USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. II > Part 68
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Conrad Roemke is another of the sterling and energetic citizens who have aided in developing and upholding the prestige of agricultural industry in Allen county and here has worked his way forward from a position of modest financial resources to secure status as one of the rep- resentative farmers and substantial and valued citizens of Maumee township, his well improved landed estate now comprising three hundred and seventy acres and his attention being given to diversified agriculture and stock-raising, in both of which departments of farm enterprise his success has been excellent, as he has employed scientific methods and the
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most approved of modern facilities. His homestead farm is improved with modern buildings and thrift and prosperity are shown forth in all phases of his farm industry. As a loyal and progressive citizen he gives his support to the Democratic party, he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran church, and at Woodburn, a village about two and three- quarter miles distant from his home farm, he is affiliated with the Verein Kreisstolzenau. Rev. Roemke was born at Lande, Germany, October 9, 1857, a son of Conrad and Wilhelmina (Myer) Roemke, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany, where the father followed the voca- tion of shepherd throughout his active career. Of the five children the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, and the names of the others are as here noted : Frederick, William, Eliza and Wilhelmina. The father was twice married and the two children of the second union are Carl and Louisa. In the schools of his native land Conrad Roemke of this review acquired his early education and there became his father's assistant in the latter's pastoral activities when he was a mere boy. He continued to give service as a shepherd until 1882, when, at the age of twenty-five years, he came to America and established his residence in Fort Wayne. Here he was employed in a brick yard four and one- half months and then leased the farm of John Peoples in Milan township. There he applied himself with characteristic diligence and good judg- ment for the ensuing four years and in the meanwhile carefully hus- banded his financial resources. His next change was made when he re- moved to the Black farm, in the same township, and there he remained five and one-half years. In the meanwhile he had purchased ninety- two acres in Maumee township, from William Meyer, and in 1892 he removed to this place, where he remained until 1902 and then sold and bought the Hamm place of 120 acres and in 1906 he bought a tract of land of eighty acres in section 17, but in 1915 moved to his present home of 170 acres. Mr. Roemke has been one of the worlds productive workers, and by his energy and ability has added to his landed property until he now owns three hundred and seventy acres, as previously noted. On November 11, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Roemke to Miss Wilhelmina Kammeier, daughter of Henry and Sophia (Koenig) Kammeier, well known residents of Neuinknick. Of the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Roemke all are living except the second, William, who died in childhood. The names of the surviving children are here noted : Conrad F., Carl J., William H., (second of the name), Henry, Wilhelmina, Louisa and Meta.
William Roemke .- As the second decade of the twentieth century draws toward its close the world is rocked and upheaved by the most devastating war in the annals of time, and in the midst of unrest and clamor, uncertainties and the disruption of normal conditions, he is to be considered the most fortunate of men who owns and operates a good farm, who is able to do his part earnestly and quietly in behalf of hu- manity and to offer through the medium of his successful enterprise the goodly products that must ever represent succor and sustaining power to all sorts and conditions of men. Never in the world's history has so much depended upon the work and service of the farmer as at the pres- ent, and among the substantial exponents of agricultural industry in Allen county Mr. Roemke is one of those who expresses in his earnest and well directed endeavors his sense of personal stewardship and re- sponsibility. He is the owner of one of the excellent farms of Maumee township and is a loval and enterprising citizen who is true to American
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institutions and all they imply, with a civic loyalty that is direct and unqualified. Mr. Roemke was born in Lahde, Germany, on January 8, 1863, a son of Conrad and Wilhelmina Roemke, further record concern- ing the family being given on other pages of this publication, in the sketch dedicated to Conrad Roemke. William Roemke acquired his early education in the schools of his native land and was a youth of nineteen years when he came to America. He arrived in Allen county, May 1, 1882, and established his residence in the city of Fort Wayne, where for the first year he was employed in a brick yard. The following year found him engaged in teaming, and for the ensuing six years he farmed on rented land-in St. Joseph and Milan township. In the meanwhile he has carefully conserved the financial returns from his industrious labors and after his marriage continued to operate a rented farm in Milan township for a period of three years. He then purchased eighty- four and one-half acres in Section 8, Maumee township and has made this place one of the model farms of the county. He has made the best of permanent improvements, including the erection of a modern and commodious brick house of two stories, the supplying of other excellent farm buildings and the construction of good fences, as well as adequate tile-drainage facilities. His landed estate now comprises three hundred and fifty acres and is one of the valuable farm properties of this section of the state. Mr. Roemke gives his attention to diversified agriculture and the raising of good live stock, and has been specially successful in the raising of fine horses. His political allegiance is given to the Demo- cratic party and he served eighty years as a member of the advisory board of Maumee township. He and his family hold membership in the Lutheran church and he is affiliated with the Verein Kreisstolzenau at Woodburn, which village is his postoffice address. In the year 1889 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Roemke to Miss Mata Rahmann, daughter of Henry and Greta Rahmann, who were born and reared in Germany and there wedded, after which they came to America and settled in Allen county, Indiana, many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Roemke have twelve children, and all are certain to uphold fully the honors of the family name. Their names are here entered in the respective order of birth : John, Charles, Minnie, Louisa, Emma, William, Jr., Matie, Fred- erick, Ida, Christian, Ernest and Henry.
