This post is part of the Donohoo Descendancy Project. Rosaline Commerce Dowling Donohoo Nally was the second wife of Charles Donohoo, son of FT Donohoo, grandson of Patrick and Sarah Donohoo.
Sometimes you come across a distantly related in-law who’s records prove more valuable to your genealogy search that your own ancestor’s records. Sometimes they live such an intriguing life that you are willing to research, record and write about their entire life, even though you are barely related (Rosa is the second wife of my 1st cousin 4x removed!) Such is the case with Rosaline Commerce Dowling Donohoo Nally. Rosa outlived three husbands. She lived through the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. She died in 1956 at the age of 103. But, let’s back up and start again at the beginning.
Rosaline Commerce was born about 1853 in Tennessee to Pedro and Alice (Rogers) Commerce [1, 2]. In 1854, twins sisters Christina and Aurelia Commerce were born to the family. By 1861, a brother, James Commerce, was born. Little is known about the children’s early years. All four siblings migrated to Kentucky by adulthood.
In January 1875, Rosa married John F. Dowling [3-8], a man many years her senior. By the time of the 1880 U.S. Census, the couple lives as servants in the household of a widower named Thomas J. Nally, in North, Washington, Kentucky [9]. John F. Dowling died sometime before 1896, when Rosa Dowling appears in the Louisville, Kentucky directory as his widow [10].
Rosa lived with her brother, James Commerce and his wife and children, in 1900, in Louisville, Kentucky [11]. By December of 1901, Rosa married her second husband, Charles Donohoo, in Springfield, Kentucky [12]. This was a second marriage for Charles as well. By 1909, Rosa was widowed again when Charles died. She applied for a widow’s pension for Charles’s service in the Civil War [13]. (See Separating Three Muddled Identities: Charles Donohoo, Charles Donohoo & Charles Donohoe)
In November 1911, Rosa married for the third time, to Thomas J. Nally [14]. This was the same Thomas J. Nally for whom she worked as a servant with her first husband at the time of the 1880 Census. This was the fourth marriage for Thomas, having been widowed thrice himself. Although married in Louisville, the couple resided in Bardstown at the time of the 1920 U.S. Census [15]. Thomas died in 1926.
By 1929, Rosa applied again for widow’s pension for both Charles Donohoo’s and Thomas J. Nally’s Civil War service [16]. Rosa lived in the household of her niece, Rosa E. Escott, along with her sisters, Christina Shuter and Aurelia Commerce, in 1930 in Louisville [17]. Louisville continued to be Rosa’s home throughout the rest of her life [18-21].
She was noted for her old age and tenacity, such as the time a newspaper article was written about when, as a 99-year-old, she walked several blocks in the rain to cast her vote [22]:
Found on Newspapers.com
Rosaline Commerce Dowling Donohoo Nally passed away in February 1956 at the age of 103 [23-26]. Her death notice was published in the paper [27]:
Found on Newspapers.com
Sources and Notes:
Both Aurelia and Christine’s death certificates list their parents as Pedro Commerce and Alice Rogers.
1. Death Certificate: Aurelia Commerce, died 22 March 1949, Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
2. Death Certificate: Christine Shuter, died 2 February 1949, Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
3. Marriage Records: Marriages, 1851-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. Name: Rosaline Commerce, Gender: Female, Spouse: J. T. Doolin, Spouse Gender: Male, Marriage Date: 18 Jan 1875, County: Washington, State: Kentucky
4. Marriage Records: “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QKJS-LT2J : accessed 4 November 2015), J F Doolin and Rosaline Commerce, 1876. GS Film Number 000551246, Digital Folder Number 005773084, Image Number 00898.
5. Marriage Records: “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJS-6SD1 : accessed 4 November 2015), J F Doolin and Rosaline Commerce, 1876. GS Film Number 000241383, Digital Folder Number 005771982, Image Number 00897.
6. Marriage Records: Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWYM-M2L : accessed 4 November 2015), J. F. Doolin and Rosaline Commerce, 18 Jan 1875; citing Washington County, Kentucky, reference Reg 5 p 187; FHL microfilm 1,915,011.
7. Marriage Records: Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJS-LTK8 : accessed 4 November 2015), J F Doolin and Rosaline Commerce, 1875. GS Film Number 000551244, Digital Folder Number 005773082, Image Number 00930.
8. Marriage Records: “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QKJS-D71P : accessed 4 November 2015), J F Doolin and Rosalin Commerce, 1875.
