Descendant John Mellick of Merritt Island, Florida, has sent to me details of the family of JKR's son Edward and Lavinia (Curran) Rockwell. Their children were:
George Rockwell was born near Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio, Feb. 20, 1845, where he grew to manhood. His father died at an early age and he helped his mother raise the family of seven children. His mother died in 1910 at the age of 98 years. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Emaline Burtnett of Salem, Oregon. He was united in marriage to Lucinda Dudgeon, Feb. 19, 1871, at Wapakoneta, O. From here they moved to Wapello County, Iowa. To this union seven children were born, six girls and one boy, and are as follows: Eva Duff (deceased), Mollie Tetrick of Cedar Vane, Ida Booher of Hooser, Cora Rockwell (deceased), Ola Beals of Dexter, Odus Rockwell of Cambridge, and Millie Bargur of Cambridge. In the spring of 1889 with their four oldest daughters they moved to Kansas. Wichita being the nearest railway center, they shipped their goods to that point, unloading the horses and wagons and hauling their goods to a temporary residence on Timber Creek. In the fall of the same year they moved to their claim and developed the Rockwell homestead together with the large family experiencing all the pioneer hardships necessary to the building of a new state, such as herding their cattle on the open range, fighting the prairie fires that gave their warning roar that could be heard for a distance of 10 miles. They hauled their winter fuel from the coal banks in Chautauqua county, and taking their grain 25 miles to the nearest mill in Winfield, returning the following day with their winter supply of flour. Mr. Rockwell has been for many years a member of the Methodist church at Plum Creek, where he built many lifelong friendships and earned the reputation for honesty, and that of a good friend and neighbor. He was deliberate and thorough in all his undertakings and sympathetic in his business dealings, dependable as a man and friend in time of need. In 1917 he retired from the active duties of the farm and moved with his wife to the present home in Dexter, where he passed away Jan. 6, 1931, as a result of a paralytic stroke of short duration, although he had been in failing health for several years. He is survived by his faithful wife, who has cheered and helped him along life's journey.
Funeral services were held Thursday at 2:30 o'clock at the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. J. W. Dibben of Winfield, and an old friend of Mr. Rockwell. ... Casket bearers were grandsons and were Clarence and Owen Booher, Frank Beals, Orvill and Maurice Tetrick and Chester Duff. The large crowd present and the beautiful floral offerings bespeak for the high esteem of which this pioneer for 51 years a resident.