Louis Rose
Encyclopedia
Louis Rose was a pioneer developer of San Diego, California
. The neighborhood of Roseville in Point Loma is named for him, as are Rose Creek
and Rose Canyon.
to Jewish parents. He came to San Diego in 1850, via New Orleans, Louisiana
and Texas
. He traveled to California with Judge James W. Robinson
's wagon train party. Arriving just as California became a state in 1850, he was a member of the first grand jury
and first County Board of Supervisors. He was President of the Board of Trustees for San Diego during 1853–1855, and served on the San Diego School Board. Rose was a volunteer in the Garra Indian uprising. He was also a founding member of the synagogue that eventually became Temple Beth Israel, San Diego's largest synagogue.
, Rose founded the San Diego and Gila Railroad in 1855 and served as its treasurer. The railroad was never built.
In 1866 Rose bought land and laid out a town he called "Roseville" adjacent to San Diego Bay
on the Point Loma peninsula. He laid out streets and built a wharf. He thought it would be a future city, and for a time it was a separate city competing with San Diego's New Town (now Downtown San Diego) across the bay. He hoped to link Roseville to a railroad. Many were skeptical about the prospects for Roseville or San Diego, but he would always say "Just wait a while and you will see." Roseville eventually became part of the city of San Diego.
Rose was postmaster
at Old Town, San Diego during 1873–1883. This was an honor considering that he was appointed by Republican presidents even though Rose himself was a life-long Democrat.
Rose Creek
and Rose Canyon in San Diego are named for him. He bought 650 acres in the canyon in 1853 and had a ranch there, with a tannery
. He also prospected
for gold and copper without too much success. The tannery provided capital to build a wharf and to lay out Roseville.
Rose died in 1888. He had one daughter, Henrietta, a school teacher who never married. He is buried in Home of Peace Cemetery on Imperial Avenue.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The neighborhood of Roseville in Point Loma is named for him, as are Rose Creek
Rose Creek
Rose Creek is an urban stream in San Diego, California that drains to Mission Bay. It flows in a north-to-south direction through Rose Canyon and San Clemente Canyon and their tributary canyons. Both Rose Creek and Rose Canyon are named for San Diego pioneer Louis Rose, who had a ranch in the...
and Rose Canyon.
History
Louis Rose was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Jewish parents. He came to San Diego in 1850, via New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He traveled to California with Judge James W. Robinson
James W. Robinson
James W. Robinson was a politician in what became the U.S. states of Texas and California.-Early years:J. W. Robinson was born in what is now Hamilton County, Indiana in c. 1791. He was a lawyer and partnered with William Henry Harrison. He married Mary Isdell in 1820, but abandoned his first...
's wagon train party. Arriving just as California became a state in 1850, he was a member of the first grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
and first County Board of Supervisors. He was President of the Board of Trustees for San Diego during 1853–1855, and served on the San Diego School Board. Rose was a volunteer in the Garra Indian uprising. He was also a founding member of the synagogue that eventually became Temple Beth Israel, San Diego's largest synagogue.
San Diego contributions
Rose realized that transportation would be important to San Diego. With his associate James W. RobinsonJames W. Robinson
James W. Robinson was a politician in what became the U.S. states of Texas and California.-Early years:J. W. Robinson was born in what is now Hamilton County, Indiana in c. 1791. He was a lawyer and partnered with William Henry Harrison. He married Mary Isdell in 1820, but abandoned his first...
, Rose founded the San Diego and Gila Railroad in 1855 and served as its treasurer. The railroad was never built.
In 1866 Rose bought land and laid out a town he called "Roseville" adjacent to San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
on the Point Loma peninsula. He laid out streets and built a wharf. He thought it would be a future city, and for a time it was a separate city competing with San Diego's New Town (now Downtown San Diego) across the bay. He hoped to link Roseville to a railroad. Many were skeptical about the prospects for Roseville or San Diego, but he would always say "Just wait a while and you will see." Roseville eventually became part of the city of San Diego.
Rose was postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
at Old Town, San Diego during 1873–1883. This was an honor considering that he was appointed by Republican presidents even though Rose himself was a life-long Democrat.
Rose Creek
Rose Creek
Rose Creek is an urban stream in San Diego, California that drains to Mission Bay. It flows in a north-to-south direction through Rose Canyon and San Clemente Canyon and their tributary canyons. Both Rose Creek and Rose Canyon are named for San Diego pioneer Louis Rose, who had a ranch in the...
and Rose Canyon in San Diego are named for him. He bought 650 acres in the canyon in 1853 and had a ranch there, with a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
. He also prospected
Gold prospecting
Gold prospecting is the act of searching for new gold deposits. Methods used vary with the type of deposit sought and the resources of the prospector...
for gold and copper without too much success. The tannery provided capital to build a wharf and to lay out Roseville.
Rose died in 1888. He had one daughter, Henrietta, a school teacher who never married. He is buried in Home of Peace Cemetery on Imperial Avenue.
Legacy
- In 2004, Louis Rose Point was dedicated in honor of Rose. It's located at the foot of Womble Street, on the grounds of the old Naval Training Center (now Liberty StationLiberty StationLiberty Station is a project that involves the conversion of San Diego, California's former Naval Training Center into a mixed-use community that includes several distinct districts...
). In 2011, a plaque honoring Rose was dedicated at Louis Rose Point, and two rose bushes were planted in his name. - The "Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of Jewish History" is named for him.
- A Point Loma elementary school, Cabrillo Elementary, established a sister-school relationship with an elementary school in Neuhaus-an-der-OsteNeuhaus (Oste)Neuhaus an der Oste is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany.-History:The area of today's Neuhaus belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where Rose was born.
See also
- Louis Rose: San Diego's First Jewish Settler and Entrepreneur by Donald H. Harrison (2004). ISBN 0-932653-68-5
- Biography (San Diego Historical Society) from Smythe's History of San Diego, pp. 285–286 Biography, p. 210
- Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of Jewish History