1. Rev. John Wesley Rooker, born July 07, 1836 in Dickson County, Tennessee; died November 18, 1913 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee. He was the son of 2. Rev. L. D. Caleb H. N. Rooker and 3. Dinah Joslin. He married (1) Priscilla MALLARD June 24, 1875 in Humphreys County, Tennessee. She was born 1840 in Rutherford County, Tennessee, and died February 1885. She was the daughter of Alfred Mallard and Sarah Gregory, Sallie. He married (2) Elizabeth COLLIER, Lizzie September 29, 1890 in Sumner County, Tennessee. She was born July 24, 1851 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee, and died June 16, 1937 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Vines Lucas COLLIER, Jr. and S. E. JONES.

Rev. John Wesley Rooker
It is a great joy to think and speak of a good man. It requires but a short paragraph to recount the birth and life and death of a man. But between the dates of birth and death there are many conflicts, defeats, and victories. Rev. John Wesley Rooker was the son of Caleb H. N. Rooker and Dinah Rooker. He first saw the light of life in Dickson County, Tenn., July 7, 1836. The years he lived were a part of the times of the world's greatest achievements. We need no further information to reveal to us why our brother was a Methodist than the name of his father, Caleb H. N. At the age of fifteen, under the ministry of Rev. Wellborn Mooney, he began the Christian Life. For four years he was a soldier in the army of the Southern Confederacy. There were no stars on the collar of this gray uniform indicating that he was an officer, but a truer and braver heart never beat in a human breast; and no more loyal soldier ever bore a musket or marched or fought on the battle line than John W. Rooker. On July 22, 1863, near Atlanta, Ga., he lost one leg, but he never quit the service of his country - serving in the hospitals until he surrendered with Lee. After the war he asked for and received a license to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In October, 1870, he was admitted on trial into the Tennessee Annual Conference in a class of twelve other young men. He served the following charges: Shiloh, Fountain Head, Beaver Dam, Pinewood, Lobelville, Dover, Linden, Clifton, Waynesboro, Lowryville, Oakland, Lafayette, Westmoreland, Greenbrier, Chestnut Mound, Bell Springs, McMinnville circuit, Spencer, Quebeck, Pelham, Macedonia, and Marble Plains. I submit the statement that this was a career of heroic service. He was ordained deacon by Bishop D. S. Doggett in 1872, and elder by Bishop E. M. Marvin in 1874. No preacher or knight ever remembered his vows or kept more inviolate than he the sacred vow or trust, the privileges and honors of this parchments. He was no more loyal to the Stars and Bars than he was to the Cross. He never shrank from even the hardest task. Perhaps in these many years no preacher among us ever served as difficult and as poor charges as he. On June 24, 1875, he was happily married to Miss Priscilla Mallard. One son, Caleb, was born to this union. In February, 1885, after ten years of loving companionship, when the winter winds swept the leafless forests, the good wife and mother went away and left a drearier winter in his spirit. On September 29, 1890, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Collier, of Sumner County. She was a wife from the Lord to him and a kind mother to Caleb. She and the son are left to walk the rest of their journeys without him, while the cypress boughs bend over their way. He believed in God; there was no place in his heart for doubt. Jesus was real to him. His trust and love for his Master was as real as his love and trust for Robert E. Lee. He was sure that God had called him to preach the gospel. He was not great as the world counts greatness; but if greatness consists in trust in God, if righteousness of life, integrity of spirit, fidelity to duty, unselfish consecration to a task make one great, then John W. Rooker was great. But he was great in the simplicity of his devotion to all the pure and holy obligations of life. A few years since he consented to be retired to the "honor roll" of the brotherhood of superannuates. And while his brethren went forth to activity, he quietly retired to the silent tasks of a Christian life. He conducted Sunday schools, and taught the young, and took his place among his neighbors, and labored to support his pastors and the Church of God. Brother Rooker knew what it meant to live in the midst of the environments of need; he knew what sorrow meant, as he plodded the long hard road of the life of an itinerant. But his face was always set to the morning. No man among us waited at the Conference for marching orders with less acceleration of the beat of his heart. But he has answered the last roll call; he has seen his brethren go out for the last time. He has gone up on high. He has outstripped us and has overtaken the noble men of God who preceded him. He will wait to give us welcome when we go.
P.A. Sowell [Journal of the Tennessee Conference].

