James G. Rose, according to the late historian, Cora Davis Brooks, was elected mayor of Morristown for one term, in 1875. Mayor Rose was born in Tazewell on September 1, 1835, and lived there and in Sneedville for a number of years. At the age of 21 he served in the Tennessee Legislature, representing Hancock County.
When the Civil War started, Rose joined the Confederacy, first as Captain in the 29th Tennessee. Later he served as Colonel of the 61st Tennessee. In the war, Rose saw much action, and emerged with a reputation of courage and leadership. He held the bridge at Big Black River during the campaign for Vicksburg, losing it, and most of his men, when his embattled regiment was attacked by over a dozen Union regiments. In 1864, as Union forces merged on Morristown, and the Confederates desperately attempted to stop them, it was Col. Rose, ironically, who was among those defending the town. As the Confederate lines gave way under the pressure of a Union cavalry charge, a future mayor of Morristown found himself in the center of the fray, attempting to rally his men, only to be captured, and to spend the rest of the war in a prisoner of war camp at Johnson Island.
After the war, Rose married Miss Virginia Thomas(b. May 31, 1845 / d. May 4, 1922) of Hancock County. He and his bride were forced to moved to Missouri, victims of the hard feelings that remained after the war in East Tennessee. An outbreak of disease in Missouri caused the Roses to return to East Tennessee. Col. Rose built a house approximately where the Firestone building is today at the corner of Morris Boulevard and Cumberland Streets. He served as circuit court judge for a number of years, and was briefly a candidate for the House of Representatives, but left the race. He was President of the Lookout Bank, and later of the Merchant's Bank. He was also an attorney. Lily Rose, his daughter, suffered severe eye damage during an outbreak of measles at the age of eleven. She eventually went blind. She lived on 2nd North Street, and her life is a story all to itself.
Judge Rose had two daughters:
Jame Rose died on June 5, 1904 at his home in Morristown. He was buried at City Cemetery but has since been removed to Jarnigan Cemetery.