Sunday, November 29, 2009

Edna A. (Metzger) Rockwell

Grand Blanc-Fenton

ROCWELL, Edna A. – of Grand Blanc, age 88, passed away Sunday, July 15, 1984, at Crestmont Manor. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Wednesday, July 18, 1984, at the Hill funeral Home, Grand Blanc, Rev. John Flora officiating. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Clio. In Lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Crestmont Manor in memory of Edna Rockwell. Visitation from 6-9 PM Monday and 2-4 and 6-9 PM Tuesday. Mrs. Rockwell was born in Mulberry, Indiana, February 9, 1896, the daughter of Perry and Martha (Shively) Metzger. She married Sharon J. Rockwell, December 24, 1919. She was a member of Old Order German Baptist Church of Ash Grove District, Ohio. Surviving are: husband, Sharon J. Rockwell; 5 children, Kenneth and Joyce Rockwell, Thelma and Robert Kinsey, Mildred and Richard Harris, Howard and Ella Rockwell, Josephine and Allan Davis; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Minnie Wagoner of Flora, Indiana; many nieces and nephews.

Sharon J. Rockwell Obituary

ROCKWELL, Sharon J. – of Grand Blanc, age 90, passed away Monday, October 7, 1985, at Crestmont Medical Care Facility. Funeral services will be held at 1PM Thursday, October 10, at Hill Funeral Home, Grand Blanc, John Flora officiating. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Clio. Contributions may be given to the Crestmont Medical Care Facility. Suggested visiting hours, 6-9PM Tuesday, 2-4 and 6-9 Wednesday. Mr. Rockwell was born near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, February 5, 1895, the son of John H. and Jennie E. (Smith) Rockwell. He married Edna A. Metzger of Browning, Illinois, on December 24, 1919, she preceded him in death in 1984. He was a member of the Old German Baptist Church of Ash Grove District, Lima, Ohio. Surviving are: 5 children, Kenneth and Joyce Rockwell, Thelma and Robert Kinsey, Mildred and Richard Harris, Howard and Ella Rockwell, Josephine and Allan Davis; 12 grand-children; 17; great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Kenneth Rockwell Obituary

ROCKWELL, Kenneth E. - Age 85, of Swartz Creek, died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at Avalon Hospice. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at Bristol United Methodist Church, G-5285 Van Slyke Road, Flint with Rev. Dr. Olaf Lidums officiating. Entombment will follow in Crestwood Cemetery, Grand Blanc. Visitation will be held at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek from 6-8 PM Monday and 1-4 and 6-8 PM Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Bristol United Methodist Church or Avalon Hospice. Kenneth was born March 15, 1921 in Scottville, the son of Sharon and Edna (Metzger) Rockwell. He graduated from Grand Blanc High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Tech 5 in Field Artillery. He was married to Joyce E. Bentley on September 21, 1946 in Flint. He retired from A.C. Spark Plug in 1980 after 39 years of service. Kenneth was an active member and treasurer of Bristol United Methodist Church, a member of Industrial Executive's Club, Model Airplane Club of Swartz Creek, and Past President of the Flats Condo Campground in Sanford. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughter Reushan K. and husband Charles Russian of Sanford; grandchildren, C. Donovan and wife, Tanya Russian of Flushing and Dacia and husband, Joseph Albaugh of Spring Lake; great-grandson, C. Brendon Russian; 3 sisters, Thelma and husband Robert Kinsey of Davison, Mildred and husband, Richard Harris of Flint, Josephine Davis of Flint; brother, Howard and wife, Ella Rockwell of Mt. Morris; sister-in-law, Phyllis Bentley of Swartz Creek; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Friends may send condolences or post tributes at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Descendants of John Henry Rockwell

1. John Henry Rockwell was born July 12, 1847 in Pennsylvania, and died May 09, 1933 in Mt. Vernon, OH. He married Rebecca Jane Smith March 20, 1873, daughter of Daniel Smith and Elizabeth Atherton. She was born June 10, 1856 in Knox Co., OH, and died July 27, 1915 in Mt. Vernon, OH?.

Children of John Rockwell and Rebecca Smith are:

2 i. Clyde George Rockwell, born March 19, 1876 in Ohio; died September 09, 1968 in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., OH. He married Stella E. ??? 1899; born September 1880 in Ohio; died Bef. September 09, 1968.

