ROSENKRANS, S. B.

ROSENKRANS, AGER, LARROWE

Posted By: Amy Robbins-Tjaden (email)
Date: 11/23/2006 at 21:29:08

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa (1888)

Hon. S. B. Rosenkrans, proprietor of Rosenkrans' Park, is one of the pioneers and enterprising citizens of Hamilton County. He is a native of New York, born in Steuben County April 27, 1824, a son of Aaron and Hannah (Ager) Rosenkrans. His father was a native of New Jersey, a son of Levi Rosenkrans, also a native of New Jersey, and a grandson of John Rosenkrans, who was a native of Dutchess County, New York, born May 18, 1724. His great-great-grandfather was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and was one of the first settlers of the State of New York. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war John Rosenkrans and three of his sons enlisted and served in the defense of the colonies until the close of the war, the father being commissioned a Colonel. He was married August 8, 1751, to Margaret DeWitt, and in an early day they moved to New Jersey, where many of their descendants still live. Aaron Rosenkrans was reared in New Jersey and there married Hannah Ager. They subsequently moved to Hammonds Port, Steuben County, New York, whre he engaged in farming and wagon making. They reared a family of seven cildren, four of whom are living. They were active members of the Presbyterian church, which denomination he served as deacon and elder over half a century. Both died in Steuben County at the age of seventy-seven years. S. B. Rosenkrans, the subject of our sketch, spent his youth in attending school, and in assisting his father in the manufacture of wagons, and when he attained his majority was given a partnership in the business. In March, 1856, he moved to Iowa and settled in Webster City, where he engaged in the manufacture of lumber and the real estate business. The following fall he was elected clerk of courts of Webster County, which then comprised the present limits of Hamilton and Webster counties, and served in this capacity two years. In 1859 he was elected to represent Hamilton and Story counties in the State Legislature, serving in the sessions of 1859, 1860, and the special session of 1861. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was appointed drafting commissioner by Governor Kirkwood, holding the position during the war. He has held the positions of mayor and councilman of Webster City, and has taken an active interest in all enterprises for the advancement of the city and county. He was one of the incorporators of the Crooked Creek and Southwestern Railroad, and served as its secretary. He has for several yeras been engaged in the real estate business, and now devotes his time to the improvement and development of Rosenkrans Park. He has erected quite a number of the business buildings of the town and now owns several business houses and other improved property. Mr Rosenkrans was married June 3, 1851, to Charlotte LarRowe, a native of Wheeler, Steuben County, New York, a daughter of Albutius and Jeannette (Auls) LarRowe, who were representatives of the oldest families of New Jersey and the latter of North Carolina. Mr and Mrs Rosenkrans are members of the Congregational church. In politics he is now independent, but was formerly a Whig and later a Republican.