James Demetris Rowlison died on 2 Aug 1890 leaving Rhoda with small children on the farm in western Kansas. They had sold out on their farm on the Benedict place northeast of Edgar, Nebraska in November 1886 keeping a team and a wagon. They attended the state convention of the G. A. R. in Grand Island and then drove the team to Hoxie, Kansas.
Ethel was their 11th child born in November of 1888 and James died less than two years later.
Following is the chronology of Rhoda's life after James died in 1890 through her own death in 1932. Please review this information and let me know if you have any corrections, additions, or further information that is needed to complete Rhoda's story during this period.
Rhoda found herself widowed with a large family to deal with:
Ethel was 20 months old
Mabel was four years old
Roy was six
James was nine
Myrtle was eleven
Martha was thirteen
Charles was sixteen
Minnie was eighteen
George was 20 years old
Gustavus was 24 years old
Maggie was 22 years old, had married earlier in the year and was living near Edgar, Nebraska.
It is likely that at least eight of the children were still at home. George and Gustavus may have also been with her, but in any event, they were nearby to help. There would not be a second marriage in the family until September 1898 when Martha married Oliver Cassell in Clay Center, so it’s likely she had returned to Nebraska where she met Oliver, Maggie’s brother-in-law.
The story of Rhoda’s life as a widow from 1890 to 1932 is clearer when viewed chronologically.
Nov 1886 The family left Nebraska for Hoxie.
9 Nov 1888 Daughter Ethel Rowlison born in Hoxie, Sheridan, Kansas
7 Apr 1890 Daughter Maggie Rowlison married David Cassell in Hoxie, Sheridan, Kansas
2 Aug 1890 Husband James Demetris Rowlison died in Hoxie, Sheridan, Kansas
19 Feb 1891 Granddaughter Jessie Cassell (Maggie’s dau) born in Ong, Clay, Nebraska
11 Apr 1892 Grandson James Cassell (Maggie’s son) born in Edgar, Clay, Nebraska
2 Aug 1894 Grandson Harry Cassell (Maggie’s son) born in Edgar, Clay, Nebraska
19 Mar 1897 Grandson Leonard (Bum) Cassell (Maggie’s son) born Edgar, Clay, Nebraska
21 Sep 1898 Daughter Martha Rowlison married Oliver Cassell in Clay Center, Clay, Nebraska
23 Oct 1898 Son George Rowlison married Clara Clements
8 Jan 1899 Daughter Myrtle Rowlison married Hugh Long
20 Jun 1899 Grandson Gaylord Cassell (Martha’s son) born
20 Aug 1899 Gustavus Adolphus (Dolph) married Madge Bryan
24 Sep 1899 Charles Rowlison married Laura Griffith
20 Jan 1900 Florence Long (Myrtle’s dau) born
13 Jun 1900 Mabel Rowlison (Charles’s dau) born
21 Jun 1900 1900 Census – Rhoda was living in Kenneth Township, Sheridan County, Kansas with Minnie, age 28; James, 19; Roy, 16; Mabel, 13 and Ethel age 11.
20 Sep 1900 Rosetta Rowlison (Dolph’s dau) born
15 Nov 1900 Mabel Rowlison (Charle’s dau) died
22 Dec 1900 Ralph Cassell (Martha’s son) born
15 Aug 1901 Hazel Rowlison (George’s dau) born
29 Jan 1902 Lois Long (Myrtle’s dau) born
7 Feb 1902 Gladys Cassell (Maggie’s dau) born
20 Sep 1902 Buel Rowlison (Dolph’s son) born
15 Jul 1903 Dorothy Rowlison (Charles’s dau) born
7 Oct 1903 Howard Cassell (Martha’s son) born
21 Feb 1904 Bernard Rowlison (George’s son) born
28 Dec 1904 Leland (Pete) Cassell (Maggie’s son) born
8 Feb 1905 James Rowlison married Fanny Baldock
31 May 1905 Roy Rowlison married Laura Gowen
4 May 1906 Earl Rowlison (Roy’s son) born
16 May 1906 Ralph Rowlison (Dolph’s son) born
18 Jun 1906 Vernon Cassell (Martha’s son) born
19 Aug 1906 Ruth Rowlison (Charles’s dau) born
14 Apr 1907 Arthur (Mike) Cassell (Maggie’s son) born
3 Aug 1907 Theodore Rowlison (Dolph’s son) born
27 Nov 1907 Darlene Rowlison (Roy’s day) born
5 Aug 1908 Cleo Cassell (Martha’s dau) born
2 Feb 1909 George Rowlison (Rhoda’s son) died
17 Feb 1909 Grace Rowlison (Charles’s son) born
17 Dec 1909 Wayne (Brody) Cassell (Maggie’s son) born
19 Feb 1910 Orville Rowlison (Dolph’s son) born
27 Feb 1910 James Rowlison (James’s son) born
18 Apr 1910 1910 Census: Rhoda was living in Hayes Ward 1, Ellis County, Kansas with Minnie, age 38; Mabel, 23 and Ethel 21.
