Features
John T. Rossington
Mr. J. T. Rossington, retired because of ill-health from the position of Parish Clerk of Treeton. He held this position from 1922 until about 1944.
He was born in 1869 at Woodhouse Mill, where his father, Thomas Rossington, was stationmaster and came to live in Treeton when about 9 years of age.
Some of his school days were spent under Mr. Samuel Fiske whom he succeeded as Parish Clerk in 1922.
He commenced work at Orgreave Colliery, where at the age of 19, he had the misfortune to lose his left hand and forearm, when working on a circular saw.
To a person of less courage and determination, this loss might have spelled defeat but in Mr. Rossington's case the pendulum swung to the other extreme and he demanded from himself the utmost. In due time he became a competent barber and opened a shop in the village which he retained for many years.
During slack times in the barber's shop, he taught himself Pitman's shorthand, and became accomplished in the art, using it for news reporting and other purposes.
Mr. Rossington married Sarah Ann Walker on the 25th August, 1890. She was the eldest daughter of John Foster Walker of Treeton. Sarah was described as a young woman of sterling qualities, who, as the years went by, proved that she too was willing to give to the utmost in the struggle of bringing up a family, of 5 sons: William, Harold, Thomas, Clifford and Walter, and three daughters: Elsie, Hilda and Maud.
To supplement family income, Mr. Rossington took on picture framing, umbrella repairs and clock repairs. As his family was growing up, he took over a large, unused piece of ground and converted it into a useful garden. He made a scientific study of the garden - it was one of his pet subjects in conversation.
Mr. Rossington had a keen interest in football and cricket. He played football in his younger days and later became a referee, and was secretary of the village team for a while. He was a playing member of Treeton and Catcliffe's Tradesmens team. Billiards and snooker also attracted his attention and there were few better players in the village.
Photography also claimed his interest, though he could not indulge in this as much as he would have liked. He also handled a gun with success and this brought many a good meal to the table.
In his youth he gained a love of woodwork - if he needed a wheelbarrow, he would make one - wheel and all ! His most treasured accomplishment was an oak bookcase.
On the death of his father in 1911, he became sub-postmaster and newsagent.
He did not claim to be a literary man, but he was a diligent reader. Novels did not attract him, but the mysteries of the deep sea, the wonders of the stars, the life of primitive peoples and animals and birds and the chemistries of the soil fascinated him.
His physical handicap does not seem to have ever caused him to complain. It appears he always tried to show what can be achieved despite handicap.
Source - A newspaper clipping
He died on 3rd November 1946. His wife Sarah died at Treeton on 8th December, 1930