John Rossman, M. D., a prominent physician of Schoharie County and a resident of Middleburg, was born in the town of Fulton on March 8, 1847, his parents being George and Marietta (Beard) Rossman. His first ancestors in this country came from Germany, and were among the early settlers of Columbia County, Yew York. His grandfather, whose name was Christopher, was born in that county, and lived there during early life. Before the birth of his son George, Christopher Rossman removed to Schoharie County and settled in Summit, where he passed the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Rossman, whose maiden name was Lana Mickel, was born in Schoharie of an old family. She was the mother of fourteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. They were named as follows: George, Mary, John, Betsy, William, Christina, Nathaniel, Phoebe, David, Lucy, Charles, Huldah, Jane, and Cassie.
Dr. Rossman's father was born in Summit, received his education in the common schools there, and subsequently removed to Fulton, where he bought a farm and resided until his death, at the age of forty-seven. Politically, George Rossman was at first a Republican and later a Democrat. For twenty-two years he served as a Justice of the Peace. He was twice married. His first wife, Marietta, who died when their son John was four years of age, was born in Richmondville. She was a daughter of Jacob Beard, and one of a family of four children. Her father was a farmer of that town, and subsequently of Fulton. Late in life he removed to Genesee County, where he died at the advanced age of ninety. Mrs. Marietta B. Rossman was the mother of two children. Her daughter, Louise, is deceased. The second wife of George Rossman was before her marriage Marcia Holmes. She also was born in Fulton, of one of the old families. She died at the age of forty.
John Rossman in his boyhood and youth secured a good common-school education in the public schools, which he attended both summer and winter. In 1865 he began to read medicine with Dr. J. D. Wheeler, of Middleburg, and in 1868 he was graduated at the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery. He began practising with Dr. Wheeler, but at the end of a year went to West Fulton and started an independent practice. Three years later he returned and again engaged with his former partner, but after a year of joint work the two doctors' severed their connection, and since then Dr. Rossman has worked alone. He has built up a large general practice, and is now the oldest physician in town in point of service.
The Doctor married his first wife, Mary, the daughter of Cornelius Bouck, in 1869. She died at the age of twenty-eight, leaving three children — Marietta, Anna A., and Charles H. Marietta married M. J. Vroman, and is the mother of three children — Cecil, Lena, and Marguerite. Anna is the wife of Dr. Simpkins of this town. Charles married Agnes McLean, and has one child, Marion, by name. The Doctor's second wife, whose maiden name was Lizzie B. Smith, is a native of Middleburg, and the daughter of Silas Smith. She is a member of the Episcopal church, but an attendant of the Reformed church.
For the past fifteen years Dr. Rossman has been Health Officer of the town, holding his office by annual re-elections. He is an active and influential member of the Schoharie Medical Society, and was secretary of the Board of Pension Examiners for the county. He is a Democrat, but never an office-seeker; in fact, he has never been willing to accept public office, except in cases where it has seemed plainly his duty to do so. He is a member of Middleburg Lodge, No. 663, F. & A. M.; of John L. Lewis Chapter, No. 229; of St. George's Commandery, No. 37; La Bastile Lodge, No. 494, I. O. O. F.; and Middleburg Encampment, No. 129. In the Blue Lodge he has held all the offices, having been Master for two years, and secretary and junior Warden for the same length of time each. He is Past Noble Grand of the Subordinate Lodge of this district, and Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment, and was District Deputy for two years. For seven years he has been president of the Middleburg Cemetery Organization.