John James Rousey
&
Sarah Elizabeth Heath

His Find a Grave memorial #63707771 has him all linked up with his wife
(Sarah Elizabeth Heath) and children. Buried Spring Hill Cemetery, Cabell.

As you can see some of the family spelled last name Rowsey, and in later years went to Rousey.
While all census info was under Rowsey, as well as the obituary, the headstones
 for John James Rousey and his wife were spelled Rousey.

Sarah Elizabeth Heath was the daughter of Nelso B. Heath born 24 Feb. 1819 in Cabell Co, WV
and his wife Sarah Porter who married 29 March 1838 in Cabell Co. WV.  Sarah was the
great-granddaughter of early Cabell County pioneer Israel Heath and Elizabeth Blue
who were living in Cabell County along the Guyandotte River by 1809
having migrated from Berkeley Co. VA.

Sarah Elizabeth Heath was one of seven children born to Nelson Heath and
Sarah Porter, the daughter of John Porter and Sarah Jane Summers. Tragedy
struck the family as her father Nelson B. Heath died Dec. 21, 1854
leaving a wife and 7 children.  Then six of those children died
early, leaving only Sarah Elizabeth (Heath) Rowsey. Sarah
(Heath) Rowsey cared for her elderly mother who was
suffering from consumption.

Sarah Elizabeth Heath married on 14 April 1867, John James Rowsey,
the son of Seaton B. Rowsey born 1818 and Mary Drusilla Mitchell.
They farmed in the McComas District of Cabell Co., WV

Pioneer Woman Died yesterday

The death of Mrs. Sarah Rowsey, wife of John J. Rowsey, occurred at the family
residence on South Eight Street yesterday morning at 10:45, after an illness of
only one week's duration from pneumonia. But few people were aware of the
illness of Mrs. Rowsey, until shortly before the end came, hence the
numerous friends of the family were greatly shocked
upon the announcement of her death.

The deceased was a member of the Heath family, one of the pioneer families of
Cabell County, after whom heath's Creek, in southern section of the county was
named, and upon which Mrs. Rowsey was born on March 19, 1852.  She was
married to J. J   Rowsey in 1867. The decedent is survived by a husband
and eight children, as follows:

Mrs. Sue Madden, Mrs. J. C. Calhoun, Mrs. W. M. Crook, Jr.,
Mrs. Flossie Heath, Schuyler, Fitzhugh and Virginia.

A truly distressing feather in the death of the mother is the very sad
condition of her surviving husband, who was stricken two years ago
with paralysis and has been helpless and speechless ever since.
For a long time his death was expected, and would have created
no surprise had it happened at any time since he was stricken,
but the sudden taking away of the devoted wife and faithful
mother has certainly been a severe shock to the children.

Mr. Rowsey was one of the oldest teachers in the county, and
served as county superintendent of schools a few years ago,
and several of the daughter were teachers, thus they formed
acquaintances throughout the entire county, and there are
hundreds who will be deeply pained to here
of the family bereavement.

From early childhood the decedent had been a devoted member of  the
 M. E. Church, and during all these years no one ever had occasion
 to question the genuineness of the faith she professed, She was
 a good woman, and has left her hearth-stricken husband and
children an heritage which is inestimable in value from
which they derive much comfort in what is no doubt
the most dreary hours of their lives.

The 12 known children of Sarah (Heath) Rousey and
John James Rousey:

Nelson Seaton Rowsey,  Born Aug. 1869 Died Aug 1869.
(Named for his two Grandfathers)

Lillie Mae Rowsey,  Born 16 July 1870 Died 22 April 1896.
Married 1886 to William Midkiff.

Susan Emma Rowsey , Born 24 Nov. 1872 Died 16 April 1955.
Married 1st. 6 June 1901 John Wesley Madden.
(Divorced after having one child)
2nd. Marriage Samuel Ridenour.
(Divorced)

Lona belle Rowsey,  Born 4 April 1875 Died 9 Aug 1928.
Married 1st. on 24 Dec 1895 John C. Calhoun.
2nd. Marriage (Unknown Mitchell)

Milton P. Rowsey,  Born 24 March Died 10 Dec. 1895

Lulu Gertrude Rowsey,  Born 5 Feb.1879 Died 16 July 1968.
Married 9 Nov. 1908 William Mellen Crook Jr.

Inez Alifair Rowsey,  Born 15 July 1881 Died 9 Dec. 1890.
(Scarlet Fever)

Flossie Clyde "ToT' Rowsey,  Born 21 Jan. 1884 Died 18 Mar. 1967.
Married Frank H. Burgin
 (Buried Woodmere Cemetery)

Fitzhugh Lee Rowsey,  Born 17 Sept. 1886 Died 25 June 1960
Married 29 Oct. 1914 in Kentucky
Minnie Virginia (Moxley) Chapman
(Buried Highland Cemetery)

Schuyler Colfax Rousey,  Born 16 Feb. 1889 Died 7 May 1975
Cincinnati Ohio
1st. Married 1 Nov. 1913 in Kentucky, Katherine Calkins
2nd. Marriage 1 Feb. 1930 in Wyoming OH.
Erma Gussie Porter

Heath Carr Rowsey,  Born 16 Nov. 1892 Died 10 feb. 1970
Ironton, Ohio
Married 1915, Harry Spears
Born 12 Feb. 1889 Died Dec. 1967

Virgil Buck Rousey,  Born 20 July 1897 Died 27 April 1973
1st. Marriage Marie (Unknown)
2nd. Marriage 14 Jan. 1922 Kathryn "Fern" Lewis
(Buried Woodmere Cemetery)
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( Courtesy of Cameron Heath )

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