Robert Owen Purser (1852 - 1917)

Born 4 Nov 1852 in Rhea, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Moselite (Rudd) Purser — married 29 Nov 1874 in Rhea, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Dec 1917 at age 65 in Dayton, Rhea, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Robert Owen Purser's journey began on November 4, 1852, nestled in the embrace of Rhea County, Tennessee, where the rolling hills and sprawling landscapes became the canvas upon which his life unfolded. Born to Pleasant Miller Purser and Ruhama Fisher Purser, his childhood was a tapestry woven with rural simplicity and the rhythms of farm life.

As a young man in the late 1800s, Robert forged his path forward, his footsteps echoed in the landscapes of Rhea County. On November 29, 1874, he embarked on a new chapter, exchanging vows with Elizabeth Moselite Rudd, marking the beginning of a shared life enriched by love and mutual commitment.

The passage of time saw Robert engaged in various pursuits, embodying the diverse essence of rural life. In his earlier years, he toiled the earth, farming to sustain his family. Later, his endeavors led him to the forge as a skilled blacksmith, shaping metal and lending his craft to the needs of the community.

By the turn of the century, the winds of change blew through his life, guiding him toward a new profession. The shift from blacksmithing to a role as a salesman at the local hardware store reflected his adaptability and willingness to embrace new horizons.

However, as time progressed, life took an unexpected turn. On December 20, 1917, Robert Owen Purser's journey on this earth met its end due to a hemorrhage of the brain, leaving behind a legacy woven into the fabric of Rhea County. His final resting place at the French Cemetery in Dayton, Tennessee, marked the culmination of a life devoted to family, community, and the quiet resilience emblematic of those who find their place within the gentle embrace of rural landscapes.

Sources

• 1860 United States Federal Census: The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: District 7, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1268; Page: 509; Family History Library Film: 805268 Ancestry Record 7667 #22560956
• 1870 United States Federal Census: Year: 1870; Census Place: District 7, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1554; Page: 291A Ancestry Record 7163 #14324979
• 1880 United States Federal Census: Year: 1880; Census Place: District 7, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1275; Page: 275C; Enumeration District: 111 Ancestry Record 6742 #10952154
• 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 10, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1593; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0085 Ancestry Record 7602 #61004228
• 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 3, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1516; Page: 11b; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1375529 Ancestry Record 7884 #27414122
• Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965: Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 70 Ancestry Record 2376 #79561
• Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002: Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Ancestry Record 1169 #2840758
• Tennessee, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955: Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Tennessee Deaths and Burials, 1874–1955." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records. Ancestry Record 2546 #875042
• Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63498986/robert-owen-purser: accessed 04 January 2024), memorial page for Robert Owen Purser (4 Nov 1852–21 Dec 1917), Find A Grave: Memorial #63498986, citing French Cemetery, Dayton, Rhea County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Liberty Keepers (contributor 47164917).
• R. O., Purser, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 22 Dec 1917, Sat. - Page 3. Newspapers Clip: 138014087, Accessed 4 Jan 2024.