3 ii. Hattie Rockwell, born Abt. 1882. She married Charles Beckholt 1899; born Abt. 1878 in Ohio; died May 31, 1962 in Knox Co., OH.

4 iii. Nellie M. Rockwell, born July 10, 1884 in Ohio; died September 04, 1958. She married James W. Lahmon Abt. 1900; born Abt. 1868 in Ohio; died December 03, 1932 in Licking, OH.

5 iv. Robert Roy Rockwell, born June 26, 1885 in Knox,OH; died February 1966 in Mt. Vernon, OH. He married Emma Shehee; born Abt. 1895 in Ohio.

6 v. Mary Elizabeth Rockwell, born October 23, 1889 in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., OH; died July 11, 1970 in Lima, Allen Co., OH. She married Noah Henry Flora August 11, 1914 in Weston, Dunn Co., WI; born January 21, 1886 in Cerra Gordo, IL; died October 18, 1954 in Lima, Allen Co., OH.

7 vi. John Daniel Rockwell, born April 25, 1892 in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., OH; died February 26, 1976 in North Manchester, IN. He married (1) Lora Ellen Flora January 19, 1913 in Dunn Co., WI; born October 31, 1887 in Cerro Gordo, Piatt Co.,IL; died May 14, 1923 in Mexico, IN. He married (2) Laura Bainter March 03, 1928 in Goshen, IN; born July 01, 1904 in ?; died Unknown in ?.

8 vii. Sharon J. Rockwell, born February 05, 1895 in Liberty Twp., Knox Co., OH; died October 07, 1985. He married Edna A. Metzger December 24, 1919; born February 09, 1896 in Mulberry, IN; died July 15, 1984.

9 viii. ? Rockwell, born Unknown.

Misc Newspaper Clippings

Note: There may be more than one Charles Beckholt family.

The Newark Advocate,
June 12, 1933 - Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan spent the past week in Mt. Vernon, the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Rockwell.

The Newark Advocate, January 13, 1904 - Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt of Fairview, attended church at Owl Creek Sunday evening.

The Newark Advocate, August 3, 1933 - Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan were guests of his parents near Mt. Vernon Sunday.

The Newark Advocate, September 29, 1933 - Mr. and Mrs. Alva Patterson, Ruth and Franklin Patterson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Mitchell of Newark.

The Newark Advocate, April 9, 1930 - Mr. and Mrs. James Lahmon have gone to hunt station to reside with Charles Beckholt.

The Newark Advocate, March 7, 1938 - Dinner guests at the A.V. Patterson home Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Jo Anne and Charlene, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. James McMillen, Newark, and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Patterson and son, Frazeysburg.

The Newark Advocate, August 25, 1933 - Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan were the Sunday guests of his parents near Mt. Vernon Sunday.

The Newark Advocate, August 16, 1934 - Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter accompanied Mr. and Mrs. William Bush of Frazeysburg as guests of friends in Parkersburg, W. Va.

The Newark Advocate, September 8 1933 - Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Mitchell of Newark, Mr. and Mr.s Alva Patterson and daughter Ruth and son Franklin were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan.

The Zanesville Signal, February 2, 1937 - Mrs. A.R. Patterson is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Charles Beckholt and family at Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

The Zanesville Signal, August 15, 1952 - Mr. and Mrs. Alva Patterson have been visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt in Michigan.

The Zanesville Signal, July 2, 1949 - Mrs. Charles Beckholt and children of Granville, Mich., spend the past week visting at the home of Mrs. Franklin Patterson of Nashport.

The Newark Advocate, September 1, 1933 - Mrs. and Mrs. Merilyn Reaily and son Billie, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan attended the Layman reunion Sunday at Olde Mill, near Utica.

The Newark Advocate, July 19, 1934 - Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and daughter Joan spent Sunday as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Rockwell and son of Mt. Vernon.

The Zanesville Signal, April 7, 1937 - Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beckholt and children, Joan and Charlene, of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., are visiting Mrs. Beckholt's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Patterson.

Note: There may be two different Charles Beckholt families represented here.


