BIBB COUNTY, GA - BI0S Simrie Rose Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Volunteers Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm SIMRIE ROSE One of Bibb's earliest and most influential citizens was Simri Rose. His arrival in 1819 to Georgia at a time when the area was only sparsely settled around Fort Hawkins, marked the arrival of printing and one of the earliest newspapers. Mr. Rose was born at Branford, Connecticut in 25 May 1799 in North Brantford, Conn., and according to his son-in-law, Edgar A. Ross, he changed the spelling of his name from Zimrie to Simri because he did not care to go through life as Z. Rose. He apprenticed to the printer's trade in New Haven and in the office of Harper's Publishing Company. The first paper he printed in Fort Hawkins was called "The Bull Dog" and addressed to "Nat Nocam's Citizens." When the Georgia Messenger (owned by James Robinson) made it's appearance soon after, (also at Fort Hawkins), Mr. Rose bought an interest in it. Simri Rose was the publisher of The Georgia Messenger and moved publication from Fort Hawkins to Macon in 1823. According to Dianne Wilcox the first name of The Georgia Messenger was The Bulldog, and that a later version is today called The Macon Telegraph. Rose's portrait now hangs in The Macon Telegraph's offices. Rose was instrumental in the planning of The City of Macon and planned what is now "The Oldest Landscaped Cemetery in the United States (Rose Hill) in 1840 in return for his chosen burial plot. Mr. Rose married in Oct 28 1828 Lavinia Helen Elizabeth Blount, (daughter of Col James Blount and his wife, Elizabeth Gregoire Roulhac ) of Blountsville, Jones County, GA. (Elizabeth was born b: 4 OCT 1786 in Beaufort, North Carolina) Lavinia was born 28 July 1812 in Clinton (Jones Co) Georgia. To them nine children were born: Augustus Basil Rose, died in infancy as did two daughters. Daughter, Mary Elizabeth, married George H. Carhart, who after accumulating one hundred thousand dollars in Georgia, moved to New York. Daughter, Hermione Jacqueline Rose, married a sea captain, Edward P. Dennis, Jr. was educated in France at a naval academy. He retired due to deafness and lived in Howard Co. Maryland. Daughter, Helen Randolph Rose, married a New York broker, Vincent B. King, and they made their home in Morriston, N.J. Leila Foot Rose died at 17 years of age. Anne Roulhac, married a writer, Edgar A. Ross. Edgar A. Ross wrote the following piece which was printed in the Macon Telegraph Centenniel Edition (1826-1926) [Courtesy of Washington Memorial Library, Macon] "No man ever lived in Macon, who showed more public spirit and unselfish interest in her welfare than did Simri Rose, or accomplished as mucy for the good of the community by his unselfish personal efforts. "Though not a member of any church, he organized and was superintendent of Macon's first Sunday School, which was at Christ Episcopal Church on Walnut Street, where he also served as a vestryman. "To him, more than to any one man, Macon is indebted for her shade trees and parks. The Botanic garden at the head of Magnolia Street was his peculiar pet. Rose Park, fronting his home and that of Governor Townes, now Mount de Sales Academy, was laid off and planted by him. These places have given way to the growth of the city, but were resorts for the people in their day. Only Rose Hill Cemetery, his greatest monument, still remains. "If he saw a tree that was needed where it seemed to be no one's especial interest to plant one, he took his man and wagon to the Ocmulgee River Swamp and returned with a tree of his selection, when he proceeded to plant. Some of these trees are still standing, many have given way to changes in plans of the city and some to vandalism. His home, consisting of four acres with about as much more land nearby, of which he had the use for many years, was crowded with flowers and shrubbery, besides all varieties of fruit. It was a great resort of the young people, his lovely daughters adding to the attraction. Skilled in the arts of the florist, botanist and horticulturist, and well known all over Georgia, many people, including our congressmen, sent him many varieties of shrubs, flowers, etc. and consulted him about their culture. He