Rosa Maycroft was born in West Twp, Effingham Co, Illinois to James and Margaret Miller Maycroft on 7 January 1873. At the age of 18, she married the dashing Victor St. Cloud, who was a pattern maker from Savanna, Georgia. Their one and only child, James Robert Lyle St. Cloud was born five years later. Victor had evidently wandered in and out of this marriage because during this time, he became the father of a daughter, Blanche Phyllis who was born to an Alice Holt in Brown, Kansas. Blanche was adopted and raised by Elbert and Laura Foster of Brown, Kansas.

In November 1899 a new minister came to preach at the Church of Christ in Iola, Illinois. Rosa evidently decided that it was time to free herself of Victor and move forward with her life. In March 1900 she divorced Victor and married that new minister, David Towles. During their marriage, they became the parents of two sons: Everette Thomas, 1902 and Lester Ora, 1903. Everette only lived 23 days. James the son of Victor and Rosa carried the name of Towles throughout his youth.

After David died in 1921, Rosa worked as a housekeeper in Decatur, Macon, Illinois. By 1940, she was back in Effingham County living near Edgewood, Illinois. She would remain in this area until August of 1940. At this time she would move in with her brother, Herbert and his wife, Jessie. Jessie was a nurse and cared for Rosa until her death 8 months later. Rosa had cancer of the urethra and developed pneumonia.

Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947
Name: Rose M. Towels [Rose M. Maycroft]
Birth Date: 7 Jan 1873
Birth Place: Effingham, Illinois
Death Date: 4 Apr 1941
Death Place: Lowe Twp , Moultrie, Illinois
Burial Date: 6 Apr 1941
Burial Place: Mason Twp., Effingham, Ill.
Cemetery Name: Brown
Death Age: 68
Occupation: Housework
Race: White
Marital Status: W
Gender: Female
Residence: Lowe Twp., Moultrie, Ill.
Father Name: James Maycroft
Father Birth Place: England
Mother Name: Margaret Miller
Mother Birth Place: Ohio
Spouse Name: David Towels
FHL Film Number: 1832582