Hello all! I am new to the group and very glad to be here! I'm not sure if y'all can help me or not... here's my dilemma... My great-grandfather George Leon Roosa was born in Oklahoma in about 1891. His father was Earnest Eugene Roosa. Earnest had married a Cherokee lady but I don't know her name (this was George's mother). I am trying to find out her name and who she was. Her last name would have been Roosa. She died when George was very young, and I am told she died in a fire.My grandmother tells me that he never talked about her so he was probably too young to remember her. Now my problem is that the Vital Statistics dept. said they don't have birth certificates for that early, and the census was burned for 1890 so I can't even see where they lived then. I know Earnest eventually left Oklahoma because the rest of my family (grandmother, mother, me, etc.) was born in Missouri, and I have him there on the 1930 census. Because of my lack of information, I don't even know what county to begin looking in! I guess my question is this... since my great-great grandmother was Cherokee, but was married to a white man, did they all bury their dead in the same cemetery? I mean, should I be looking in specific cemeteries for Cherokees? Since my grandfather was born in 1891, I am assuming she died betweeen 1891-1900, probably towards the earlier 1890's. Were the Cherokees more inclined to live in certain counties than others? Because I have zero information, ANY info anyone might have would be VERY much appreciated!! Thanks! Kerri Barrett :)
Try Clay Co, MO. At ancestry.com, I found a George Roosa, age 27, b. OK in Gallatin township, Clay Co, MO in 1920 census. In the 1880 census records at LDS, I found an Earnest E. ROOSA, b. 1873 in MN. Father was Leo L. ROOSA, b. NY, mother (not named) also b. NY. They were in Sherman, Grayson Co, TX. When searching for your great grandmother, remember that her surname would not be ROOSA. That was your great grandfather's surname. She took his name when they married; however, you will not find birth info under that surname. If George was born in about 1891, do you know when and where he died? If you could get a copy of his death certificate, that should provide you with some details about his parents...names and places of birth. Good luck and happy hunting! Lois in Auburn, CA