liked to graft several varieties of peaches ripening at different times on the same trees which to the uninitiated was very wonderful. The Rose home was on Beall's Hill next to that of Gov George W. Towns, which was later owned and occupied by E.E. Brown, long the proprietor of the Brown House, succeeded by the Southland Hotel. Mr. Rose's house was originalyl a double log cabin with two rooms and an open hall between them. To these was added from time to time another room, until the house contained a hall and eight rooms. When I tore down this house in 1873 and removed the six rooms which had been added I was surprised to find the logs, which were in a perfect state of preservation. I was then told that the original log house was the one in which "Bibb County held her first court, March 20, 1823, in a small log building which stood near the depot of the Macon and Western Railroad. Judge Shorter presided. The first indictment was against a free man of color, for retailing liquor. The first presentment was for "stabbing". This was from "White's Historical Collection". The Macon and Western Railroad depot was located on the block which is now occupied by Nisbet-Gresham School and Girl's High School. While continuing to edit his paper until his death in April 1869, he performed his duties as secretary of the Grand Lodge R and A.M. He spent much time in his orchard and garden, but his family saw very little of him. Coming home at midnight and rising at 5am he worked until breakfast was announced and, after eating, went at once to his office. No one knew when he slept except his office force and printers, who said that he did most of his sleeping in his office, his arms folded on his desk and his head resting on his arms. He was not a prohibitionist, but was violently opposed to the habit of treating, contending that it caused many men to drink more than they intended. He said that he was "responsible for his own soul's damnation, but did not propose to take anyone along with him." His public spirit sometimes led him into trouble. Great preparations had been made for a State Fair to be held at Macon, when it was reported that there was a case of smallpox just outside the city. Nothing was then so dreaded and, if true, the success of the fair was doomed. To make sure, nothing would satisfy Mr. Rose but personal inspection. He examined the patient and pronounced his malay only chickenpox, and so reported in his paper. The fair was a great success, but in due time, Mr. Rose develped a well defined case of confluent smallpox and carried the marks till death. Simri Rose spent many hours and days in Rose Hill cemetery, planning improvements, planting trees, flowers and shrubs wherever he though they were needed. I recall his development of Crystal Spring, a natural cave in the side of a hill which contained a bold spring of good cold water, which he enlarged and floored with smooth stones. The ceiling was formed of stalactites brought from a Kentucky cave. They were as bright and sparkling as those in Mammoth cave. A good basin was formed in the stone floor and a channel cut for the outflow of this clear water, and as Rose Hill was then Macon's principal park and resort for the people, young and old many slaked their thirst from this lovely spring, the water of which was pronounced pure. After Mr. Rose's death, this crystal spring fell into neglect and an enterprising sexton whitewashed the ceiling, dimming the light of the crystals and destroying its beauty. Many lovely trees had their trunks whitewashed and to the lovers of Rose Hill the place appeared desolated. While these desecrations were deplored and very little was done to enhance the beauty of this sacred place for many years, its natural attractiveness is such that it is still one of the show places of Macon and Georgia, thanks to the good taste and devoted interest of Simri Rose. In politics Mr. Rose was a Whig and a strong Union man, but when war was declared, his whole soul was with the South, where he spent fifty years of the sixty-nine that he lived. He now lies buried by the Ocmulgee River in beautiful Rose Hill cemetery, to which he had given the best efforts of his life. The true history of the location of Rose Hill should be given