Thank you to the Matawan, New Jersey, historian who told me about the availability of
The Matawan Journal at the website of the public library. The issue of December 8, 1877, has an extensive obituary of the recently deceased
Joseph Rose, my 3rd great grandfather, on page 2 of this four page weekly newspaper. This obituary doesn't tell me much about his family, except that he and his wife were married for 50 years and had children, but it does tell me a lot about him: his integrity and honesty in politics and business dealings and how he treated all those in his life.
It is very hard to read and I have done my best to transcribe it below. If anyone can decipher the faded words in the last section, please let me know.
September 11, 2013 update: Thank you to Matawan local historian Al Savolaine for helping with deciphering some of these difficult-to-read words.
Obituary
Mr. Joseph Rose
Rose, one of the oldest residents of this township. For two or three days it had been reported that he was very ill; but so vigorous had he always seemed that few anticipated a fatal result. He had been complaining for two or three weeks, but was not confined to his bed until Friday last and from that time he seemed to fall into a frequent stupor and unconsciousness, and died on Tuesday morning, 4th inst., at 9 o’clock. The cause of his sudden death was Bright’s disease of the kidneys, and the rapid degeneration of these organs produced a condition of uremia which hastened his end.
Mr. Rose was a gentleman of intelligence, integrity of moral character, sociability and possessed of a very warm and benevolent nature. He began business in New York city in very early life, was married before he was nineteen, and growing up with the growth of the city he won to him very many friends by the close adherence to business, promptness in all his business engagements and strict honesty in all his dealings.
While a resident of New York, he represented the city in the Legislature for one term and refused a renomination. He was a Democrat in politics, and a warm partisan. He served for two terms as Collector of City Revenue under Comptroller Flagg, and his integrity was held so high that on the election of Comptroller Haws, though politically an opponent, he was urged to remain in his position, and he continued as Collector of the Revenue until compelled by vertigo to resign. He, in occupying the above place, has much to do with negotiating the purchase of Central Park.
He was an office in the old City Guards; and an intimate associate of Hon. John Kelly, Judge Chas. P. Daley and other prominent men of New York.
About 45 years ago he purchased a farm at Cliffwood, and has ever since been the owner of the same. He owned the site of Rose Hill Cemetery [
see Tombstone Tuesday ~ Rose], and sold it to the cemetery corporation. That place is honored with his name, and in it is his family plot where his remains will be interred. For several years prior to his permanent removal to New Jersey his family spent their summers at Cliffwood. Shortly after the severe attack of vertigo that compelled him to give up a lucrative position and a profitable business besides, he removed in 1860 to his farm and has for the past 17 years resided among us, endearing himself to this community, and during the time represented the township for one term in the Board of Freeholders.
On the 23d of October last, only about six weeks ago, a merry company gathered at his delightful home to join with him and his wife in celebrating their golden wedding. We referred then to the miniature sheaf of wheat overhanging their heads as a symbol of the ripening years. In his case, it becomes also the symbol of his having been gathered in by the great harvester, Death.
Mr. Rose will be missed not alone by his widow and large family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; but the whole community, and in his benevolence his loss will be keenly felt by many living in the immediate vicinity of his home.
The funeral will take place on Monday next, 10th inst., at 1.30, P. M., the long delay being occasioned that the youngest son, from Colorado, might be present at the funeral.
