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Note: N5261 Given name (Jacob), surname (Rockey) and residence (Burnsville) from Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), page 221
Given initial (J), middle initial (J) and surname (Rockey) from the obituary of Jesse P. Sprowls in the ÒWaynesburg RepublicanÓ newspaper, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, dated Thursday, May 12, 1898
Surname (Rockey) from the obituary of Mary Sprowls in the ÒWaynesburg Republican" newspaper, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, dated Thursday, November 21, 1907
Name (Jacob), middle name (Large), CONFLICTING SURNAME (Rockefeller), date (May 22, 1842) of birth, location (East Finley) of birth, date (January 20, 1907) of death, location (Claysville) of death and location (Fairmount Cemetery, East Finley) of interment from an E-mail, Jacob Large Rockefeller, Ruth Sprowls, Saturday, August 26, 2006. An LDS - Family Group Sheet is given as the original source. Additional information from the Helen Barnhart Morris Scrapbook (page 79) is as follows:
MORTUARY RECORD FOR 1907Ê
The Borough -
January 20 Jacob Large Rockefeller of Buffalo Township, died in Claysville, cerebral apoplexy; 64 y, 7 m, 29 d. Fairmount Cemetery
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Jacob Large Rockey, superintendent of the ChildrensÕ home of Washington county, has presented to the Washington county historical society a portrait of his grandfather, Nathan Rockefeller, who was a brother of Samuel Rockefeller, the grandfather of John D. Rockefeller, of Standard Oil fame. Mr. Rockey was born in 1845 (NOTE: THE DATE OF BIRTH CONFLICTS WITH THAT FROM OTHER SOURCES) and when he became of age dropped the ÒfellerÕ and called himself simply ÒRockey.Ó He has in his possession a large number of family papers which give interesting information about the Rockefellers.
The donorÕs great-grandfather, Peter Rockefeller, who was also the great grandfather of John D. Rockefeller, was a Hollander who came from New York about the close of the 18th century and located at what was then called BraddockÕs field, now Braddock. Peter Rockefeller married Abigail Large, an Irish girl, and they had three sons, Samuel, Nathan and William. Peter Rockefeller was murdered early in the last century and his widow afterwards married a Mr. Lovejoy by whom she had one daughter.
The three children of Peter Rockefeller were raised by their grandfather large. Samuel, the oldest brother was for many years captain on a boat on the Ohio river. Family tradition has it that he was a very strong man, one of whose expolits was being able to lift a barrel of whiskey and drink out of the bung hole. His physical construction was most remarkable, as his ribs were so grown together as to make a solid bone. He had four nipples, double elbows and two caps on each knee.
William Rockefeller, the youngest son of old Peter located near Portsmouth, Ohio. Nathan Rockefeller came to Washington county and located on what is now the Mininger farm near Houston. He married Rachel Marthen, of Canonsburg, with whose uncle, Robert Marthen, Rockefeller ? ed the fulling business. He worked for sometime at Amity, Washington county and afterward purchased about nine hundred acres of land in the southwestern part of the county. He was born in 1788 and died at his home in West Finley in 1869. He was appointed a justice of the peace by Governor Ritner and served for 20 years. The deeds to him and those from him to others are all with the named (sic) spelled Rockefeller. His commission as justice, his will and the inscription on his tombstone all follow the same spelling. The grandchildren, however, have all dropped the last two syllables and adopted the name of Rockey.
Jacob Large Rockey, who presents the portrait, was 24 years old when his grandfather died and had lived with him for many years. He says that he had often heard his grandfather say that the family came from the same place in Holland as the Vanderbilts of New York. Nathan Rockefeller was six feet, three inches high and well proportioned. He had a good library and it was said at the time of his death that it took a four-horse team to haul away the books which he accumulated. He could quote whole pages of Shakespeare, Cowper and other authors. He was a good financier, gave a farm to each of his children while living and left about $15,000 at his death. It used to be said of him that he was one of the men who was born to rule as he took a leading part in every matter of public interest. He was a Presbyterian and in early life a Democrat, afterwards a Whig and Republican. He was a famous speller and at a great match in West Finley township 50 years ago, spelled correctly every word in the old spelling book of the district school.
Many instances are given of Nathan RockefellerÕs shrewdness as a dealer. It is said that he always knew when to buy and when to sell and was never married to any piece of property. When the civil war broke out Mr. Rockefeller anticipating the rise in the prices of farm products and live stock, made a great deal of money by investing in them. John Irvin, now a director of the poor for Washington county, says that he called on Mr. Rockefeller once to buy some sheep and made him an offer for them, which was promptly declined. He expressed surprise, saying that his offer was a good one. Mr. Rockefeller answered that that was true but that he was Òpast the bulge.Ó When Mr. Irvin asked him to explain he said that he did not owe anybody anything, had his own money invested in the sheep and could afford to hold them no matter what the market price was.
