Woman of the Century/Rosa Vertner Jeffrey

ROSA VERTNER JEFFREY. JEFFREY, Mrs. Rosa Vertner, poet and novelist, born in Natchez, Miss., in 1828 Her maiden name was Griffith, and her father was a cultured and literary man, a writer of both prose and verse. He died in 1853. Rosa's mother died and left her an orphan at the age of nine months. The child was placed in the care of her maternal aunt, who adopted her and Rave her her name. Rosa Vertner passed her childhood in Burlington, Miss., with her adopted parents. In 1838 her parents removed to Kentucky and settled in Lexington, that they might superintend her education. She received a thorough education in a seminary in that town, and became a polished scholar and an intelligent student of history and literature. In 1845 she became the wife of Claude M. Johnson, a wealthy citizen of Lexington. Mrs. Johnson at once became a leader in society, not only in Lexington, but in Washington and other cities. In 1861 Mr. Johnson died. Mrs. Johnson removed to Rochester, N. Y., where she remained during the Civil War. In 1863 she became the wife of Alexander Jeffrey. While living in Rochester, she published ler first book, a novel, "Woodbum," which was sent out from New York in 1864. She was the first southern woman whose literary work attracted attention throughout the United States. At the age of fifteen she wrote her well-known "Legend of the Opal." In 1857 she published a volume of verse, "Poems by Rosa," and at once she became known as an author of merit. Her volume of poems, "Daisy Dare and Baby Power," was published in Philadelphia, in 1871. Her third volume of poetry, "The Crimson Hand, and Other Poems," was published in 1881. Her novel, "Marsh," was brought out in 1884. Among her literary productions are several dramas of a high order of merit.