Rosanah lived in Ashburn, Virginia. Her church was Mt. Hope Baptist in Waxpool. She was there when she went into labor with Mert. Rosanah's husband, Frank, disappeared after fathering Stella and Mert. When Mert was two, Rosanah took her children to Joplin, Missouri to find Frank. She did. Later, when Mert was eight, Frank took him out to buy him a suit. Instead, Frank bought Mert a whole bologna, and left Mert on the curb. Frank was never seen again. Here below is a picture that Judy Partida sent me of their two kids. It was taken before the turn of the century.
Rosanah returned to the DC area with Stella and Mert when Mert was 17.
Rosanah's casket lies on top of that of her daughter, Stella, in Site 12, Lot 601, of Union Cemetery in Leesburg, Virginia with the inscription "Mother & Daughter." Judy Partida sent me the picture of this tombstone below:
From Ronny Bodine (Feb. 27, 2022):
From District of Columbia Marriage Records:
Frank Megby, 20, AND Rose E. Bodine, 25, were married 17 Dec 1884.
From Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) of Wed., 17 Dec 1884.
Marriage Licenses. Frank Megby and Rose E. Bodine, both of Loudoun county, Va.
Rosanah Bodine, age 20 and single, was living 1880 with her maternal grandparents in Loudoun County. Franklin Megby left his family in 1895 in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. Rosanah took her children to Washington, D.C. in 1904.
The 1922 Washington, D.C. city directory lists Frank M. "Megley," clerk, and Rosanna at 943 C SW. The 1923 directory lists Rosanah Megby as widow of Frank M. at 943 C SW.
Obituary, Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) of 30 Sept 1940.
MEGBY, ROSANNAH. On Sunday, September 29, 1940, at her residence, 510 Concord ave., n.w., ROSANNAH MEGBY, beloved mother of F. Mert Megby. Remains resting at the Lee funeral home, 4th st and Mass. ave. n.e. Services at the Ashburn, Va., Baptist Church on Tuesday, October 1 at 2 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment Leesburg, Va.
Burials in Union Cemetery, Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia.
(For grave marker photo see Find A Grave Memorial # 50221647)
ROSANNAH B. MEGBY Sept. 28, 1859 Sept. 29.1940
[Note: Her birth date differs with the family Bible.]
Children: Stella (c1885), Franklin Merthew 'Mert' (14 Jan 1887).