Rosser Family Photograph Collection, 1865-1909

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195
Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred citation:

Rosser Family Photograph Collection, 1865-1909 (VC 0054), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
13 photographs
Creator:
unknown
Abstract:
The Rosser family lived primarily in Alabama and Mississippi, but they had Virginia connections. This photographic collection contains thirteen items: eleven cabinet cards, one postcard, and one carte-de-visite.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Rosser Family Photograph Collection, 1865-1909 (VC 0054), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

This photographic collection contains thirteen items: eleven cabinet cards, one postcard, and one carte-de-visite.

Biographical / historical:

Thomas Henry Rosser (1818-1897), born in North Carolina, married Maria Louisa Archer (1820-1904) of Petersburg, Virginia in 1848. They had the following children: Elizabeth Rosser Fisher (b. 1840), Henry Nollner (1844-1919), Thomas (b. 1845), Joseph Fletcher (1847-1926), Laura (b. 1848), Walter Erwin (b. 1851), William Cook (1852-1931), and George D. (b. 1864).

In the summer of 1856, the family was residing in Petersburg, VA. Sometime during 1856 Rosser led one hundred men and their families to settle in the new territory of Kansas. As a result of increasing tensions between antislavery and proslavery factions in Kansas the party withdrew to Missouri. While in Missouri Rosser was selected to serve as a colonel in the newly formed "Army of Law and Order of Kansas," a proslavery militia. The militia fought against the forces of John Brown, but was then disbanded. Rosser remained in Missouri working as a druggist until he enlisted in March of 1862 with the 3rd Battalion Missouri Infantry. Later, Rosser served with the Missouri Infantry First Regiment State Guard and was promoted to colonel on 9 September 1861. Before the end of the Civil War, Rosser was transferred to Selma, Alabama and served in the Alabama 62nd infantry.

Rosser's son, Henry, joined Company E of the Alabama Cavalry Battalion on August of 1863 as a sergeant. In 1869, Henry graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He married Lillian N. Averett (b. 1843) in April of 1884 in Jefferson, Alabama. They had Henry N. (b. 1874), James R. (b. 1877), Jennie May (1885-1952), Mariah L. (b. 1887), Lillian E. (1890-1977) and Walter Averett (1896-1953).

By 1870, Thomas Henry and two of his sons, Thomas and Joseph Fletcher, were working in retail as grocers. Henry was employed as a physician and William was working as a clerk. Elizabeth was married with three daughters. In 1887, Thomas Henry was appointed Postmaster of Dallaston, Alabama. He died on 22 May 1897 and is buried with his wife in Selma, AL.

In 1883, Joseph Fletcher married Mary, "Mamie" Reese (1856-1896). Joseph was employed as a bookkeeper. Their children were: Joseph Reese (b. 1880), Susan Reese (1886-1968), and Thomas H. (b. 1888).The family remained in Selma, AL. Joseph's wife died in 1896 and Joseph died in 1926 in Atlanta, Georgia. By 1940, Susan was living with her uncle, George D. Rosser, and his wife in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Susan moved back to Birmingham, AL in 1958, where she died ten years later.

Walter Erwin Rosser married Bessie Boyd (1861-1939) and had six children, including Bessie Boyd (1884-1963). Bessie graduated from Charity Hospital of New Orleans, Louisiana as a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse in Montgomery, AL and joined the Army Nurse Corp during World War I. She later moved to San Diego and is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

Lida Lavina Rosser (1889-1975) married George Matthews Meriwether (1883-1961) and had two daughters, Lida Rosser (1913-1923), who died at age nine, and Louise (b. 1916). The family lived in Birmingham, AL and Jackson, Mississippi.

On 10 May 1915, Henry's son, Walter Averett, married Florence Alexander (1894-1944). By 1930, they had two sons and two daughters, and Walter worked as a photographer. He died in 1953. By 1930, Henry's daughter, Lillian E. moved to Miami, Florida where she worked as a teacher. Records indicate that Lillian's last benefit was received in Hamilton, Loudoun County.

Acquisition information:
unknown
Processing information:

Lisa Dezarn, 8 May 2014

Arrangement:

Folder

Accruals:

2014.0054x

Physical / technical requirements:

None

Physical description:
.