here. While Mr. Rose was editing the Journal and Messenger, a syndicate headed by Jere Cowles, owned the land now including the sites covered by the Marsh Johnston and Coleman Hill properties, besides many of the best residences on that end of College Street. This land they tried to sell to the City of Macon for a burial ground. Mr. Rose opposed their proposition on the streets and in his paper, suggesting that the present site of Rose Hill was preferable from every viewpoint, that is as far prettier and was not very valuable for other purposes, while that proposed by the Cowles interest would prove the best residence property in Macon. He further called attention to the fact that most of the land advocated by him was already a part of the public domain while that suggested by the Cowles interest was high priced property. He finally carry this point. This I have frequently heard Mrs. Rose affirm. All of this work and that done on the grounds was freely given to the Macon that he loved, nor did he expect any other reward than the satisfaction arising from having done his duty s he saw it and the commendation of his fellow citizens, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". FAMILY HISTORY Name: Lavinia Helen Elizabeth Blount Sex: F Birth: 28 JUL 1812 in Clinton, Georgia Death: 23 OCT 1882 in Ellicott City, Maryland Burial: Rose Hill Cemetery, Macon, Georgia Father: James Blount b: 28 JUN 1780 in North Carolina Mother: Elizabeth Gregoire Roulhac b: 4 OCT 1786 in Beaufort, North Carolina Marriage 1 Simri Rose b: 25 MAY 1799 in North Brantford, Conn. Married: 15 OCT 1828 in Clinton, North Carolina ID: I051350 Name: Simri Rose Sex: M Birth: 25 MAY 1799 in North Brantford, Conn. Death: 5 APR 1869 in Bibb County, Georgia Burial: Rose Hill Cemetery, Macon, Georgia Note: He was the Editor and proprietor of the Macon Messenger one of the first newspapers in Georgia. He was a founding father of Macon. Mary Elizabeth Rose b: 5 AUG 1829 in Clinton, North Carolina Virginia Caroline Rose b: 1 JUL 1831 in Clinton, North Carolina Caroline Georgia Beall Rose b: 4 APR 1833 in Macon, Georgia Augustus Beall Rose b: 26 JUN 1834 in Macon, Georgia Hermione Jaqueline Rose b: 15 AUG 1836 in Macon, Georgia Helen Randolph Rose b: 7 JUL 1838 in Macon, Georgia Marion Preston Rose b: 14 SEP 1840 Leila Foote Rose b: 29 APR 1848 Annie Roulhac Rose b: 2 OCT 1850 in Macon, Georgia *Gail Roberts laroc@epix.net ============ jecarter@pop.verinet.com This was handwritten and pasted in a scrapbook: Erected by John M Blount - 1851 in Rose Hill Cemetery Father This marble to thy memory - The "golden bowl was broken" When scarce I knew thee." Mother For the lessons thou hast taught me - Brother I can give thee but a tomb - it tells thy name too soon. These inscriptions on the tombstone were arrange and furnished by Mr. S. Rose That's all it says. I believe this John M. Blount is the brother of Anne Jacqueline Blount. ============= Lindy Hard ssautyvalleyfarm@worldnet.att.net Rose, Simri 8 Apr 1869 CA Macon, Ga On Sabbath last the Journal & Cuthbert Appeal, Thursday, April 8, 1869, page 2, column 1: "The Journal and Messenger of Monday, came clothed in mourning for the decease of the venerable founder of that popular sheet, Simri Rose, Esq., who was gathered to his fathers on Sabbath last. Full of years and honors, yet unabated in vigor and energy, this aged representative of the press, whose history is part and parcel with that of Macon, like the veteran Orme, has gone to his rest. Together they battled for their country amid sunshine and shade through peace and war, and in death they have not been divided. Macon may well weep over the bier of this tried and noble son, who for a half century has stood sentinel over her infancy and expanding manhood. We trust Mr. Rose had completed his historical sketch of that city." ========Census 1850========= S. Rose Age 50, Male, Editor, Born Conneticut Mrs. S. Rose Age 38, Female, NC, Mary C.or E. Rose Age 20, Female, GA, H. G. Rose Age 13, Male, GA, C.or E. R. Rose Age 12, Female, GA, M. P. Rose Age 11, Female, GA, B. F. Rose Age 2, Male, GA, Emnisar Foot or Fort Age 35, Male, S??, M&? R.R., Born ?? This is from 1850 Bibb Co. GA, Township: 564 District, Image: 304, Roll: M432_61, Page: 150,