Hubert H. Rogers .- The city of Fort Wayne is signally fortunate in having added to its representative business enterprises so well equipped and thoroughly modern an optical establishment as that here conducted by Mr. Rogers, who is a thoroughly scientific and experienced optometrist and who has in the Fort Wayne headquarters the best of facilities for the examination and proper diagnosis of all visual irregularities and for correcting the same with accurate lenses that are ground in the estab- lishment itself. In his chosen profession he has had wide experience and has achieved unqualified success, and he not only has direct charge of the Fort Wayne business which he established, in September, 1915, but also the supervision of branch establishments at Springfield, Illinois and Lima, Ohio, with a corps of employes in the three branches that totals fifteen persons, each skilled in his respective functions. Mr. Rogers was born in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, on January 17, 1879, a son of Edwin St. George Rogers and Catherine M. Rogers, his father hav- ing long been a representative member of the bar of Indiana's capital city. Hubert H. Rogers acquired his early education in the publci schools of his native city and in preparing himself for his chosen profession
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went to New York city, where he completed a most effective course of study and practical work under the preceptorship of Andrew J. Cross, one of the prominent optometrists of the national metropolis. Thereafter he held for three years a position as manager in the extension optical establishment of M. J. IIarris, of New York city, and at the expiration of this period, in 1915, came to Fort Wayne and founded the excellently appointed establishment from which he now controls a large and rep- resentative supporting patronage, based upon effective service and fair and honorable dealings. Mr. Rogers has identified himself thoroughly with the civic and business life of Fort Wayne, is an active and popular member of the Commercial Club, holds membership also in the Country Club, and in the Masonic fraternity he has completed the circle of both the York and Scottish Rites, in the latter of which he has received the thirty-second degree, besides maintaining affiliation with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
William H. Rohan .- No citizen of Fort Wayne enjoys a wider or `more desirable acquaintanceship than William H. Rohan, general man- ager of the important department store of Wolf & Dessauer. Promi- ently connected for many years with leading financial and banking in- stitutions, Mr. Rohan, by the cultivation of native qualifications of true friendliness, has made for himself a sure place in the commercial world with its unlimited opportunities for an ever-widening influence. Mr. Rohan was born in Fort Wayne, September 21, 1872, son of Captain John H. and Theresa (O'Brien) Rohan. The father was born in County Clare, Ireland, June 24, 1839, son of John and Bridget Rohan, with whom he came to America in 1845. The family first located in Burlington, Vermont, but, three years later, removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In early life John II. Rohan learned the trade of a wood finisher and fol- lowed it in Milwaukee until 1859 and afterward in Buffalo, New York. Lincoln's appeal for volunteers for the war was the occasion for his enlistment, in 1862, with Company D of the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York regiment. He served until the close of the rebellion, during which time he was twice severely wounded. Captain Rohan was must- red out of the service at Washington, D. C., in June, 1865. Returning to Milwaukee, he was engaged in the retail grocery business for three years, when the opportunity was opened for a return to his trade of finisher of wood in the factory of the Burdett Organ Company, in Chicago. He re- mained with this concern until the disastrious fire of 1871, after which he came to Fort Wayne, which was already recognized as a wideawake city, and took employment with the Fort Wayne Organ Company, which has developed into the great plant of the Packard Company, makers of pianos and player pianos. Here he served as the foreman of a depart- ment for many years. His election as treasurer of Allen county showed the wide popularity he attained during the succeeding years. Captain Rohan was united in marriage, in May, 1868, with Mary Ann Theresa O'Brien, daughter of Lawrence and Mary O'Brien. Nine children were born to Captain and Mrs. Rohan, five of whom are living: Mrs. James Hughes, of Chicago; William II., the subject of this sketch; Agnes, of Chicago; J. Frank, of Fort Wayne, and Edward, who is an engineer in the United States navy. Captain Rohan died in 1906 and Mrs. Rohan in 1908. William H. Rohan was educated in the parochial schools of Fort Wayne, from which he was graduated at the age of sixteen years. Shortly after this he turned his attention to commercial pursuits and secured a position with the wholesale establishment of the George De Wald Com-