Samuel Rockefeller, the grandfather of John D., was a frequent visitor at the West Finley farm of his brother as was his son, Isaac Rockefeller, the father of the Standard Oil magnate. The photograph of Nathan Rockefeller from which the portrait was made was taken when he was over 70 years of age.
Source - Helen Barnhart Morris Scrapbook, page 44 (submitted by Ruth Sprowls)
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Three and one-half hours after being stricken with cerebral apoplexy Jacob Large Rockey, superintendent of the ChildrenÕs Home and one of the most widely known men of southwestern Washington county, died at 12:45 p. m. Sunday, January 20, 1907, at the Central Hotel in Claysville. He had been in Washington the day before and a number who saw him were convinced that he was unwell. Sunday morning he drove in the face of a heavy wind from the ChildrenÕs Home to Claysville to meet two ladies one, of whom had a sick child at the Home. At a quarter past nine while in the menÕs toilet room he was stricken, the rupture of a large blood vessel in the head causing an extensive hemorrhage. He fell over unconscious and continued in that state. He was carried into the sitting room and a cot hastily prepared for him. Dr. C. C. Cracraft was summonnned and was convinced at once that restoration was improbable. Dr. R. W. Wolfe, of Taylorstown, physician for the ChildrenÕs Home, was telephoned for and arrived an hour or so before Mr. RockeyÕs death. Mrs. Rockey was sent for at once, W. M. Sanders being sent in a surrey. She arrived about 11 oÕclock, and gave devoted but unavailing assistance. Mr. McCleary and family also aided as far as they could. The sudden attack and death caused quite a shock in the community and surrounding neighborhoods.
Funeral services were held at the Home Tuesday afternoon at 2 oÕclock conducted by his pastor, Rev. Dr. Henry Woods, of Washington, with Rev. R. B. Harsha, of Taylorstown, assisting. The East Buffalo choir sang for the service. The attendance was quite large. Wednesday the remains were conveyed to the Fairmount United Brethren church. Services were held there at 1 oÕclock, conducted by Rev. H. N. Newell, the pastor. Friends from surrounding communities filled the commodious church. The interment was in Fairmount cemetery.
Mr. Rockey belonged to one of the prominent Washington county families. Nathan Rockefeller, his grandfather, who was one of the early pioneers of the county, came from Jersey during the early settlement of Western Pennsylvania, locating in the neighborhood of Canonsburg. John Rockefeller, a son and father of the deceased, was born at Canonsburg and later removed to East Finley township, where Jacob L. Rockey was born on May 22, 1842. More than 50 years ago the latter part of the name ÒRockefellerÓ was dropped and the change made to ÒRockey.Ó
Mr. Rockey was married to Miss Mary Ann Sprowls also of East Finley township in 1865. They have no children, but a number of adopted children now grown to manhood and womanhood, hold them in kindest regard for their sheltering care and kindness. A few years after marriage they removed to CrowÕs Mills, Greene county, where Mr. Rockey engaged as a store keeper. Later he moved to Dunsfort, on Buffalo creek, where he was associated in business with his brother Alex. From there he removed to Burnsville, continuing his mercantile career until 1878. He kept hotel and resided in Burnsville until April, 1904, when he became Superintendent at the ChildrenÕs Home, the affairs of which were conducted in an excellent manner, he being recently elected for his fourth year. He was engaged for many years in buying wool and conducted a farm implement agency. He was of a jovial disposition and was widely known. In early manhood he united with the Fairmount U. B. church and was active in its interests, being a member of the building committee in 1874 which had charge of the present edifice. After moving to Burnsville he held membership with the Windy Gap church serving as ruling elder. Since going to the ChildrenÕs Home he has been a member of the East Buffalo Presbyterian church.
Politically Mr. Rockey was identified with the Republican party, and was an earnest party worker. He was interested in the public affairs of the several neighborhoods where he lived; served a number of years as school director in West Finley, and was a member of the Buffalo township board at the time of his death. In 1900 he was elected director of the poor, serving the term of three years.
He is survived by his wife and two sisters, Mrs. Jacob Sampson, of Beallsville, Ohio, and Mrs. Henry Wright, of East Finley township.
Source - Helen Barnhart Morris Scrapbook, page 27 (submitted by Ruth Sprowls)
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The following information is found at the Washington County PAGenWeb Genealogy Project - Cemeteries - Fairmount Cemetery,Ó Contributed by Karen Hucko, http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/cemetery/fairmount.html:
Last Name: Rockeyfeller
First Name: Jacob
Spouse: Mary Montgomery
Parents: John & Nancy Sprowls Rockeyfeller
Date of Birth: 22 May 1842
Date of Death: 20 Jan 1907
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