"The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." Portland, OR: Oregonian Publishing Co., 1894. pg. 206. AARON ROSE The story of the life of Aaron Rose, after whom the prosperous and promising town of Roseburg was named, and to whom the place owes everything for its present prosperous condition, presents an interesting narrative in connection with the early history and development of Douglas county. Mr. Rose, whose portrait is published with this sketch, is a pioneer in the true sense, he having crossed the plains from Michigan in 1851. He found his way to the Umpqua, inhabited at that time by a tribe of Indians of the name the valley now bears, and here he settled on a donation claim of 320 acres from the government, the site which Roseburg now occupies. Mr. Rose, although now in his 80th year, is still comparatively strong in body and mind, and he delights to tell of the struggles and hardships of the pioneer days in Oregon, and then contrast that period with the present in which life is a dream in comparison with that of the early settlers of the state. In the early days, however, Mr. Rose states, that money was more plentiful than provisions. Eggs and apples sold readily at $1 apiece, and flour at $1 a pound. Gold dust was the principal form of exchange, for even thus early gold discoveries were being made here on every hand. The site of Roseburg is a most natural one, being almost surrounded by a row of hills which afford perfect shelter. Unlike many of the early pioneers of Oregon who acquired vast areas of land, and who, in many instances, are adding to rather than disposing of any part of their landed possessions, Mr. Rose has ever held out the most liberal inducements for people to locate in Roseburg and join him in building up a flourishing city at this point. Every manufacturing enterprise, and many of the leading mercantile houses in Roseburg today, were given free sites and free lots. When the Southern Pacific railroad was being built through Oregon, Mr. Rose gave the company a land subsidy valued at $30,000 to run through Roseburg, which is now the end of one of the divisions of the road. To the Roseburg & Coos Bay railroad, now in course of construction, Mr. Rose gave five acres of land for the depot facilities. Every church in Roseburg, of which there are eight, was given a lot free and money in addition to aid in the construction of the buildings. Mr. Rose, besides being Roseburg's chiefest benefactor, has also done much for charity. The poor and needy have never appealed to him in vain for deserved assistance. Prior to 1860 Mr. Rose gave most of his time to farming, but since then he has devoted himself to the building up of Roseburg, having become interested in the various city enterprises, both as a shareholder and in encouraging such institutions as city water works, electric lights, etc., by giving liberal bonuses. Mr. Rose owns the New Era flouring mills which have a daily capacity of 75 barrels, and a warehouse capacity of 25,000 bushels. The father and founder of Roseburg, although having passed the noontime of life, is today just as ambitious for the welfare of the town as he has always been, and his hope that Roseburg shall be the foremost city in Southern Oregon seems likely to be fulfilled, even during the life of its earliest promoter.