Bio-Rose, UlyssesGrant

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Ulysses "Grant" Rose
(1865-1936)

Ulysses "Grant" Rose was born in June 1865, in Normalville, Fayette County, PA, the son of Andrew J. and Susanna (Minerd) Rose Sr.

In about 1890, when Grant was age 25, he married 19-year-old Hattie Margaret "Maggie" Trout (1871-1961). They had at least six children -- Anna E. Lawver, Eldora Rose, Evelyn Albright, Bessie Margaret Lawver, Elmer W. Rose and Bessie Fligger, and perhaps five others who died young.

The Roses lived in a number of places in Westmoreland County, PA, including West Overton, Mt. Pleasant and Youngwood. In 1894, while in West Overton, the Connellsville Courier reported that Grant "got his leg mashed in the mine…" but apparently recovered.

The federal census of 1900 shows the family in East Huntingdon Township, near Greensburg, Westmoreland County. That year, Grant was employed as a driver in a local coal mine. The census taker accidentally spelled their family name "Rhodes."

Seen at right: a typical Connellsville coal mining operation of the early 1900s.

By 1910, the Roses had moved to a new residence on Spruce Street in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County. The 1910 census shows Grant working as a street laborer. Judging from the record, Maggie may have lost three more babies during the previous decade.

Seen at left: a well known local landmark that the Roses would have recognized in West Overton -- the old home of the Abraham Overholts. On this property, in 1849, an Overholt baby was born in a converted springhouse -- Henry Clay Frick, who went on to become a coal and coke industrialist of immense influence and wealth with his company becoming part of the United States Steel empire.

The Roses moved again during the 1910s, most likely for Grant to find work in a local coal mine. In 1920, they made their home in Connellsville, Fayette County, with Grant's occupation shown in the census record as coal mine laborer.

The 1930 census lists the family in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County. Grant worked as a farm laborer. Living next door were married son Elmer and his wife and sons, and married daughter Bessie and her husband Samuel Fligger and family.

Grant died at home at Foxtown, near Youngwood, at the age of 77 on Oct. 13, 1936. He was laid to rest in Normalville Cemetery.

In her elderly years, Maggie resided in the home of her son Elmer in New Stanton, Westmoreland County. She died there at the age of 90 on or about Sept. 25, 1961. A brief obituary was printed in the Daily Courier. At the time she had produced some 14 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

~ Daughter Bessie (Rose) Fligger ~

Daughter Bessie M. Rose (1891- ? ) married Samuel L. Fligger (or "Fliger") (1884- ? ). They resided in Youngwood. They had four known children - George E. Fligger (1915- ? ), James W. Fligger (1930-2003) of Lockport, NY; Miles W. Fligger (1921-2003), also of Lockport; and Alberta Goff (1924- ? ) of California. The 1930 census shows Samuel employed as a section hand on the railroad in the Youngwood area.

Son James W. Fligger (1930-2003) was "retired from the Highway and Parks Department for the City of Lockport," said the Lockport (NY) Union Sun & Journal.

Son Miles W. Fligger (1921-2003), said the Union Sun & Journal, "worked in Production at Delphi Harrison for 24 years, retiring April 1, 1980. Miles belonged to the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 63rd Infantry Division, and the 686 United Auto Workers Retirees... Miles served in the US Army during WWII in the European Campaign. Serving in Germany and France he was a Combat Infantryman with the 63rd Infantry Division. He attained the rank of Staff Sgt. and was awarded the Purple Heart..."

~ Daughter Eldora Rose ~

Daughter Eldora Rose (1892- ? ) is lost to history for now.

~ Daughter Anna (Rose) Lawver ~

Daughter Anna Rose (1901- ? ) married Alvie J. Lawver (1892-1945), the son of Alonzo and Margaret (Johnson) Lawver of New Castle, Lawrence County, PA.

They lived in the Pleasant Hill area of Normalville, Fayette County, and had three children -- Edmund Lawver, John Lawver and Helen Lawver. Alvie "was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as a trackman for the past three years," reported the Daily Courier in 1945.

He became seriously ill in late November 1945 and entered Connellsville State Hospital for treatment. He did not recover, and sadly died at the age of 53 on Dec. 6, 1945. Following a funeral held at the Mount Tabor Church of God, near Pleasant Hill, he was laid to rest in Mount Tabor Cemetery.

~ Son Elmer W. Rose ~

Son Elmer W. Rose (1898-1972) was born on March 29, 1898, in West Overton, Westmoreland County. He married Hazel Yauger ( ? - ? ) and they had two sons -- Evert Rose and Wilbert Rose.

Circa 1930, Elmer was employed as a cutter in a valve works. Later, he worked for the Lenox Crystal Co. in Mt. Pleasant and as an auxiliary policeman for the Robertshaw Corporation. The Robertshaw plant in Youngwood is seen here in an old postcard photograph. In her later years, Elmer's mother resided in their home in New Stanton, and died there at the age of 90 in 1961. By the early 1970s, the Roses lived at 314 Vine Street in South Connellsville.

He died on May 10, 1972, and is buried in Mount Tabor Cemetery. He was survived by six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

~ Daughter Evelyn (Rose) Albright ~

Daughter Evelyn Rose (1908- ? ) married Edward B. Albright (1906-1967). They resided in Armbrust and Greensburg, and had four children -- Evelyn Flock, Nora Smillie, Florence Hixon and George E. Albright.

Edward was a member of Youngwood Moose Lodge 23 and the Legion of the Moose in Baden, PA.

Edward died in Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg on Aug. 13, 1967, at the age of 61. At the time he was survived by 12 grandchildren. He was laid to rest at Westmoreland County Memorial Park.

Son George E. Albright (1937-2005) was born in Greensburg. He married Edith M. Flock, and they had four children -- Bruce "Butch" Albright, Edward Albright, Cloyd Albright and Staci Neptune. Said the Greensburg Tribune-Review, George "worked in farming, and as a machinist for D.M.E. of Youngwood. He was a social member of the Hempfield Hunt Club and the Midway Firemans Club." George died at age 68 on April 10, 2005, with interment at Westmoreland County Memorial Park.

Daughter Evelyn Albright married (?) Flock.

Daughter Nora Albright married (?) Smillie.

Daughter Florence Albright married Kenneth Hixon.