Sunday's Obituary: Rosa Fox

Over the past two weeks I have featured my 2great-grandparents, Louis Fox and Cora Jones. This week it seems only fitting to feature their young daughter Rosa, my great-grandmother's sister. Sadly, she died quite young, at the age of only 11. She was a victim of the 1918 influenza epidemic.

The Sun reported Rosa's death the same day that she passed.

Rosy Fox Dead

Elliott, Dec. 12--Rosy Fox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Fox, died about 1 o'clock this morning from pneumonia, following influenza. Other members of the family who were sick are recovering. The funeral will be late Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

I enjoy the fact that they referred to her as "Rosy." It feels so much more personal than Rosa, and I can imagine her friends and acquaintances calling her by that name on an everyday basis. I also find it interesting to learn that other members of the family also came down with the influenza; that is something I might never have otherwise learned.

The following week, the Red Oak Express provided a more comprehensive obituary of Rosa's short life, plus a little more information on the experience of the rest of the family.

WEEKLY LETTER FROM ELLIOTT
Rosa A. Fox Dies of Influenza...

Rosa Adella Fox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Fox, was born in Montgomery county July 1, 1907. She was called to her reward Dec. 12, 1918, at the age of 11 years. The entire family except her sister Hazel was sick with influenza, Miss Rosa developing a case of pneumonia after a short illness. During her short life she endeared herself to all her associates in school as well as in the bible school and junior work. She was a member of Miss Hazel Collins' class in bible school and under Mrs. R. N. Collins and Mrs. McKee in junior work. She will be greatly missed by the members of these departments. She leaves to mourn her departure her mother, father, three sisters, Mabel, Hazel and Viola, one brother Clyde, besides a number of other relatives and friends. Short services were held at the home Friday afternoon conducted by Rev. J. W. McKee. Interment was in Elliott cemetery.

Right off the bat, Rosa's reported name in this article provided me a small surprise. Here, it was recorded as Rosa Adella Fox. On Find A Grave and the index to "Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992" at FamilySearch it is recorded as Rosa Adolla Fox. However, Find A Grave does not cite a source for the middle name, and the photograph of her headstone shows that only a middle initial is inscribed. I have not yet been able to view an original document in the Iowa County Death Record database at FamilySearch, only the index, which could, of course, be subject to transcription errors. Naturally, newspapers are also notorious for misspelling names. Yet, "Adella" is a familiar name, as opposed to "Adolla." At this point, it cannot be determined with certainty which is correct.

Sources:

"Rosy Fox Dead," Sun, 13 Dec 1918, p. 6, col. 2; digital images, Community History Archive (https://redoak.advantage-preservation.com/ : accessed 24 Feb 2023).


"Weekly Letter from Elliott," Red Oak Express, 20 Dec 1918, p. 13, col. 4; digital images, Community History Archive (https://redoak.advantage-preservation.com/ : accessed 24 Feb 2023).


Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8643200/rosa-adolla-fox: accessed 28 March 2023), memorial page for Rosa Adolla Fox (1 Jul 1907–12 Dec 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8643200, citing Hillside Cemetery, Elliott, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by Marty & Harley (contributor 47240226).


"Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992," database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 Mar 2023), entry for Rosa Adolla Fox's 1918 death; citing Death, Sherman Township, Montgomery, Iowa, United States, page 193 cn98, offices of county clerk from various counties; FHL microfilm 1,481,703.