USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 78
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He has served on the Dunkirk board of supervisors and as assessor of the same town.
James Arthur Roberts was born on the farm in the town of Dun- kirk which has been owned by the family since 1844. His father Ezra E. Roberts, and grandfather, William Roberts, came to Wis- consin at that time from Warren county, Ill. William Roberts was born in Fairfield county, Conn .. in 1782, of Welsh parentage and married Salome Elwell, a native of New York. They made their home for a time in Virgil, Cortland county, N. Y., then in Illinois and finally in Dane county, Wisconsin. Their son, Ezra, born in Danbury. Conn., December 26, 1810. was educated in Cortland county, went with his parents to Illinois, returned to New York in 1840 and came to Dunkirk in 1844. He became a successful far- mer and owned a fine property of three hundred and seventy-four acres. He married Betsey E. Cannon, daughter of Joseph Cannon of Massachusetts, a soldier in the war of 1812, and Rachel (Huyck) Cannon. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon were also pioneers of the town of Dunkirk where they settled in 1843, when the country was wild and sparsely populated. The surviving children of Ezra Roberts are Harry E. of Stoughton, a sketch of whose life appears else- where in this work, Florence E., who married George N. Campbell and James A .. who also resides in Stoughton. James A., was born May 18, 1861, attended the district school, the Albion Academy and the University of Wisconsin and engaged in farming on the old homestead when he was a young man. This occupation he fol- lowed until 1901. when he moved to Stoughton and became inter- ested in a milk depot in that city. Since 1905 he has given exclu- sive attention to the purchase and shipment of poultry and eggs for the large city markets. He supplies poultry to markets in Chicago and other cities. June 12, 1905, he married. Miss Pauline M. Estes, daughter of John M. and Martha (Martin) Estes of Dunkirk. Five children were born to the marriage; Ethel, Grace, Ross, Alice and Paul. Mr. Roberts is a member of Social Lodge No. 160, I. O. O. F. of Stoughton. His sympathies are entirely given to the Pro- hibition party and he is an active worker for the advancement of the prohibition movement. He has served the town of Dunkirk as assessor for two years and as town clerk for seven years.
Martin Rockney was born on the farm known as the old Rock- ney farm, which his father reclaimed from the wilderness in 1845. It is a fine property of two hundred and sixty acres and for the past four years has been under the capable management of Martin Rockney. Martin is the son of Tosten and Cecelia (Melve) Rock-
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ney, both of whom were natives of Voss, Norway. When they came to Christiania it was a sparsely settled community and they worked to advance the general interests as well as to make themselves a home. Always devoted to the Lutheran church, Mr. Rockney aided in building the church at West Koskonong, which his chil- dren still attend. Ox teams brought the pioneers to Christiania from Milwaukee and a farm of forty acres in section 8 was pur- chased. Several tracts of land were added until the farm reached its present size and buildings were erected, first a snug log cabin and later a substantial brick house. Mr. Rockney died in 1880 but his widow still resides at the old home with her son Martin. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rockney, Erick the old- est son, married Tolena Lee, who lives a widow, upon the old farm. Anna resides in Winnebago county, Iowa, and is the wife of Jul Julson ; Ole is a farmer of Trail county, N. D .; Lars resides in South Dakota. Julia is Mrs. Peter Nelson of Richland county, N. D .; Martin manages the farm in Christiania; Martha is de- ceased ; Carolina is Mrs. Berge Jerstad; Amelia married Andrew Johnson of Sun Prairie; Cecelia is the wife of George Strommen of Christiania. Martin was born in Christiania, January 14. 1862; . attended the home schools and assisted his father with his farm. In March, 1884, he married Miss Lena Freydenberg, of Eastland, Norway, daughter of Christian and Mary (Pederson) Freydenberg, who came to Wisconsin in 1880 and lived upon a farm in Vernon county. Seven children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rockney ; Mary, Tosten, Martha, Morgan, Tilla, George and Mar- vin, all of whom are still with their parents. Mr. Rockney has al- ways been interested in farming although for four years he en- gaged in the tobacco business at Deerfield. He devotes most of his attention to dairying. Mr. Rockney votes the Republican ticket but has never participated in politics to any great extent.