9. Thomas J Nally household, US Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: North, Washington, Kentucky; Roll: 445; Family History Film: 1254445; Page: 337D; Enumeration District: 204; Image: 0270. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
10. City Directory: Rosa Dowling, Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1896, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name:, Rosa Dowling, Gender: Female, Residence Year: 1896, Street address: ws Stucky av n of Shipp, Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA, widow of: J T Dowling, Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1896
11. U.S. Government, 1900 U.S. Census: James Commerce household, US Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Louisville Ward 11, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: 532; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0118; FHL microfilm: 1240532, Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
12. Marriage Records: “Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWB7-2QB : accessed 5 January 2015), Charles Donohos and Rosa Dowling, 23 Dec 1901; citing Springfield, Washington, Kentucky, reference 4; FHL microfilm 241,386.
13. Military Record: “United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD13-1YH : accessed 4 November 2015), Rosaleane Donohoo in entry for Charles Donohoo, 1883. Affiliate Publication Number T288, Affiliate Publication Title General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, Affiliate Film Number 126, GS Film Number 540882, Digital Folder Number 005080215, Image Number 00307
14. Marriage Records: Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F43N-HMR : accessed 4 November 2015), Thomas J. Nally and Rosa Donahue, 28 Nov 1911; citing Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, reference CN 1137; FHL microfilm 827,346. Rosa Donahue mentioned in the record of Thomas J. Nally and Rosa Donahue, Name Thomas J. Nally, Spouse’s Name Rosa Donahue, Event Date 28 Nov 1911, Event Place Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, Race White, Spouse’s Race White
15. 1920 census- United States: Thomas J Nally household, US Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Bardstown, Nelson, Kentucky; Roll: T625_593; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 168; Image: 659. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City).
16. Military Record: Rosa Nally widow of Charles Donohoo, Ancestry.com. U.S., Civil War and Later Wars Index to Remarried Widow Pension Applications, 1860-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Name: Rosa Nally, File Date: 11 Feb 1929, Spouse: Charles Donohoo, Application Number: 916239
17. 1930 United States Census: Rosa E Escott household, US Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: 756; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 0091; Image: 392.0; FHL microfilm: 2340491. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
18. City Directory: Rosa Nally, Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1932, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name: Rosa Nally, Gender: Female, Residence Year: 1932, Street address: Tm S 4th, Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Widow of: T J Nally, Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1932
19. City Directory: Rosa Nally, Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1933, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name: Rosa Nally, Gender: Female, Residence Year: 1933, Street address: 2729 S 4th, Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Widow of: Thomas Nally, Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1933
20. City Directory: Rosa Nally, Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1934, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name: Rosa Nally, Gender: Female, Residence Year: 1934, Street address: 2729 S 4th, Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Widow of: Thomas Nally, Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1934
21. City Directory: Rosa Nally, Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1939, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name: Rosa Nally, Gender: Female, Residence Year: 1939, Street address: 4619 Louisville av, Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Widow of: Thomas Nally, Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1939
22. Newspaper Article: 99-Year-Old Walked Blocks in Rain to Vote. Clipped from Pottstown Mercury (Pottstown, Pennsylvania), 7 Nov 1951, Wed, Page 3. Accessed at newspapers.com on 6 January 2015.
23. Death Record: Rosa Nally, Ancestry.com. Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: Commonwealth of Kentucky, Health Data Branch, Divisision of Epidemiology and Health Planning. Kentucky Death Index, 1911-present. Frankfort, KY, USA: Kentucky Department of Information Systems. Name: Rosa Nally, Death Date: 16 Feb 1956, Death Place: Jefferson, Age: 103, Residence: Jefferson, Volume: 7, Certificate: 3034
24. Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com): “Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVLM-22QH : accessed 4 November 2015), Rosa Donahoo Nally, 1956; Burial, Springfield, Washington, Kentucky, United States of America, Saint Dominics Cemetery; citing record ID 84845854, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
25. Death Record: Kentucky, Vital Record Indexes, 1911-1999,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKCM-75TY : accessed 4 November 2015), Rosa Nally, 16 Feb 1956; citing Death, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort. Rosa Nally, Kentucky, Vital Record Indexes, Name Rosa Nally, Event Type Death, Event Date 16 Feb 1956, Event Place Jefferson, Kentucky, United States, Age 103, Birth Year (Estimated) 1853
26. Death Record: Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1961”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJ5-G4LC : accessed 4 November 2015), Rosa Nally, 1956. GS Film Number 001669907, Digital Folder Number 007552617, Image Number 00548. Rosa Nally, Kentucky Death Records, Name Rosa Nally, Event Type Death, Event Date 16 Feb 1956, Event Place Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States, Gender Female, Age 103, Race (Original) W, Birth Year (Estimated) 1853, Birthplace Tennessee, Burial Place Springfield Kentucky
27. Newspaper Obituary (White Mountain Independent): Mrs. Nally, 105, Dies. Clipped from Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee), 17 Feb 1956, Fri, Page 3. Accessed at newspapers.com on 6 January 2015.
