Brief Life History of Alta
When Alta Rockefeller was born on 12 April 1871, in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, her father, John Davison Rockefeller Sr., was 31 and her mother, Laura Celestia “‘Cettie” Spelman, was 31. She married Ezra Parmalee Prentice on 17 January 1901, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in New York City, New York County, New York, United States in 1915 and Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States for about 20 years. She died on 21 June 1962, in Manchester, Bennington, Vermont, United States, at the age of 91, and was buried in Dellwood Cemetery, Manchester, Bennington, Vermont, United States.
Photos and Memories (4)
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Family Time Line
Sources (49)
- Alta Prentice in household of Parmela S Prentice, "United States Census, 1910"
- Alta Rockefeller, "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003"
- Alta Rockefeller, "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940"
Spouse and Children
World Events (8)
1872 · The First National Park
Yellowstone National Park was given the title of the first national park by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. It is also believed to be the first national park in the world.
1875 · Euclid Avenue Opera House
The Euclid Avenue Opera House was the most popular theater in Cleveland at the time. It was home to a 1,638-seat auditorium and was constantly filled. In 1922 the building was demolished to make room for a Kresge store. The original chandelier hangs in the shop that now occupies the site.
1896 · Plessy vs. Ferguson
A landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities if the segregated facilities were equal in quality. It's widely regarded as one of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history.
Name Meaning
Americanized form of German Rockenfeller: habitational name for someone from the village of Rockenfeld near Neuwied, Rhineland, named in Middle High German with rocke ‘rye’ (Old High German rocko) + feld ‘open country’. Compare Rockafellow .
History: The Rockefellers trace their origin to Johann Peter Rockenfeller, who emigrated to North America in 1723. His descendant, the millionaire industrialist John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), founder of Standard Oil, was born in Richford, NY; his father was a commodities dealer and farm owner.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related NamesStory Highlight
Information from Find A Grave Index
Alta Rockefeller Prentice was the third daughter of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937) and his wife Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman (1839–1915). Alta married Colonel Ezra Parmalee Prentice (Ju …
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