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pany, dealers in dry. goods and general merchandise, as city account- ant. Then a favorable opening in the official force of the White National Bank, of Fort Wayne, enabled him to enter that institution as a book- keeper. He remained with the White bank for a period of thirteen years, during which time his acquaintanceship among all classes of citizens was greatly broadened, and then he relinquished the place to enter the office of his father, who had been elected to the treasurership of Allen county. While William H. Rohan was employed in the county treasurer's office the absence of Assistant Cashier Detzer, of the White National Bank, left a vacancy in the bank, and no greater tribute to the worth of Mr. Rohan can be cited than the action of the bank management in holding open this place for Mr. Rohan until his work with his father should have been completed. Returning then to the bank, he continued his services until 1906, when that institution was absorbed by the First Na- tional Bank, when he was offered the position of assistant cashier of the Old National Bank of Fort Wayne. He accepted the place, and at the end of the first year was made the cashier of the institution. In 1914, the board of directors further recognized his worth in placing him in the office of vice president; at the same time he was made a member of the directorate. Mr. Rohan remained with the Old National Bank until April, 1916, when he resigned to accept the responsible position of gen- eral manager of the Wolf & Dessauer's establishment, the foremost re- tail dry goods and department store in Northern Indiana. He remains, however, as a director of the Old National Bank. Messrs. Sam Wolf and Myron E. Dessauer, in acquiring the business association of Mr. Rohan, have shown marked judgment, for with the rapid growth of the city and the material expansion of the business, the added responsibilities of the management of the business calls for just such co-operation as Mr. Rohan is best fitted to provide. The erection of a half-million-dollar six-story building to house the enlarging business of the Wolf & Des- sauer store in 1917, is such as to suggest the bigness of the men who are to guide its destiny. Mr. Rohan's position is one to call forth and develop inherent faculties for expansion and salesmanship as well as judgment in the purchase of goods to meet the ever-changing conditions of the times, and none who know him doubt his ability to meet these exacting requirements. In October, 1896, Mr. Rohan was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Manuel, daughter of Jules Manuel, of Fort Wayne. Two children have been born of this union, Margery and Maurice. Mr.
Rohan is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus order. He is a member of the Commercial Club, the Quest Club and other organizations designed for the general good. In politics, Mr. Rohan is independent, always throwing the weight of his influence for the man of true worth, without regard to partisan con- nections.
William Roller was born in Pleasant township, Allen county, In- diana, on February 9, 1866, son of John and Anna (Ernst) Roller. The father was a native German, born in 1823, and came to America in 1850, locating first in Ohio and later migrating to Allen county, where he bought a farm of eighty acres and settled down to the peaceful but arduous duties of farming in a new country. He was prosperous, being both diligent and progressive, and to his original purchase later added an equal amount, so that he came to own one of the better farms in his township, of which he was one of the earliest settlers. He recalls the time when the court house site of today was a wheat field and has been
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a witness to many important changes in the topographical aspect of the county. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, who were named Mary, Catherine, Caroline, John, Jacob, Sarah, Regina, William, Eliabeth, Emma, and a child who died in infancy. Of this goodly family seven survive. William Roller had such education as the schools of his day provided and was his father's helper at home until he was twenty- seven years old, when he married and settled on a rented farm in Lafay- ette township. After several years of renting he bought a place of his own and has since been actively engaged in diversified farming, in which he has been comfortably successful. Mr. Roller is a Republican in his politics, a member of the German Lutheran Church, with his family, and is in addition to his farming interests a stockholder in the Equity Elevator Company at Sheldon. He was married on June 6, 1893, to Miss Clara Riehle, daughter of Christ and Mary (Fox) Riehle, who were natives of Germany. The father was a blacksmith by trade and came to America, leaving his family in Germany. He bought a farm and prepared a home for them here, where they later joined him, and they have since been residents of Pleasant township. Mrs. Roller was one of their children, the others being Christina, the wife of George Harber, of Pleasant township; Elizabeth, now deceased; Minnie, who married R. Minick, a Pleasant township farmer; and Caroline, the wife of Henry Cleever, of Allen county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roller-Elmer, Cline, Calvin, Reuben and Mary Ann, all living at home with the exception of Cline, who died in 1899.