George O. Rockstad is a very prominent and popular young citi- zen of the town of Springdale and is the owner and proprietor of the "Prairie Lawn Stock Farm." where he carries on general farm- ing, besides being an extensive breeder of thorough-bred Poland- China hogs, red-poll cattle and fancy poultry. He was born in the town where he now resides in Dane county, Wis .. October 8, 1875, and is the son of Ole and Betsy (Nelson) Rockstad, the father be- ing a native of Norway and the mother of the town of Springdale. The latter is a daughter of Nels Nelson, who was one of the pioneers of that section of the county, and the subject of this re- view owns land which his grandfather preempted from the govern-
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ment. Our subject's father followed farming and also worked as a stone mason for several years in Springdale and neighboring towns, and for a time was a foreman on the Chicago & Northwestern rail- way. About 1901 he retired from active participation in affairs, and he and wife are living quietly in the village of Mt. Horeb. George O. Rockstad is one of four children that were born to these parents, only two of whom are now living-Belle, the sister, mar- ried Andrew Lee and resides in Mt. Horeb, where her husband is. the proprietor of the electric light plant. The subject of this re- view was reared to manhood in his native town of Springdale and has always had his residence within her confines. He received his education in the district schools. and at the age of twenty-three years began his independent career as a farmer on one hundred and forty-eight acres of land. He has added to this tract until his landed possessions now comprise three hundred and thirty-seven acres of some of the finest and most arable land to be found in Dane county. Mr. Rockstad was married on May 2, 1898. to Miss Julia Severson, of Adams, Green county, Wis .. and to this union there have been born two children: Evangeline Beatrisa and Gar- field St. O'Claire. Our subject is a Republican in his political affiliations and fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order of Mt. Horeb, No. 228.
Christian Frederic Rodefeld was one of the successful farmers of Cottage Grove township, and here he so lived as to ever command the unqualified respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. His was a strong, noble manhood and his life was one of signal usefulness and honor in all its relations. He was born in Minden, province of Westphalia, Prussia. April 10, 1847, and he died on his beautiful homestead farm, in section 8. Cottage Grove township, January 21, 1899. He was a son of Christian and Wil -. helmina Rodefeld. who likewise passed the closing years of their lives in Dane county. Mr. Rodefeld passed the first eleven years of his life in his native land. where he secured his rudimentary edu- cational training. and he then accompanied his parents on their immigration to America. The family first located in the city of Schenectady. New York, they remained a few years, after which they came to Dane county, settling in Blooming Grove township. where the father engaged in farming. The subject of this memoir assisted in the improving and cultivation of the home farm, while he attended the district schools as opportunity offered. At the age of twenty-two years he was married. remaining on the homestead a few years thereafter and then removing to Cottage Grove town-
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ship, where he purchased the homestead farm upon which he passed the remainder of his life,-the present residence of his widow. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres, and since his death Mrs. Rodefeld has purchased an adjoining forty acres, so that she now has a fine estate of two hundred acres, while the improvements on the place are of high type in every respect. Mrs. Rodefeld has shown much discrimination and executive ability in the managing of the affairs of the farm and its incidental business, and finds her greatest solace in maintaining the high standard set by her . honored husband, while the homestead is endeared to her by the memories and associations of the past. She is a devoted member of the German Lutheran church, as was also her husband, and he was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities, never seeking office but having served two years as clerk of the school board. October 25, 1867, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Rodefeld to Miss Louisa Brandhorst, who was born December 26. 1844, being a daughter of Frederic and Louisa (Lubgking) Brandhorst, natives of Germany, where they died. Two children survive the honored father : Maria Louisa, who was born August 4, 1869, and who is now the wife of John Slater, who had practical management of the homestead farm of her mother ; and Carolina Louisa, who was born April 6, 1873, and who has been for the past five years a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of the city of Beloit, Wis- consin.