John Wesley Rooker
Born-July 7, 1836 (Dickson Co., Tennessee)
Married- 1) June 24, 1875 Priscilla Mallard
2) September 29, 1890 Susan Elizabeth Collier
Died-November 18, 1913
Burial Site-Gallatin Cemetery, Sect. A-6 (Gallatin, Tennessee)
Admitted on Trial-October xx, 1870 Bishop David S. Doggett presiding (Pulaski, TN)
Full Connection-October 1x, 1872
Ordained Deacon-October 1x, 1872 by Bishop David S. Doggett (Nashville, Tennessee)
Ordained Elder-October 1x, 1874 by Bishop Enoch M. Marvin (Gallatin, Tennessee)
Obituary on pp. 76-77 in 1914 Tennessee Conference Journal
1870-Shiloh (McKendree)
1871-Fountain Head (McKendree)
1872-Standing Rock (Centerville)
1873-Beaver Dam Springs (Centerville)
1874-Pinewood (Centerville)
1875-Liberty & Lobelville (Savannah)
1876-Dover (Centerville)
1877-Linden Circuit (Savannah)
1878-Linden Circuit (Savannah)
1879-Clifton Circuit (Savannah)
1880-Wayne Circuit (Savannah)
1881-Waynesboro Circuit (Savannah)
1882-Lowryville (Savannah)
1883-Lowryville (Savannah)
1884-Oakland Mission (Savannah)
1885-Linden Circuit (Savannah)
1886-La Fayette Circuit (Carthage)
1887-La Fayette Circuit (East Nashville)
1888-Westmoreland Mission (East Nashville)
1889-Westmoreland Mission (East Nashville)
1890-Green Brier (East Nashville)
1891-Chestnut Mound (Lebanon)
1892-Bell Spring (Murfreesboro)
1893-Bell Spring (Murfreesboro)
1894-McMinnville Circuit (Murfreesboro)
1895-McMinnville Circuit (Murfreesboro)
1896-Spencer Mission (Murfreesboro)
1897-Quebec Mission (Murfreesboro)
1898-Pelham Mission (Fayetteville)
1899-Pelham Mission (Fayetteville)
1900-Macedonia Circuit (Fayetteville)
1901-Marble Plains Circuit (Fayetteville)
1902-Marble Plains Circuit (Fayetteville)
1903-superannuated
1904-superannuated
1905-superannuated
1906-superannuated
1907-superannuated
1908-superannuated
1909-superannuated
1910-superannuated
1911-superannuated
1912-superannuated
1913-superannuated
Source:
Archivist, Tennessee Conference UMC Commission on Archives & History, courtesy: Von H. Unruh

John W. Rooker - From the 11th Tennessee Infantry Website courtesy: Gary Waddey
2nd Corporal - Co E - Born in Dickson County, TN in 1836. Occupation Farmer. Enlisted May 1861 at Nashville. Age 24 on roll dated August 16,1861 at Watauga Bridge, TN. Elected 2nd Corporal at the organization. Demoted by July 1862. In Bragg Hospital, Newnan, GA. November through December, 1863. Wounded in the left leg inches above the ankle joint by a one ounce minnie ball in the charge of the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864. In Lee Hospital, Columbus, GA September through October 1864. Leg was amputated inches below the knee joint. Surrendered with Lieutenant General Richard Taylor at Citronelle, Alabama May 4, 1865. Complexion fair, hair light, eyes hazel, height 6', Paroled at Mobile, Alabama in June 1865. Resident, Greenbrier, Robertson County, TN.

More About Rev. John Wesley Rooker:
Burial: Old Gallatin Cemetery, Section A, Row 6, Sumner County, Tennessee (Source: Peggy Baker Colella of Gallatin, Tennessee [p_colella@juno.com].) Religion: Methodist Episcopal South Minister

To view a photo of Rev. John Rooker click here.

More About Elizabeth Collier, Lizzie:
Burial: Old Gallatin Cemetery, Section A, Row 6, Sumner County, Tennessee (Source: Peggy Baker Colella of Gallatin, Tennessee [p_colella@juno.com].)

2. Rev. L. D. Caleb H. N. Rooker, born December 08, 1797 in Of Walsall, Staffordshire, England; died Aft. 1870 in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas. He was the son of 4. James Rooker and 5. Mary Berry. He married 3. Dinah Joslin May 15, 1818 in Davidson County, Tennessee.

3. Dinah Joslin, born Abt. 1801 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died Abt. 1855 in Dickson County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of 6. Col. Benjamin J. Joslin and 7. Mary Gatewood.
Children of Caleb Rooker and Dinah Joslin are:
i. Mary Euphenia Rooker, born July 15, 1819 in Davidson County, Tennesse; died December 13, 1868 in Dickson County, Tennesse; married Rev. Judge Willis Jackson June 05, 1838 in Dickson County, Tennessee; born January 30, 1812 in Tennessee; died January 25, 1888 in Dickson County, Tennessee.

ii. Elizabeth Anne Rooker, born Abt. 1823; married James M. Hunter March 26, 1841 in Dickson County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1821.

iii. James B. Rooker, born Abt. 1825; married Jane Alsey Williams December 15, 1847 in Dickson County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1827.

