock. He was highly successful in his operations as a farmer and stock raiser. He died March 23, 1901, and was buried at Drake Church Cemetery.

    Mr. Rose was three times married. His second wife, nee Anna Riggs, died leaving an infant son named Chauncey, who died aged two years. he was married the third time, June 30, 1878, to Mrs. Melinda (McKee) Drake. Her father, William McKee, was the son of John and Jane (Watson) McKee, pioneers of Turman Township. Her great-grandfather, John McKee, was a native of Scotland, who on coming to America settled in Tennessee and came from there to Sullivan County, and here spent his last days. Mrs. Rose's mother, Susan Harris, was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Paddock) Harris, pioneers of Fairbanks Township. Mrs. Rose's first husband, Albert Drake, a farmer by occupation was a life long resident of Fairbanks Township, where he died March 23, 1876.

Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 331-332.