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Misc Newspaper Clippings

The Coschocton Tribune, October 2, 1930 - Mrs. James Hoyman, son, Leslie, of Esto, Charles Beckholt and Mrs. Neille (sic) Lahmon of Hunt station, spent Thursday with Mrs. Margaret Flack.

The Newark Advocate, August 13, 1958 - The following patients were moved in the Criss ambulance: Mrs. Nellie Lahmon, 136 Orchard St., to Newark Hospital.................

The Advocate, March 12, 1949 - Mrs. Ada Booth and daughter Flo called Sunday on Elmer Booth and Nellie Lahmon of Newark.

The Newark Advocate, December 8, 1932 - Card of Thanks - We wish to extend our thanks to Rev. C. Smith, Carl C. Law, all relatives, neighbors and friends for their help and comfort in our great sorry. Earl and Nellie Lahmon.

The Newark Advocate, March 5, 1935 - Mrs. Bertha Evans has moved here from Cleveland and is residing in the Mrs. Nellie Lahmon property in Central avenue.

The Newark Advocate, November 17, 1948 - Mrs. Nellie Lahmon of Maple City, Mich., is spending a few days with Mrs. Ada Booth and family.



Saturday, November 21, 2009

Esther F. (Kinney) Rockwell Obituary

Esther F. Rockwell

April 20, 1919 ~ November 07, 2009


Esther F. Rockwell, age 90, of 253 Village Drive, Johnstown, died on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Northview Senior Living Center in Johnstown, Ohio. She was born on April 20, 1919 in Caldwell, Ohio to the late Lloyd and Blanche (Apperson) Kinney. Esther and her late husband Roy Rockwell owned and operated Rockwell Furniture in Mount Vernon. She was a past member of the Colonial City Ladies of the Moose in Mount Vernon.

She is survived by a daughter, Marilyn (Charles) Parker of Johnstown, five grandchildren, Randall Rockwell, Renee Rockwell, Mark Gatchell, Kirk Gatchell, Troy Gatchell, two step grandchildren, Amy Williams and Charles Parker II, two great grandchildren and four step great grandchildren.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Russell Rockwell, a brother, Clarence Kinney and three sisters, Elma Porter, Virginia Briggs and Marie Cregar.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at 2 PM at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, 201 Newark Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 where friends may call one hour prior. Rev. Kim Alten will be officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road, Newark, Ohio 43055.

This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com

The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Esther F. Rockwell.


Roy L. Rockwell Obituary

Roy L. Rockwell

October 24, 1913 ~ August 29, 2007


Roy L. Rockwell, age 93, of Mount Vernon, died on Wednesday August 29, 2007 at the Northview Senior Living Center in Johnstown, Ohio. He was born on October 24, 1913 in Mount Vernon, Ohio to the late Robert and Emma (Shehee) Rockwell. Roy was employed at Timken Roller Bearing during World War Two. He later opened Rockwell Appliance on Columbus Road in 1939 and moved to Harcourt Road in 1962, changing the name of the company to Rockwell Furniture. Mr. Rockwell retired from the furniture business in 1972 and moved to Punta Gorda, Florida where he became a successful real estate agent. He retired from real estate in 2002, at the age of 88, and moved back to Mount Vernon to be closer to his family. In 2007 he moved to Johnstown, nearer his daughter. He was a past member of the Moose and Elks Lodge of Mount Vernon.

He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years Esther (Kinney) Rockwell, a daughter, Marilyn (Charles) Parker of Johnstown, Ohio, five grandchildren, Randall Rockwell, Renee Rockwell, Mark Gatchell, Kirk Gatchell, Troy Gatchell, two step grandchildren, Amy Williams and Charlie Parker, two great grandchildren and four step great grandchildren.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a son Russell Rockwell, a brother, Robert Rockwell, two sisters, Helen McElroy and Hazel Parker.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday September 5, 2007 at 2 PM at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon where friends may call two hours prior. Rev. Kim Alten will be officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road, Newark, Ohio 43055.

This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com


View original by clicking here.

Rockwell Family Help

The 1850 US Federal Census shows John living with his parents in Miller Township, Knox County, Ohio.