1 iv. Rev. John Wesley Rooker, born July 07, 1836 in Dickson County, Tennessee; died November 18, 1913 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee; married (1) Priscilla Mallard June 24, 1875 in Humphreys County, Tennessee; married (2) Elizabeth Collier, Lizzie September 29, 1890 in Sumner County, Tennessee.

v. Rebecca P. Rooker, born Abt. 1839 in Dickson County, Tennessee; married Harvey Page October 22, 1860 in Dickson County, Tennessee.

vi. Amanda Diana Rooker, born March 16, 1843 in Dickson County, Tennessee; died February 07, 1899 in Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas; married George Wesley Southerland December 04, 1860 in Dickson County, Tennessee; born August 05, 1834 in Dickson County, Tennesse; died July 11, 1919 in Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas.

4. James Rooker, born 1756 in Of Walsall, England. He was the son of 8. Samuel Rooker and 9. Joanna Whithouse. He married 5. Mary Berry Bef. 1785. 5. Mary Berry, born 1762.

Children of James Rooker and Mary Berry are:
i. Sarah Rooker, born June 16, 1786 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

ii. Abel Rooker, born October 18, 1787 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England; died April 18, 1867; married (1) Susannah Brevitt May 09, 1811 in Saint Lawrence, Darlaston Near Wolverhampton, Stafford, England; married (2) Frances Fletcher May 22, 1821 in St. Mary, Handsworth, Staffordshire, England.

iii. Pricilla Rooker, born March 21, 1789 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

iv. Harriot Rooker, born March 13, 1790 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

v. Jabez Rooker, born May 1791 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

vi. Rebecca Rooker, born October 01, 1793 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

vii. James Rooker, born January 15, 1796 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

2 viii. Rev. L. D. Caleb H. N. Rooker, born December 08, 1797 in Of Walsall, Staffordshire, England; died Aft. 1870 in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas; married (1) Dinah Joslin May 15, 1818 in Davidson County, Tennessee; married (2) Vienna T. Walker December 16, 1856 in Dickson County, Tennessee.

ix. Joshua Rooker, born November 07, 1798 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

x. Edwin Rooker, born February 07, 1800 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

xi. Angelina Rooker, born March 26, 1803 in Of Walsall, Stafford, England.

6. Col. Benjamin J. Joslin, born Abt. 1760 in Amherst County, Virginia; died November 03, 1834 in Gibson County, Tennessee. He was the son of 12. John J. Joslin and 13. Dinah Evans. He married 7. Mary Gatewood November 10, 1783 in Amherst County, Virginia. 7. Mary Gatewood, born Abt. 1763 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia; died Abt. 1826 in Davidson County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of 14. Richard Gatewood and 15. Elizabeth Foster.

Children of Benjamin Joslin and Mary Gatewood are:
i. Lewis Joslin, born Abt. 1785 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died Abt. 1855 in Davidson County, Tennessee; married (1) Catherine Ross; married (2) Delia McKinley Crawford August 30, 1817 in Rutherford County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1800 in North Carolina.
ii. John Joslin, born Abt. 1789 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died May 01, 1850 in Lafayette County, Mississippi; married Rebecca Hendricks November 23, 1809 in South Carolina; born in South Carolina; died March 15, 1857 in Texas.
iii. Elizabeth Joslin, born Abt. 1789 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died Aft. 1850 in Dickson County, Tennessee; married Col. Chirstopher Robertson April 28, 1809 in Davidson County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1785; died January 28, 1836 in Dickson County, Tennessee.
iv. William Joslin, Willis, born Abt. 1784; died 1846 in Gibson County, Tennessee; married Sarah Douglas November 14, 1809 in Davidson County, Tennessee.
v. Richard Joslin, born Abt. 1791 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died Abt. 1829 in Davidson County, Tennessee; married Mary S. Becton, Polly March 04, 1816 in Davidson County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1795.
vi. Lavinia Louisa Joslin, born Abt. 1799 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died Abt. 1865 in Fannin County, Texas; married James W. Christian February 24, 1816 in Davidson County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1790 in North Carloina; died Abt. 1865 in Fannin County, Texas.
3 vii. Dinah Joslin, born Abt. 1801 in Davidson County, Tennessee; died Abt. 1855 in Dickson County, Tennessee; married Rev. L. D. Caleb H. N. Rooker May 15, 1818 in Davidson County, Tennessee.

