Family Tree of
Rosa Jane Lester - Atkins (1864 to 1947)
Calhoun County, Alabama
Rosa Married John Thomas Atkins, A Civil War Veteran
This web page was made possible by researching some generic family information
originally provided on December 27, 1986 by Jason Lester Atkins,
Oldest Grandson of John Thomas Atkins and Rosa Jane Lester-Atkins, and
Oldest Son of Jesse Clifton Atkins and Virginia May Jarvis-Atkins.
The Family Tree of Rosa Jane Lester - Atkins
John Rosser: Born 1718 Charles City Co., VA. Died 1775 Brunswick Co., VA.
Married about 1738 in Albermarle Parish, VA to:
Elizabeth Leftwich: Born about 1722 VA. Died before June 1796 Greensville Co., VA.
John and Elizabeth had a son named James Rosser, Sr.
James Rosser, Sr.: Born March 15, 1739/40 VA. Died 1798/1800 Smithfield, NC.
Married 1765 in Virginia to:
Alice Worthing: Born about 1745 Charles City, VA. Died March 6, 1818 Johnston County, NC.
James and Alice had a son named William Issac Rosser.
William Issac Rosser: Born April 14, 1779 Smithfield, Johnston Co., NC. Died July 23, 1861, Decatur, DeKalb Co., GA.
Married March 13, 1802 in Smithfield, Johnston Co., NC to:
Elizabeth Vinson: Born August 28, 1785 Johnston Co., NC. Died December 23, 1847 DeKalb Co., GA.
William and Elizabeth had a daughter named Alice Elizabeth Rosser. (See Alfred Barker Davies.)
Thomas H. Davies: Born December 25, 1772. Died March 26, 1858.
Married to:
Susannah (Maiden Name Unknown): Born January 20, 1772 NC. Died August 2, 1839.
Thomas and Susannah had a son named Alfred Barker Davies.
Alfred Barker Davies: Born before 1803. Died between 1841-1847.
Married December 3, 1823 in Walton, GA to:
Alice Elizabeth Rosser: (See Above) Born February 5, 1808 Hancock Co., GA. Died January 11, 1894 Calhoun Co., AL.
Alfred and Alice had a daughter named Charlotte Elizabeth Davies. (See William H. Lester.)
Dr. Wade Lester: Born 1800 (Irish Descent). Died May 1845.
Married to:
Elizabeth Davis: Born January 27, 1801. Died September 13, 1890.
Wade and Elizabeth had a son named William H. Lester.
William H. Lester: Born about 1824 Meriwether, GA. Died after 1870 Texas.
Married December 3, 1844 in Campbell, GA to:
Charlotte Elizabeth Davies: (See Above) Born October 6, 1828 Walton, GA. Died December 30, 1894 Calhoun Co., AL.
William and Charlotte had a daughter named Rosa Jane Lester.
For additional information on many of the above individuals please visit the Rosser Family Web Site at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Emarkfreeman/rosser.html
Rosa Jane Lester:
Right Photo 1915 - Roas was 51 years old.
Born October 24, 1864 in Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama.
Died August 18, 1947 (Pneumonia - Age 83) in Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama.
Rosa was a survivor of many of life’s challenges and she was called a notable pioneer in her death notice in 1947. Rosa is buried near her mother, some of her brothers, and some of her children at:
Four Mile United Methodist Church between Anniston and Jacksonville, Alabama.
Rosa’s brother, James Wesley Lester, gave the land for the church and the cemetery at Four Mile.
Rosa was a scrappy, independent woman. She was of Welsh and Northern Irish descent. Her ancestors arrived in this country in the early 1700’s.
Rosa married Robert Porter (Born 1864) when she was a young woman but he died early and they only had one son who lived past childbirth, John Lucious Porter (Born October 28, 1884). On January 27, 1908 John married Ola Mahaley Easterling (March 29, 1881 to June 4, 1951).
Rosa’s second marriage in 1891 was to John Thomas Atkins, who was a Confederate Civil War Veteran (Corporal in the Alabama II Corps C.S.A.). John died in 1914 and he is buried at Union United Methodist Church Cemetery between Anniston and Gadsden, Alabama.
Rosa and John had six children (3 Boys, 3 Girls):
Son - Thomas Elisha Atkins: Nov. 7, 1893 to Aug. 3, 1973, Married Ola Mae Jennings.
Son - Jesse Clifton Atkins: Jan. 17, 1895 to Oct. 19, 1963, Married Virginia May Jarvis.
Daughter - Estell Ophelia Atkins: Jan. 1897 to 1918, Married E. L. Dyer.
Son - Lemuel Minus Atkins: 1899 to 1984, Married Flora (Maiden Name Unknown).
Daughter - Willie Inez Atkins: 1902, Married L. D. McLemor.
Daughter - Alice Columbia Atkins: 1903 to 1991, Married Ed West.
After her husband John's death, Rosa finished raising her children by herself.
Rosa's daughter, Estell Ophelia Atkins, married a Mr. E.L. Dyer and they had two daughters, Myrtle and Gladys Dyer. Ophelia died in the Flu Epidemic of 1918 and Rosa raised and took care of her two granddaughters for the next 16 years.
Rosa's daughter, Alice Columbia Atkins, married a Ed West. Alice took care of her brother Jesse Clifton Atkins’ seven children from 1934 to 1935 on her farm in Hapeville, Georgia during the middle of the Great Depression while her brother Jesse recovered from his grief at the loss of his wife, May.
Rosa’s family faced many trials and hardships but they always helped each other in times of great need. If you are one of Rosa's descendents, then that trait is in your blood. Cherish it.
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Permission to copy picture granted by Jason Lester Atkins and Robert Wayne Atkins on September 16, 2004.
Henry Atkins and Sarah Dendy-Atkins Family Tree Page
located at: http://www.grandpappy.info/atkins.htm
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