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 Rose Law Firm, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi River, traces its origin to November 1, 1820, before Arkansas statehood, when Robert Crittenden, born 1797, and Chester Ashley, born 1791, entered into an agreement for a "Partnership in the Practice of Law." This Partnership Agreement hangs on the wall of the firm's boardroom as a reminder of the long and storied history of the firm.
 At the age of 22, Crittenden was appointed as Lieutenant Governor of the Arkansas Territory by President James Monroe, and was responsible for organizing the new Territory, which he governed for more than a year until the arrival of Governor James Miller. Ashley and Crittenden dissolved their partnership in 1832. The dissolution may have been prompted by Crittenden's temper. In 1827, Henry W. Conway, who had served two terms in Congress, won his third term in a race against Crittenden. Crittenden challenged Conway to a duel over statements made during the race. Crittenden mortally wounded Congressman Conway in the duel which was fought across the Mississippi River at the mouth of the White River, a favorite dueling site of the day. Crittenden died in 1834, at age 37, while arguing a case before a jury in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Ashley was joined in the practice of law by George Watkins in 1837. In 1844 Ashley was elected to the United States Senate and served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Watkins became the Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1852.
 In 1865, "Rose" was added to the partnership name in recognition of the addition of U. M. Rose, who was a student of history, science, philosophy, and literature, as well as an accomplished lawyer and linguist. As one of the founders of the American Bar Association, U. M. Rose was elected its president in 1900. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Rose the United States representative to the Second Hague Peace Conference in 1902. His accomplishments and contributions to his country were recognized by the placement of his statue in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. U. M. Rose died on August 12, 1913. In 1958, United States Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter wrote: "In my early years at the bar, U. M. Rose was one of the luminaries of our profession - not merely a very distinguished practitioner but a highly cultivated, philosophic student of civilization and of the role of law and the lawyers in the progress of civilization. Mr. Rose inspired me in my formative years as a lawyer."
 U. M. Rose's son, George B. Rose, joined the partnership in 1881 and brought to it his photographic memory, command of six foreign languages, and passion for art. He was the author of the book titled Renaissance Masters. George B. Rose practiced until his death in 1943 at the age of 82.
Wilson E. Hemingway resigned as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1893 to become a partner in the firm of Rose, Hemingway and Rose.
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