4 Aug 1910 Oleta Rowlison (Roy’s dau) born
6 Dec 1910 Helen Cassell (Martha’s dau) born
21 Mar 1912 Wayne Rowlison (Charles’s son) born
22 May 1912 Mildred Cassell (Maggie’s dau) born
8 Jun 1912 Mabel Rowlison married Fredrick Calvert
20 Jun 1912 Dwight Rowlison (Roy’s son) born
24 Aug 1912 Lena Rowlison (Dolph’s dau) born
9 Apr 1913 Marvin Cassell (Martha’s son) born
21 Nov 1913 Wilma Rowlison (Charles’s dau) born
8 Mar 1914 Eva Rowlison (Roy’s dau) born
1 Apr 1915 Roy Cassell (Martha’s son) born
8 Oct 1915 Emma Rowlison (Dolph’s dau) born
16 Aug 1916 Floyd Rowlison (Roy’s son) born
16 Aug 1916 Fern Rowlison (Roy’s dau) born
22 Feb 1917 Gr-granddaughter Ruth Cassell (Maggie>Harry) born in Nebraska
23 Mar 1918 Gr.grandson Robert Cassell (Maggie>Harry) born in Nebraska
8 Sep 1918 John Rowlison (Dolph’s son) born
6 Jan 1919 Merna Cassell (Martha’s dau) born
19 Apr 1919 Gustavus Adolphus (Rhoda’s son) died
13 Nov 1919 Max Rowlison (Roy’s son) born
3 Jan 1920 1920 Census: Rhoda was living in Ong, Logan Township, Clay County, Nebraska with Ethel, age 31 and Maggie's son Leonard (Bum) Cassell, age 22, a garage mechanic in Ong, the town’s first mechanic according to our folklore.
3 May 1920 Gr-grandson Lovelle Karnatz (Maggie>Jessie) born in Nebraska
20 May 1920 Minnie Rowlison married Gilbert Carey
Pearl Carey (Minnie’s step-dau) was 7 years old
27 May 1920 Gr-granddaughter Margaret Cassell (Maggie>Harry) born in Nebraska
5 Jul 1921 Gr-granddaughter Rhodabelle Karnatz (Maggie>Jessie) born in Nebraska
1 Nov 1921 Betty Rowlison (Roy’s dau) born
7 Jun 1922 Ethel Rowlison married LeRoy Oakley
19 Aug 1923 Gr-granddaughter Florine Cassell (Maggie>James) born in Nebraska
15 Sep 1923 Gr-granddaughter Vaunden Nelson (George>Hazel) born in Nebraska
14 Nov 1923 Gr-granddaughter Irlene Beam (Myrtle>Lois) born in Twin Falls, Idaho
15 Nov 1923 Gr-granddaughter Irlene Beam (Myrtle>Lois) died in Twin Falls, Idaho
13 Apr 1924 Ethel LoRee Oakley (Ethel’s dau) was born
26 Oct 1924 Gr-granddaughter Ruby Karnatz (Maggie>Jessie) born in Nebraska
11 Nov 1924 Gr-grandson Ronald Cassell (Maggie>Harry) born in Nebraska
16 Jun 1925 Gr-granddaughter Lois Beam (Myrtle>Lois) born in Twin Falls, Idaho
9 Mar 1926 Gr-granddaughter Nellie Louise (Haskett?) (Gustavus > Rosetta) born 9 Mar 1926 in Missouri
10 Aug 1926 Gr-grandson Ray Karnatz (Maggie>Jessie) born in Nebraska
27 Sep 1926 Marjorie Calvert (Mabel’s dau) born
11 Mar 1927 Gr-granddaughter Irla Beam (Myrtle>Lois) born in Twin Falls, Idaho
18 Dec 1928 Buel Rowlison (Dolph’s son) died
1929 Gr-grandson James (Haskett?) (Gustavus > Rosetta) born
28 Apr 1929 Gr-grandson Donal Nelson (George>Hazel) born in Nebraska
18 Apr 1930 1930 Census: Rhoda was living in Clay Center, Clay County, Nebraska with daughter Ethel and Roy Oakley and their daughter LoRee, age 6.
4 June 1930 Gr-grandson Kenneth Cassell (Maggie>James) born in Edgar, Clay, Nebraska
11 Jul 1930 Gr-granddaughter Donna Cassell (Maggie>Leonard) born in Clay Center, Clay, Nebraska
12 May 1931 Gr-grandson Harold Rowlison (Gustavus>Theodore) born in Kansas
9 Jul 1931 Gr-granddaughter Marylee Cassell (Martha>Howard) born
24 Mar 1932 Rhoda (Walton) Rowlison died
