24

BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

now a member of firm of W. J. Rose & Sons; Harry G. (deceased), whose sketch appears elsewhere; Howard J., born June 17, 1862, died February 22, 1863; Annie M., born November 21, 1863, now the wife of R. L. Taney; Robert G., born May 25, 1865, member of W. J. Rose & Sons; and Frank Z., born September 20, 1867.     Personally Mr. Rose is one of the most genial and companionable of men, and all his acquaintances (and this includes all old citizens of the town) esteem him very highly. He takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the early history of the town, and has quite a collection of interesting relics connected with local history, and his gallery of over six hundred photographs of prominent citizens of the town, past and present, is of great interest. Mr. Rose takes pleasure in showing his gallery to all who know anything of the Johnstown of ante bellum days. HON. W. HORACE ROSE, the first mayor of Johnstown. It would be difficult to find a better example of a self-made man than the subject of this sketch, and it would be still more difficult to name one who has been more closely identified with the public affairs of his native town.     William Horace Rose, son of Allen and Elizabeth (Freame) Rose, was born November 17, 1838, in a log house which stood at the southeast corner of Vine and Market streets, in the borough of Johnstown. As a boy he attended the schools of the town until his thirteenth year, when he lost both of his parents by death. They both expired at the same hour, August 3, 1851, and thereafter, with the exception of five months at Elders Ridge academy, in Indiana county, he never again entered a school-room as a student.

Being thus doubly orphaned, he showed his mettle by beginning at once to earn his own way in the world. He first went to work in the tannery of Mr. J. P. McConaughy, which occupied the site of the present Cambria Library building. He was next employed cutting screws in the machine shop of S. H. Smith, on the present site of the Gautier mills. Later he learned the trade of moulding with the firm of Pringle, Rose & Edson. He was employed for a time as moulder in the foundry of the Cambria Iron company, but an attack of bronchitis compelled him to abandon this trade. We next find him learning carpentry with his brother, Wesley J. He subsequently worked at this trade for Joseph Kuntz, Emanuel Shaffer and Pringle, Rose & Co. In 1857 he went to Davenport, Iowa, and worked at his trade for one season. He then returned to Johnstown, and on February 1, 1858, entered the office of John P. Linton as a law student. He made rapid progress, and March 6, 1860, was admitted to the bar of Cambria county.     Being a carpenter, he built himself an office on the lot now occupied by the city offices, and began the practice of law on his own account. With the exception of the years spent in the service of his country, on the field of battle, he continued the practice of law at this office until the "Great Flood" of 1889.     Having taken a great interest in state military affairs, he was appointed by the governor judge advocate of the Third brigade of State Uniformed militia, with the rank of major. This brigade was commanded by another distinguished citizen of Johnstown -- Hon. James Potts.     In April, 1861, the local militia company to which Mr. Rose was attached as lieutenant offered its services to the government to aid

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