ALFRED B. ROE, of Chester, N. Y., was born at that place June 9, 1880. He graduated from Chester Academy and later attended Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa. Following his schooling he assisted his father on the home farm. He married Frances A. Decker, of Chester, April 3, 1902, and they have one son, Alfred Russell, born January 30, 1905.
Mr. Roe's parents were Alfred Booth and Martha (Durland) Roe. The homestead farm has been in the possession of the family for about one hundred and seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Roe are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Chester.
D. HOWELL ROE, of Florida, Orange County, was born October 25, 1838. After he finished his district school education, at the age of eighteen, he became clerk in William Vail's grocery store and worked there several years, when he engaged in the livery business at Chester, near the Erie Railroad station. He sold out a few years later and opened a grocery and feed store in Chester, which he conducted until his death, November 29, 1880. He was town clerk and supervisor many years, holding the latter office until poor health obliged him to decline a re-nomination by the democratic party, to which he belonged. He went South, remained there a year, and afterward spent two winters there for his health. He was a member of the Standard Lodge of Chester and of the Methodist Church. He married Elizabeth Rysdyk, of Chester, June 7, 1854. Their two children died in infancy.
FRED ROGERS, manufacturer, of Middletown, N. Y., was born at Brewster, Putnam County, N. Y., July 12, 1859. His parents were both of English extraction, his father, Joseph, having been born near Oxford, and his mother, Penelope Wilkin, near Bristol, England. Joseph Rogers settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and engaged in the manufacture of drums and banjo heads, afterward removing to Bloomingburgh, Sullivan County, N. Y., where he learned his trade. Fred obtained his education at the district school at Bloomingburg and Snooks Academy at Monticello, N. Y. After leaving school he entered the drum head manufactory of his father at Bloomingburg, and continued with him until the death of the latter in 1901, when he succeeded to the business. His mother died in 1896. Mr. Rogers married Harriet Pellet Moore, of Middletown, N. Y., November 28, 1888, and four children were born to them: Penelope, Ruth Bradner, died November 25, 1907; Helen Hyde and Clara Elizabeth. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Knights of Pythias. His brother, Joseph, now conducts the factory established by his father at Bloomingburg. Mr. Rogers opened his present factory at Mechanicstown, near Middletown, in 1897.
WILLIAM H. ROGERS was born December 29, 1845, in Sullivan County, N. Y. He is a son of James and Elizabeth Rogers. In 1859 he moved to Middletown, where he acquired his education, attending the old Orchard street school and Wallkill Academy. He engaged in the drug business in 1868, and is at present senior member of the drug firm of McMonagle & Rogers, of Middletown. He married Miss Amelia Chattle, of Middletown, May 19, 1869. To this union three children were born: Fred S., Thomas C, district attorney of Orange County, and Elizabeth, wife of Wickham Wisner Young, of Middletown. Mr. Rogers supports the republican party. He is ex-president of the board of education, ex-member of the board of water commissioners, and president of the board of managers of Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital and ex-president of the New York State Pharmaceutical Association, charter member Monhagen hose company, member Royal Arcanum, Concordia Council, No. 1077, and Hoffman Lodge, No. 412, F. and A. M., of Middletown.
CHARLES W. ROSE was born September 9, 1836, at Canajoharie, N. Y. He attended the district school at Amsterdam. At an early age he learned the milling business, and has been identified with that for many years. He worked at the Tivoli Railroad Mills, at Albany, which was built previous to the Revolutionary War. In 1850 he operated the Garden City Mill, at Chicago, for two years. He was an engineer on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad between Albany and Syracuse. He returned to Albany and ran the engine in the same mill for a period of four years after it was operated by steam. In 1863 he went to New York City, taking charge of the William Tildert & Nephew Varnish Works, which position he held for twelve years, after which he spent two years abroad. Mr. Rose then came to Burnside, Orange County, and purchased the saw and grist mill, which he operated for eight years in connection with a general store. He has been postmaster of Burnside for several years. In politics he is a republican and served one term as supervisor, and as justice of the peace several years.
He married Sophia Schweishelm, of Hanover, Germany. Three children were born to this union. One died, by accident, aged twenty-one years; Harry, with the Mead Morrison Manufacturing Company, of New York, and Frieda Dorothy, residing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rose are members of the Presbyterian Church at Campbell Hall.
HENRY ELKANAH ROSE is one of nine children of Silas and Elmira Rose, and was born at Sugar Loaf, Orange County, February 15, 1850. He attended the district school and the Seward Institute at Florida, after which he assisted his father on the farm until he was eighteen, when he learned the wheelwright trade and, later, blacksmithing, and has since been an industrious man in these occupations and farming. He is a member of the Sugar Loaf Methodist Church and politically is a democrat. September 23, 1878, he married Mary Fitzgerald of Warwick, and they have three children: Nellie E., born April 11, 1880, wife of Henry Ames, of Stamford, N. Y.; Edith S., born March 10, 1883, wife of Fletcher A. Herrod, of Miami, Florida, and Floyd William Dudley, born September 2, 1884, living in Maxwell, Neb. The grandmother of Mrs. Rose was Mary Booth, a granddaughter of Sarah Wells, reputed to be the first white woman who came to Orange County.
JOSEPH H. ROSE, retired brick manufacturer, Newburgh N. Y.; born at Hamburg, N. Y., 1865; son of John C. and Phoebe (Myers) Rose; removed with his parents to Haverstraw, N. Y., where he attended the academy; has resided in Newburgh since 1883, when the Rose Brick Company was established at Roseton, Orange County, N. Y., with which Joseph H. was connected until 1902, when he retired from active business.
ELMER E. ROOSA, attorney, of Newburgh, N. Y., was born in New Paltz, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1861. He is of Holland ancestry and came to Newburgh with his parents in 1870. After graduating from the academy, he read law in the office of Messrs. Scott & Hirschberg, and was admitted to the bar in 1882. He continued in the office of his preceptors, and when Mr. Hirschberg was advanced to a judicial position, Mr. Roosa took up the extensive practice attending the office. Mr. Roosa is vice-president of the Newburgh Planing Mill and interested in various local enterprises. He is a member of the Hudson River Lodge, F. and A. M.; Highland Chapter and Hudson River Commandery.