I am doing research for the Wise family of Dayton, Ohio. We are looking for information on the Rotan family who were from Fayetteville. Rosa Rotan is the grandmother of this family, born in 1895 died in 1977. She was the daughter of John Thomas Rotan and Elizebeth Wiser Harris. Her known siblings are:
Thomas aka Bucky
Luther, who may have been a commissioner in the 50's or 60's
Cora Alice who was married to a Moss, a Quales, and a Jackson
Ida
Eunice who taught music at Howard University in Washington DC
Annie who was married to a Bowles
Evelyn who was married to a Trent and an Ellis
Cleo who was married to a Turner
Rosa was married to a Harry Wise and they lived in Boomer when their children were born in 1917 and 1919. Leontyne was born in 1917 and died in childhood and Harry Jr. was born in 1919 in Kanawha county but parents address listed in Boomer. Harry Jr. died in 1965 in Ohio.
Rosa's husband Harry is listed as being born in Staunton, Va. In the 1920 census they were in Fayette county, he is listed as 33 years old and the family is listed as white. The childrens birth certificates lists them all as black. Harry supposedly died in a coal mining accident in the 20's, family rumour has it as 1929. We have found no evidence to this. Harry, Rosa, and Leontyne are supposed to be buried in a family cemetery in Fayetteville. We were in Fayetteville on 3-13 and found a family cemetery up a hill from a Pentecostal church. The Wise graves were not there, although there were Rotan's there, but not Rosa's parents. We were later told by family members that there is another graveyard up around the water tower. If anyone has any information on this family or where the graves may possibly be, we would appreciate hearing from you.