Anthony F. Rose was born in Washington township and has passed his life thus far within its borders. He has lived quietly on the farm his parents settled when they came to this region, and since the death of the mother and father has shared the old homestead with a sister, neither of them having married. They are among the substantial and dependable people of the community and have contributed in a commendable measure to the development of the township. Mr. Rose was born on January 17, 1850, son of Charles W. and Christine (Muesing) Rose, natives of Germany who came to America as children and were married in Wash- ington township, settled on new land and spent the remainder of their lives in developing and upbuilding a home. They reared a family of twelve children, four of whom are living today. Named in the order of their birth they are Louisa, Anthony F., Lena and Amelia. The others, who died on the home farm, were Sophia, Eliza, Christina, Charles, Christian and three others who died in infancy. Anthony F. Rose was educated in the Washington township schools and early learned to apply himself to farm work on the home place. He inherited the family home on the death of his parents and is today the owner of 185 acres of fertile land in Washington township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. He and his sister, who has shared the old home with him, are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church and take their place among the best people of the community.
Theodore W. C. Rose .- One of the younger native sons of Washing- ton township is Theodore W. C. Rose, born here on October 13, 1870. His parents were Christian F. and Christina (Brinkman) Rose, natives of Germany who came to America in their youth and met and married after attaining young manhood and womanhood. They first settled on a Washington township farm, continuing as residents there until 1871, when they took up their residence in St. Joseph township, in Allen county, there residing until death claimed them. They were active in
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ACTOR, LEI TILDEN FOUNDATION
Yours truly J. M Rover That A.D. 1902
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farming work all their lives and played a creditable part in the develop- ment of those communities with which they identified themselvs as workers. They were the parents of ten children-Charles, Mary, Christian, Frederick, William, Louisa, Henry, Minnie, Gottlieb and Theo- dore, the subject. William and Gottlieb are deceased, but all the others are living in and about Allen county. Theodore Rose had his early education in the common schools of Allen county and early identified himself with farm life in St. Joseph township, where he is still living. He is now owner of 172 acres of excellent land in the community, on which all modern improvements have been made by him, and the place boasts a fine dwelling, commodious barns, fences, tiling and such other improvements as go to make up a well-kept and profitable piece of farm property. Mr. Rose was married on October 11, 1894, to Miss Emma Kramer, daughter of Charles and Sophia (Rose) Kramer. Mr. Ksamer is a native of Lucas county, Ohio, and his wife of Allen county. He came with his parents as a boy from Ohio, settling in Allen county and here married, reared his family and lived his life to its end as a St. Joseph township farmer. He was for ten years in the employ of the Wabash Railroad, but left that work for the more attractive and inde- pendent vocation of farming, in which he was very successful. To him and his wife were born nine children-Charles, Emma, the wife of Mr. Rose; Eliza, who is deceased; Albert, Ida, deceased; Adolph, deceased; Henry, Amanda, and Arthur. The mother died in 1907 and the father in December, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have three children-Neva, Herbert and Alma. All are at home. Mr. Rose is a Democrat in politics and for twelve consecutive years has served as a member of the St. Joseph township advisory board, and it is presumable that the quality of his service in that position may be measured by the fact of his recurring election to the office. He and his family have membership in St. Paul's Lutheran church of Fort Wayne.