John Rockwell age 36, Labor, born Maryland?
Rebecca Rockwell age 28, born Penn?
Sarah Rockwell age 17, born Penn
William Rockwell age 12, born Penn, attended school within the year
Talbot Rockwell age 10, born Penn, attended school within the year
Lewis Rockwell age 8, born Penn, attended school, within the year
Mary Ann Rockwell age 6, born Penn, attended school within the year
John Rockwell age 3, born Penn


The 1840 US Federal Census shows a handful John Rockwells living in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

John Rockwell, Gibson, Darke Co., Ohio
John Rockwell, Aurora, Portage Co., Ohio
John Rockwell, Air, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania
John Rockwell, Spring Garden Ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
John F. Rockwell, Lawrence, Tioga Co., Pennsylvania

Some sources show John and Rebecca being married in Darke Co., Ohio. Based on this and the census information it appears possible that the John Rockwell living in Gibson, Darke Co., Ohio is our John Rockwell.

The 1840 Census shows one male child under 5 years of age (Talbot or William?) and one male 20 & under 30 (John).Also shown is One female 5 & under 10 (Sarah?) and one female 15 & under 20 (Rebecca?). However, it is thought Sarah was born about 1833 (not confirmed) which would have made her mother (Rebecca) about 13 years of age at the time of Sarah’s birth. This seems rather unlikely, although not unheard of. It is possible the census is off a year or two in either direction which would help things make more sense.

The rest of the John Rockwell’s listed in the 1840 US Federal Census do not have children that fit our projected timeline nearly as well as the John Rockwell from Darke Co., Ohio.


Currently we have no information on the Rockwell family prior to the dates listed above.

Smith Family Help

The 1860 US Federal Census shows Daniel (David) Smith and his family living in Milford Township, Knox County, Ohio.

David Smith, age 36, personal estate valued at $50, born Ohio
Elizabeth Smith, age 27, born Ohio
Sarah Smith, age 6, born Ohio
Rebecca Smith, age 4, born Ohio
George Smith, age 6/12, born Ohio
Close by was a Charles and Olive Smith age 27 and 20 respectively. Both are listed as being born in Ohio. It is currently unknown what the relationship was between both families.

The 1850 US Federal Census shows Daniel F. Smith living with his parents and grandmother in Miller Township, Knox County, Ohio.

James Smith, age 51, laborer, born New Jersey, no value of real estate listed (likely owned no property)
Eunice Smith, age 53, born New Hampshire
Daniel F. Smith, age 24, laborer, born Ohio
Lydia Hilliard, (likely Eunice’s mother) age 75, born Connecticut
The Stephen and Lydia Smith family also lived close by as well as Bradley and Mary Smith. Stephen and Bradley would be the right age to be brothers of Daniel but this is only conjecture at this point.

The 1840 US Federal Census shows four James Smith living in Knox County, Ohio. Milford, Pleasant, Morgan, and Berlin are the townships where the four lived.
The most likely prospect based on the age of the family members is the James Smith family in Milford Township. The James Smith family living in Milford Township, Knox Co., Ohio are shown as having two male children 10 & under 15 (Daniel?), one 15 & under 20, one 20 & under 30 and one 40 & under 50 (James?). These males could account for Daniel as well as Stephen and Bradley. However, we would still be missing one male. One female 40 & under 50 (Eunice?) is also shown.

The 1830 US Federal Census shows five James Smith living in Knox County, Ohio. Martinsburg, Milford, Mount Vernon, Bloomfield, and Morgan are the townships where the five lived. The one that best fits is James Smith, Jr. in Milford Township. The family includes 2 males under 5 years of age, 1 five and under ten, one 10 and under fifteen and 1 twenty and under thirty (James?). Also in the family was one female thirty and under forty (Eunice?). If this James Smith, Jr. is the father of our Daniel Smith then it would stand to reason that James Jr.’s father was also known as James Smith.

There is mention of a “Rev. James Smith, who came in 1808 (to Knox County), and was the First Methodist clergyman. It also appears that there was a lawyer in the area named James Smith, Jr. However, much of this is speculation at this point and I’m not yet convinced that any of the information shown for after 1860 is correct.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Clyde & Stella Rockwell Family

Looking for more information on this family.

Clyde was born in March of 1876 in Ohio and died in September 1968 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He married Stella E. ??? in 1899. Stella was born in September 1880. They had at least one child, Rutha E. Rockwell who was born in November 1899.