Joseph Rosier was a United States Senator from West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...

. Born in Wilsonburg, West Virginia

Wilsonburg, West Virginia

Wilsonburg is an unincorporated community in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. Wilsonburg is west of Clarksburg. Wilsonburg has a post office with ZIP code 26461....

, he attended the public schools and graduated from Salem

Salem, West Virginia

Salem is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,006 at the 2000 census. It is located at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 23; the North Bend Rail Trail passes through the city...

 College in 1895. In 1890, Rosier was a teacher of the village school at Bristol, West Virginia and was principal of the public schools of Salem in 1891 and 1892; in 1893 and 1894 he was superintendent

Superintendent (education)

In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....

 of schools of Harrison County, West Virginia

Harrison County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile . There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile...

 and was a member of the faculty of Salem College from 1894 to 1896. He was a teacher in the State normal school

Normal school

A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...

 at Glenville, West Virginia

Glenville, West Virginia

Glenville is a town in and the county seat of Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States, along the Little Kanawha River. The population was 1,544 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Glenville State College.-History:...

 from 1896 to 1897 and was a member of the faculty of the State Teachers' College at Fairmont, West Virginia

Fairmont, West Virginia

Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. Nicknamed "The Friendly City". The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census...

 from 1897 to 1900. He was superintendent of schools of Fairmont from 1900-1915 and was president of Fairmont State College, Fairmont from 1915-1945 and then president emeritus

Emeritus

Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...

.

During the First World War, Rosier served as county food administrator (1917-1918) and was a consultant

Consultant

A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...

 on education for the Works Progress Administration

Works Progress Administration

The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...

 (1933-1937). On January 13, 1941 he was appointed as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Matthew M. Neely

Matthew M. Neely

Matthew Mansfield Neely was a Democratic politician from West Virginia. He is the only West Virginian to serve in both houses of the United States Congress and as the Governor of West Virginia...

 and took the oath of office

Oath of office

An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...

 on May 13, 1941, after the Senate resolved a challenge to the appointment, and served from January 13, 1941, to November 17, 1942, when a duly elected successor qualified. Rosier was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the unexpired term, and resumed his former pursuits. He was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates

West Virginia House of Delegates

The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...

 in 1946.

Joseph Rosier died in Fairmont in 1951. Interment was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Salem.