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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Lucius Randall Rosebrook, who in 1894 became a resident of Oskaloosa, where he is now engaged in the coal trade, was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire, March 7, 1848. His father, Lucius Mitchell Rosebrook, was a son of Eleazer Rosebrook, who served as a captain in Whitcomb's Rangers in the Revolutionary war and rendered valuable aid to the cause of independence. The family was founded in New Hampshire in 1687 and the ancestors were either of Irish or Norman French blood. Through many generations representatives of the name remained in the old granite state, contributing to its material, intellectual and moral progress. Lucius M. Rosebrook erected the first house ever built on the summit of Mount Washington, the famous White Mountain resort, while his wife was the first woman to ever cook a meal there, He also had charge of the construction work of the railway between Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, which was the first railway line built in the United States. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Perkins, was also a representative of an old New England pioneer family, and her grand father was a soldier of the Continental Army and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lucius M. Rosebrook were born the following named sons and daughters: Freeman D., who is in the United States mail service and makes his home in Chicago; Lucius R.; Mary, the wife of Charles Ackert, of Dixon, Illinois; Anda L.,the wife of Matthew Ackert, also a resident of Dixon, Illinois; Hettie E., the wife of A. A. Williams, who is living in Manson, Iowa; and Emma J., the wife of J. F. Holly, of Larimor, Iowa. Lucius R. Rosebrook spent the first six years of his life in the state of his nativity and in 1854 accompanied his parents on their removal to Dixon, Illinois, where he was reared and educated. He came to Iowa in 1879, settling first, in Marion county, where he engaged in the grain business. He afterward turned his attention to the coal trade in 1882 and in 1885 removed from Marion county to Ottumwa, Iowa, and in 1894 came to Mahaska county, since which time he has lived in Oskaloosa and has here continued in the coal trade, having now a large and profitable business, which he has secured by reason of his earnest desire to please his patrons, his straightforward dealing and his reasonable prices. Mr. Rosebrook was married, October 25, 1869, to Miss Fannie L. Smith, of Harmon, Illinois, and their children are Lillie B., Edith M., Jessie M., Fay S., May J., Grace L., Harry H., Pearl H., Freeman D. and Frank S. For his second wife Mr. Rosebrook chose Mary A. Mechem, of Dixon, Illinois. Mr. Rosebrook has considerable talent as an amateur carver and sculptor. He cut with a pocket knife out of Indian pipestone in relief an allegorical entitled "A Square Deal," representing capital and labor. It is a remarkable work in which the figures of capital and labor are held in scales in equilibrium. he began this work fourteen years ago and recently he has added the busts of President Roosevelt and Governor Cummings to the group, which is unique in design and interesting to the highest degree. He has certainly displayed exceptional talent in the art of wood carving and sculpture, his work attracting much more than local notice and display high artistic taste. In his business life he has manifested the strong purpose and indefatigable energy which always attain results and he is now conducting a good business in his adopted city. He was made a Mason in Warren county and has since attained to the Knight Teniplar degree, being a member of De Payens commandery.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy