Judge Charles Rosa was born in Center Township, Rock County, on September 15, 1870. He worked on a farm until he was 18. Then he worked on the railroad for two years, attended Evansville Seminary, attended Beloit Academy and graduated from Beloit College in 1898 as salutatorian. He was principal of Edgerton, Wisconsin public schools for three years. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1903 and practiced law in Beloit with Harry W. Adams. He was elected Municipal Judge in 1906 and became senior partner in Rosa & Ritland Law firm in 1912. He served the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1912 through 1917 and was a lecturer at Beloit College in commercial law. He married Grace G. Chamberlin and they had four children.