Rose, Dale

Dale Rose, born in Missouri City, Missouri, on May 8, 1872, was an enterprising farmer and stockman who became a prominent figure in Fresno County, California. Following the early death of his father, W. R. Rose, his mother, Isabelle Rose, married Byron D. Ballard and brought young Dale to California in 1873. He grew up in Kern and Tulare counties, ending his school years at age fifteen to ride the range, rope and brand cattle, and eventually drive large mule teams into Nevada. He also explored mining and prospecting, successfully implementing hydraulic power at the Laurel Diggings near Summit and later working in a Fresno assay office alongside Copper King Mine discoverer Charles Knepper.

In 1898, Dale married Mariposa County native Menga Marks in Madera, and the couple went on to raise three children named Isabelle Ruth, Warren M., and Gilbert F. He established his own ranching operations in Auberry Valley before purchasing a permanent 480 acre property on the Fresno and Auberry road in 1905. He achieved agricultural distinction as the first person in his part of the county to sow Soudan grass, while also specializing in raising golden gamma dry land wheat for seed on 100 acres of his land. Operating a massive range in the Jose Basin with a unique hat and inverted hat brand, he was an active member of the California Cattlemen’s Association and served several terms as a trustee for the historic Millerton school district.