Son of Howell S. and Mary Durham Rose. His family moved to Missouri shortly after his birth. In April of 1849 Rose left for California where he panned $80, 000 in gold before selling out for $100,000 and returning to Missouri. He married Sallie Ann Austin in 1854. They followed family members to Onion Creek, Travis County, Texas in October of 1857, moving on to Bastrop County in 1858 and then settling in San Saba County, Texas by Jan 1860. He ranched and established a same community with a grist and saw mills and school.

Because of almost constant Lipan Apaches and Comanche raids, Rose became lieutenant of frontier minutemen that patrolled the area. The unit was later incorporated into The Confederate Army and Rose served as a Major. Between February 6 and June 1, 1864, he served with the Second Frontier Regiment under Maj. George B. Erath. He had sold out and moved to Salado, Bell County, Texas by 1870.

Rose was instrumental in in organizing the Texas State Grange and helped draft it's constitution and bylaws in 1874. He would serve this organization from 1880 to 1891 was Worthy Master.

He served as the president of the board of directors of Texas A&M from1891 to 1896. He was also a trustee of Salado College and of the Salado public school. Governor Charles A. Culbersonqv made Rose commissioner of agriculture, insurance, statistics, and history in 1894. He upported the Texas State Library in acquiring important historic manuscripts. He joined the Texas State Historical Associationqv in its first year

A. J. Rose served as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in 1887.
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ROSE, A. J.
Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History
Was born in Casewell County, North Carolina, September 3, 1830. His father, H. S. Rose, was a farmer whose ancestors were among the first settlers of North Carolina.
His mother was, before her marriage, Miss Mary Durham; her family likewise pioneers of North Carolina. In the early days of that state, H. S. Rose, moved with his family onto the frontier in Missouri, lived in Howard and Randolph counties, and in the year 1836, or 1837, moved to Macon County. Our subject was then a small boy of about six years, still he vividly remembers the skeleton Indian tepees, located on the old homestead, that been but recently abandoned when the family settled in that section. The father secured land from the government, developed a pioneer home, and lived there until his death in 1846. He was an active and enterprising man who delighted in frontier life, and took a prominent part in developing the Macon County country. Of his eight children, five grew to maturity and our subject was of these the eldest.
He spent his youth on his father's farm; went overland to the gold diggings of California, with seven others in 1849; returned to his home in Missouri in 1853; farmed there until 1857 and then moved overland to Texas with his young wife and settled in Travis County and engaged in raising stock, principally horses; removed to San Saba County, purchased land there and opened up a fine irrigated farm; during the war did valiant service, first as Lieutenant and afterwards as Major, in keeping the hostile Indians of western Texas in check, kept up his farming operations and furnished large quantities of corn to the needy families of Confederate soldiers; at last, owing to the too frequent raids and hostility of the Indians, sold out his property and in February, 1868 moved to Bell County; lived near Belton for two years and in 1870 moved to Salado, which is now his unofficial home.
Major Rose was married June 18, 1854, to Miss Sallie A. Austin of Missouri, daughter of Walker and Euphama (McKinney) Austin. The McKinney family was among the earliest settlers of Texas. Thomas F. McKinney, uncle of Mrs. Rose, came to Texas in 1834, was one of the old Santa Fe traders, and was instrumental in selecting the site of Austin.
Following are the names of the children born to Major and Mrs. Rose: Alice E., wife of T. H. Russell, of Bell County; Mary H. wife of A.J. Mackey, of Lampasas County; W. S. a farmer in Bell County; Beatrice, wife of Levi Anderson of Bell County Sallie A., wife of George W. Perry of Macon County Mo., and Callie M. wife of Prof. W. H. Bainbridge, principal of the Salado public schools; A. J. Jr., and Louselle, still at home with their parents.
Major Rose was Master of Salado Grange for six years from December 1873: was Lecturer of the State Grange in 1875; was Overseer in 1877, and for eleven years from and including 1881, was Master of the State Grange. He became a member of San Saba Lodge No. 225, A. F. and A. M., in October 1861; was made a Master Mason in December 1861; in 1862 was made S. W. and in 1863 Master of San Saba Lodge and filled that position until he removed from San Saba County in 1868; in 1868, affiliated with Belton Lodge No. 166, and was elected Master the same meeting; in 1863 received the Royal Arch and Appendant degrees in Mt Horeb chapter, in 1864 the Council degrees at Austin and in 1872 the Knight Templar degrees in Colorado Commandry No. 4; served as Master of Salado Lodge No, 296 and as secretary for four years; was a charter member of San Saba Chapter and served as its High Priest also served as High Priest of Belton Chapter No. 76, and was a charter member of Salado Chapter, its first High Priest and held the position consecutively for twenty-one years; was elected in 1882 R. W. Grand Junior Warden of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, and was advanced step by step until chosen M. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge.
Major Rose joined the Missionary Baptist church at San Saba in 1861 and is now treasurer and a deacon of the Baptist church at Salado.
Having served efficiently for more than twenty years on school and College boards, (Salado college, Salado public schools and Baylor Female college) he was appointed by Governor Ross in 1887 a member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and in 1889 was elected President of the Board, which also had control of the affairs of the Prairie View Normal School, a position that he still retains and in which he has rendered invaluable service to those institutions, the cause of education and the state at large. In January 1895, Major Rose was appointed Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History by Governor Culbertson. The affairs of this department have never been better managed than under his administration. The appropriations for its support do not exceed $10,000 annually; the receipts that it turned into the state treasury during the past fiscal year exceeded $79,000. Major Rose has filled the numerous positions of trust that have been confided to him with marked fidelity to duty in the broad sense that he has ever interpreted it. --Texas State Government: A Volume of Biographical Sketches and Passing Comment, E. H. Loughery, McLeod & Jackson, 1897