Reeves, Rosa

Summary

Father: John Reeves
Mother: Elizabeth MNU

Birth: 13 Mar 1825, Greene County, Indiana
Birth Source: Census and Obituary

Death: 6 Nov 1909, Marion County, Oregon
Death Source: Obituary, Oregon Pioneers

Spouse1: John Penn, m. c1843, Arkansas

Narrative

Obituary:
Mrs. Rosa Penn Dies Yesterday - Woman of Heroic Character Passes Away After Long and Eventful Life - After a singularly eventful life of 85 years, Mrs. Rosa Penn passes away at 10 o'clock yesterday morning at the home of her son, James T. Penn, 500 North Capitol street.
Born in Indiana and later a resident of Arkansas and Oklahoma, Mrs. Penn's life history was full of deeds of bravery, heroism and sacrifice more than commonly falls to the lot of women. Living in an age before modern machinery simplified living, Mrs. Penn picked cotton, which she spun and wove into garments, and cared for the ten children born to her.
It is told of her that on one occasion when living in Arkansas during the war the supply of salt gave out, and the family suffered much because of the lack of it, Mrs. Penn rode on horseback a distance of 150 miles, securing a peck of the coveted article and was within a half mile of home when set upon by `bushwackers' and robbed of it, but her pathetic appeal to them caused the return of a small portion of it.
At another time a neighbor's husband had been killed by marauding `bushwackers,' and every able-bodied man having been pressed into war service, Mrs. Penn dug the grave for the man and made for him the box that served as a casket.
Her strength of character, courage and indomitable will remained with her throughout her life, and she retained her faculties to the very last.
Her declining years were full of suffering, which she bore bravely and patiently. Her illness was due to cancer, and she suffered the amputation of one arm to stay the ravages of the disease. Twice was her hip broken by falls, the last time being in September, an injury from which she never recovered.
She is survived by the following children, her husband having preceded her to the grave about seven years ago; Mrs. Murphy of Harrison, Ark.; Mrs. Willson, Shawnee, Okla.; John H. and A.L. Penn of Oklahoma; George of Washington; Mrs. Miller of Harlan, Or., and J.T. Penn of this city.
The funeral will take place from the parlors of Rigdon & Lehman at 3 o'clock today, Rev. W.H. Selleck officiating. Interment will be made in Lee Mission cemetery." DOS Nov 7, 1909 6:3
(bio source: Oregon Pioneers Website)