Isaac M. Rosenthal, M. D .- Often we are called upon to judge the character of a man through the study of his spoken words to which utterance was given at a time when he feared that the close of his earthly days was near at hand and when the mind turned to thoughts which may have been foreign to him in times of health and strength. But the truer estimate is gained from the words of a man at a time when, in the full vigor of mind and body, he reveals his normal self. The late Dr. Isaac M. Rosenthal has left a record of his innermost thoughts, inscribed in a most novel and unique manner. On August 30, 1895, during a sojourn at Mackinac Island, there was offered to him the opportunity to leave, for . the edification of his children, a record of his voice. "Without advance preparation," says Dr. Maurice I. Rosenthal, his son, "my father spoke the words which are treasured by the children above all that we could possibly possess." The record follows: "My Dear Ones All: My last will and testament you will find to be an expression of my impartial love and my desire to be just to you all. If I have failed therein, it is but through the limited, very limited, wisdom given to all that are earthborn. My soul soars higher. This is to be to you as a voice from the Unknown Beyond. I will request that you do not mourn for me but rejoice with me. After our bereavement, I still love and live with you and for you; but to be again united with that true, loving, pure, heavenly soul is happiness beyond human comprehension. Think of me, as we did of dear Mother; imagine that we, in spirit, are with you, to love, guide and protect you. Remember all that was good and noble in my earthly career.
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Do not forget, but forgive, all the errors, evils and shortcomings of my ways upon earth. Follow the good and avoid the evil. Love and protect one another, thereby giving eternal joy and bliss to your parents in the Unknown Beyond, as you did whilst we dwelled in body with you. Peace on earth and good will to all. 'Osch Sholom Bim'ro'mov Hoo Ya'ases Sholom Olenu v' al Kol Odom V'imroo Amen! (May He who bringeth peace to pass in the highest give peace to us and all men and say Amen.)" Dr. Isaac M. Rosenthal, for many years before his death, October 29, 1906, at the age of seventy-seven years, had enjoyed a place among the best surgeons of Indiana. The story of his life is one of interest and inspiration. On October 31, 1831, Dr. Rosenthal was born in the little village of Lauphin, Wurtemberg, Germany. Here he passed his child- hood years and was afforded exceptional advantages along both academic and professional lines. From the time of his boyhood years Dr. Rosen- thal's inclination was toward the medical profession, a propensity which manifested itself with unmistakable clearness in his earliest years. His mother died while he was but a boy, and the father came to America to make a home for his children and to give to them the advantages which the new world promised to many another son of Germany. Having ac- complished the task of preparing to receive the children, it was his pleasure, in 1847, to send for them. They landed in Philadelphia, and here, for a time, they resided. Isaac M. Rosenthal then removed to Ober- lin, Ohio, where he was enabled to continue his medical studies under a preceptor, Dr. Maxwell. It was in Oberlin that the young man experi- enced his first practice, for he devoted himself closely to his studies and was frequently permitted to take active charge of cases, under the watch- ful care of Dr. Maxwell. Upon the earliest opportunity he entered the medical department of the Western Reserve University, and his aptness and previous application to the study of medicine enabled him to com- plete his course in 1852, when he located at Bedford, Ohio, where he began the practice of his profession and there remained for four years. In 1856 he removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, and continued with the same high degree of success which had characterized his earlier efforts. In 1860, conditions at Fort Wayne offered a special inducement to him to locate here, and this city proved to be the goal of his permanent success. At that time Fort Wayne was a city of about seven thousand population. The contemporaries of Dr. Rosenthal at the time he began his services in Fort Wayne were Dr. Woodworth, Dr. Myers, Dr. Bowen, Dr. Mc- Culloch, Dr. Brooks, Dr. Smith, Dr. Josse, Dr. Schmitz, and others who have been a credit to the profession in Indiana in the years agone. For many years after his selection of Fort Wayne as a permanent place of residence Dr. Rosenthal was one of the foremost surgeons in northern Indiana. His personal and professional standing was always of the high- est order. Ile served numerous terms as president of the Allen County Medical Society, and one term as vice president of the Indiana State Medical Society. For eight years he was a member of the Fort Wayne board of health, and for a considerable period served as county physician. In truth, during the nearly half a century of his residence in Fort Wayne he continued as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this section of the state, and his noble character, combined with his professional abil- ity, gave him an inviolable place in the confidence and esteem of the com- munitv in which he lived long and in which he labored with utmost zeal and devotion. He had much to do with the systematizing and develop- ment of the service of St. Joseph Hospital and was the head of its staff
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