CHEZEM, Rozilla Robbins
Source: Kingman Star Friday, November 21, 1947
Mrs. Rozilla J. Chezem, pioneer resident of this place, died in the home of Mrs. Josephine Spray in Bloomingdale on Saturday evening, Nov. 15 at 7:30. Mrs. Chezem was 87 years of age and had been in ill health for some time. She is the last member of her father’s family, her parents being Clark and Fannie Swaim Robbins. She is survived by one son, James of Terre Haute; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren; also nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at Tangier Church Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 with undertaker Gilbert Spencer of Kingman in charge. Burial in Tangier Cemetery. -s
Source: Kingman Star Friday, November 28, 1947
It is difficult to comprehend the changes that take place in 87 years, but Rozilla J. Chezem lived to learn, understand and appreciate all of those that were crowded into her lifetime. Born July 21, 1860 into the pioneer home of Clark and Fannie Swaim Robbins of ten children, she knew the hardships and joys of early days, and before her death, November 15, 1947, she had experienced many unusual happenings. Rozilla possessed a bright mind and a very wonderful memory. She received the limited education of her day but never stopped reading and learning.
She was married to Sampson J. Chezem, August 28, 1879 and to them were born three sons, James, Paul and Fred. The death of her husband was a tragedy brought about by extreme suffering; of her son, Paul, by a sad railroad accident and of her soldier son, “Baby Fred” as she lovingly called him, as a result of injury in World War 1. All of these deaths were sudden shocks to Mrs. Chezem but the bravery of her nature helped her to take the advice of Fred, who said to her “If anything happens to me, Mother, you carry on.” In all her needs she still had “Jimmy” who never failed her.
Her father was a Puritan Quaker, her mother a hard shell Baptist, one from Maine, the other from North Carolina, and the inherited traits from these ancestors were honesty, industry and integrity. Mrs. Chezem was loved by the children of the neighborhood. Her delight was in telling stories of her girlhood days; how she rode the pole for hauling sawlogs, drawn by six oxen, and the danger of that; of the cousin of her grandmother, the noted lawyer, John E. Lamb, of Terre Haute; of the cousin, Ashley Swaim, from North Carolina, who was the children’s friends, and delightful hours were spent by children and older people listening to her talk. She had a happy way of writing little messages of cheer and humor in connection with her business letters. Mrs. Chezem was extremely proud of the war record of her family as members of it had fought for America in every war of its history, with two of her grandsons being in World War 2. She is the last one of her family to leave this life, but long will she be remembered by