8. Samuel Rooker, born Abt. 1720. He was the son of 16. Samuel Rooker and 17. Margory Barbor. He married 9. Joanna Whithouse May 07, 1746 in All Saints, West Bromwich, England. 9. Joanna Whithouse, born Abt. 1713; died Abt. 1799.

Children of Samuel Rooker and Joanna Whithouse are:
4 i. James Rooker, born 1756 in Of Walsall, England; married Mary Berry Bef. 1785.

ii. Joseph Rooker, married Elizabeth Francis April 16, 1792 in Saint Martin, Birmingham, Warwick, England.

iii. John Rooker, married Sarah.

iv. Samuel Rooker, married Esther Green January 06, 1777 in Walsall, Staffordshire, England.

v. Simon Rooker

vi. Ann Rooker, married William Hill July 17, 1786 in Saint Mathew, Walsall, Staffordshire, England.

vii. Elizabeth Rooker, married Isaac Johnson July 28, 1796 in Walsall, Staffordshire, England.

viii. Sarah Rooker, married Samuel Mason January 23, 1794 in Aston Juxta Birmingham, Warwick, England.

ix. Joanna Rooker, married Samuel Bucknell.

12. John J. Joslin, born Abt. 1733 in Deerfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey; died June 29, 1793 in Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky. He was the son of 24. William Josselyn and 25. Mary. He married 13. Dinah Evans Abt. 1753 in Amherst County, Virginia. 13. Dinah Evans, born Abt. 1737 in New York; died Abt. 1799 in Casey County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of James Evans.

Children of John Joslin and Dinah Evans are:
i. John Joslin, born Abt. 1754 in Amherst County, Virginia; died October 05, 1818 in Casey County, Kentucky; married Catherine Bef. 1777.

ii. Daniel Joslin, born Abt. 1755 in Amherst County, Virginia; died Abt. 1834 in Hickman County, Tennessee; married S Abt. 1770 in Amherst County, Virginia.

iii. William J. Joslin, born Abt. 1756 in Amherst County, Virginia; married Sally Proffitt.

iv. James Joslin, born Abt. 1757 in Amherst County, Virginia; died Abt. 1792.

6 v. Col. Benjamin J. Joslin, born Abt. 1760 in Amherst County, Virginia; died November 03, 1834 in Gibson County, Tennessee; married Mary Gatewood November 10, 1783 in Amherst County, Virginia.

vi. Elizabeth Joslin, born Abt. 1762 in Amherst County, Virginia; married James Evans.

vii. Nancy Joslin, Mollie, born Abt. 1765 in Amherst County, Virginia.

viii. Sary Joslin, Sally, born Abt. 1766 in Amherst County, Virginia; married John Whittle.

14. Richard Gatewood, born Abt. 1732 in King and Queen County, Virginia; died Abt. 1794 in Elbert County, Georgia. He was the son of 28. Henry Gatewood and 29. Dorothy Dudley. He married 15. Elizabeth Foster Abt. 1760 in Amherst County, Virginia. 15. Elizabeth Foster, born Abt. 1744 in Amherst County, Virginia; died 1807 in Elbert County, Georgia. She was the daughter of Edmund Foster and Tabitha Collins.

Children of Richard Gatewood and Elizabeth Foster are:
i. John Gatewood, born July 10, 1761 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

7 ii. Mary Gatewood, born Abt. 1763 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia; died Abt. 1826 in Davidson County, Tennessee; married Col. Benjamin J. Joslin November 10, 1783 in Amherst County, Virginia.

iii. Henry Gatewood, born Abt. 1765 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia; married Olivia Rains April 03, 1786 in Amherst County, Virginia.

iv. Tabitha Gatewood, born Abt. 1769 in Amherst County, Virginia; married Ambrose Ham October 05, 1790 in Amherst County, Virginia.

v. Elizabeth Gatewood, Betsey, born January 12, 1771 in Amherst County, Virginia; died June 23, 1861 in Elbert County, Georgia; married John Ham December 18, 1787 in Amherst County, Virginia.

vi. Martha Gatewood, Patsey, born Abt. 1772 in Amherst County, Virginia; married George Evans October 06, 1789 in Amherst County, Virginia.

vii. Sarah Gatewood, born Abt. 1773 in Amherst County, Virginia.

viii. Lavinia Gatewood, born Abt. 1775 in Amherst County, Virginia.

ix. Susan Gatewood, born Abt. 1782; married Anderson England; born Abt. 1779 in Virginia; died November 1859 in Dickson County, Tennesse.

x. Anna Gatewood, born Abt. 1784 in Amherst County, Virginia; married William Phelps.