John Franklin Rollins, Sr.
(son of Moses Waters Rollins)
January 11, 1862 - October 10, 1937

John Franklin Rollins, Sr., was born in Georgia in 1862. He was the fourth child to Moses Waters Rollins and Nancy Emily Waters, born three months before his father rode off to Dalton, Georgia, to enlist in the Confederate Cavalry. He was named after his uncle.

He married at age 26 to Roxie E. Tatum. By age 38, he had 5 children. They rented a farm, and ran a mill for Mr. Hedrick.

Two farms away was the farm of Robert Nance. Three of John and Roxie’s children would later choose spouses from this family.

At age 45, in November 1907, John Rollins purchased his first land, 40 acres in Smith Chapel Community, just south of the land he formerly rented. At this point he was the father of nine children. In October 1918 he purchased an additional 160 acres.

John Franklin Rollins, Sr., was a big man who towered over his tiny wife. He wore overalls and a black wool hat regardless of the weather. He didn’t wear a tie until his daughters were grown and encouraged him to dress up for special occasions.

John Franklin Rollins, Sr.

He was very religious. He was a founding member in 1900 of the Smith Chapel Methodist Church congregation. He taught a Bible class, lead the singing in a church with no hymnals or musical instruments, and served as superintendent of Sunday school for more than twenty years. He also kept church records, and represented Smith Chapel at the Methodist Conference. One of his children, John Frank Rollins, Jr., became a minister.

Known as a staunch Republican in a predominantly Democratic county, he loved politics, and ran for tax receiver of Catoosa County. He lost this election, but in 1923 he became the first Republican to serve as road commissioner in Catoosa County.

He possessed great skills as a carpenter, and could calculate lumber footage to build a house without the aid of mathematical tools.

In October of 1932, during the Great Depression, John and Roxie Rollins’ home burned. The family’s Bible and other treasured possessions were destroyed. He died five years later in 1937, and was buried at the Smith Chapel Cemetery.

Photo of John Franklin Rollins, Sr. and family:

The children of John Franklin Rollins, Sr., and Roxie Elaine Tatum are: William Henry (1889-1945); Bessie Rowena (1891-1979); Walter Fredrick "Fred" (1893-1980); Nellie Emily (1895-1960); Rev. John Frank, Jr. (1893-1983); Edd Waters (1901-1922); Wallace W. (1903-1903); Oscar Charles (1904-1929); Theodore Roosevelt "The" (1906-1928); Herschel Eugene Sr. (1909-1980)