Thaddeus L. Rose, the popular and efficient agent of the L & N.
railroad at Georgiana, Ala., was born in Yazoo county, Miss., on the
14th of January, 1855.  He is the eldest son of E. D. L. Rose and
Jane (Hyatt) Rose, a family of English descent.  His father was a native
of Virginia, born in the year 1819.  After graduating at Yale college,
be married and moved to Macon, Ga., thence to Yazoo City, Miss., and
from the latter place to Selma, Ala., where the family lived during
the Civil war, in which the father took a part.  After the war the
family, having lost all their possessions, moved to Washington county,
Ala., where, broken in health and unused to battle for the necessities
of life, the father died on the 14th of February, 1869.

After  his death the family removed to State Line, Miss., where
Thaddeus  L. entered the railroad office of the M. & 0. and took upon
himself the responsibility of supporting and caring for his mother and
younger brothers and sisters.  

At the early age of fourteen he was in sole charge of the office and
became known all along the line as the "baby agent."  After several
years, his efficiency secured him an appointment in the city of Mobile,
where he remained until 1880 when, after a short sojourn in
Montgomery, be was stationed at Georgiana, where he has since had
charge of the railroad interests and cotton yard.  In his line of work
he is conceded to be a model of faithfulness and efficiency and bears
the reputation of being one of the most expert and rapid telegraphers
on the L. & N. system.  In fact, his services have been so efficient
that he has been presented by the general manager of the great L & N.
system with a certificate designating him "the model agent of their line." 

Having the burden of a family thrown upon him at so early an
age, Mr. Rose found himself handicapped so far as an education was
concerned.  He had inherited his father's taste for books, however, and
with the aid of an accomplished and devoted mother lie soon mastered
the common branches, and by persistent study has made himself familiar
with most of the sciences and classics.  For the past few years he has
given much attention to the study of the law, upon the practice of
which profession he contemplates entering in the not far distant
future.

The lack of educational advantages in his youth impressed Mr.
Rose most forcibly with the idea that every young person should be
given as much encouragement in that line as possible, and beginning
with a younger brother and sister whom he has given a classical
education out of his own earnings, he has taken delight in instilling
into the minds of the young people with whom he has come in contact a
desire for higher educational training, and many a young man has found
in him a mend both morally and financially.  Untiring in his interest 
in this direction, he has carefully educated and fitted for life's 
duties a number of young men, who all now occupy remunerative and 
responsible positions.

Mr. Rose is not only a suave and polished gentleman and a brilliant
and interesting conversationalist, but he adds to these an enviable
reputation as a platform orator.  Early in life he began to cultivate
his natural gift for public speaking, and when too c1ose attention to
office work found him in failing health, he conceived, and, with his
characteristic energy, carried out the idea of addressing the people
upon educational topics.  He traveled for one year in this way over the
greater part of the southern states, and not only recovered his health
but gained a fine reputation as a lecturer.

In March of 1891, Mr. Rose decided to gratify his longing for travel,
and, joining a party of thirty or forty, he made the voyage across the
ocean.  During his absence he visited all the points of interest on the
continent of Europe, and from thence passed on to Egypt and the Holy
Land.  Since his return home he has lectured in different places on the
experiences of his trip.  These lectures are the source of great
benefit to the people to whom they are addressed, as they are
primarily intended to reach a large class of the public who do not read
much, with a view to aid them in a better understanding of the Bible
and the necessity for a rational, everyday religion.  Wherever he has
lectured in the rural districts, thousands have gathered from every
direction to listen to his discourses - - many traveling a distance of
thirty miles or more - - and in many instances the lecture rooms were too
small for the accommodation of the vast audiences.  

A quotation from a newspaper account of one of his lectures will serve 
to show how he is appreciated:  "He is a pleasant, fluent and graceful 
speaker.  His lecture was extempore with nothing cut and dried and 
memorized, and it was a real treat to hear this cultured gentleman speak 
of his varied Oriental experiences.  In private conversation he is 
charming in his delineation of the people and the countries with which 
he has come in contact, but when in a crowded house, with the inspiration 
of an intelligent audience to give him a hearing, he is simply unsurpassed."  

Mr. Rose has never married. Death claimed his sainted mother on the 
14th of May, 1878, since which time he has lived a bachelor's life, 
wedded to his work and to his books. He bears the reputation of being 
generous to the needy, and is a consistent member ofthe Baptist church.