Ole K. Roe, a prominent citizen of Stoughton, is one of the lead- ing dealers in Wisconsin tobacco in this part of the county and 's a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of Dane county, which has been his home from the time of his birth to the present. He was born in Pleasant Springs township. August 24, 1851, and is a son of Knud and Anna (Hellickson) Roe, who emigrated from Norway to America in 1839, first locating in La Salle county, Illi- nois, and two years later removing to Racine county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1843 when they came to Dane county. where the father purchased a large tract of government land, in Pleasant Springs township. He reclaimed a very considerable por- tion of his land to cultivation and endured to the full the hardships and vicissitudes of pioneer life. He was renowned as a hunter, having hunted bear in his native land and having shot many deer after coming to Dane county. He had the first ox team in the neighborhood and with the same went to Milwaukee to do his mill- ing and marketing. that being the nearest marketing point at that time, and his neighbors were permitted the use of his plodding
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team for the same purpose. He died in 1814, at the age of seventy- seven years and his widow is still living, having attained to the venerable age of ninety years (1906) and still maintaining her home in Dane county, whose development from the wilderness she has personally witnessed. Of the ten children in the family seven grew to maturity, and concerning them the following brief record is entered : Betsey is the wife of Ole Seamonson ; John is now de- ceased ; Hellick K .. was the next in order of birth : Belle is the wife of Ole Swerig; Mollie is the wife of Ole Thorsen: Sophia is Mrs. King : and Ole K., is the immediate subject of this sketch. Mr. Roe was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm, assisting in its reclamation and cultivation and having such limited educa- tonal advantages as were afforded in the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period. He remained on the homstead farm, which comprised two hundred and eighty acres, until the year 1875, when he began his independent career, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Pleasant Springs township. He made excellent improvements and developed a valuable property. remain- ing on the farm until April 9, 1888, when he leased the place and took up his residence in the city of Stoughton, where he has since devoted his attention to the tobacco business, handling from six to ten thousand cases of the native product each year and having been identified with this line of enterprise for the past thirty-two years. In 1891 he erected his present commodious and attractive residence in Stoughton. still retaining possession of his farm. He is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and takes an active interest in public affairs of a local nature. He has been called to various offices of distinctive trust and responsibility and has ably fulfilled all duties involved. In 1884 he was elected treasurer of Pleasant Springs township, and in 1890 he was chosen to repre- sent the second ward of Stoughton on the board of aldermen, in which capacity he served six years. He was honored with elec- tion to the office of mayor of the city and served five terms in this position, giving a most able administration of the municipal gov- ernment and doing much to forward the best interests of the city. It was within his incumbency of this office, and largely through his influence, that the substantial and well equipped city hall of Stoughton was erected. He was elected to represent the second district in the assembly of the state legislature, serving one term. He is a great lover of fine horses and served several years as treas- urer of the Stoughton Driving Park association. December 26. 1875, Mr. Roe was united in marriage to Miss Lena Felland. daugh-
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ter of Ole and Helga Felland, early settlers of Pleasant Springs township. Of the four children of this union two are living, one of whom. Carl. is now a member of the Stoughton board of alder- men, from the second ward. Mr. Roe and his family hold member- ship in Christ Lutheran church and are prominent in the social life of the community.
E. O. Roisum has been a farmer in Windsor township for many years and is especially interested in stock-raising. Many valuable draft horses have been raised and sold on his farm. His father, Ole Roisum, was a pioneer of Dane county, who came from Nor- way in 1846 and purchased the farm now owned by his son. He married Miss Carrie Ethun, who was also born in Norway and came to Dane county in 1845. They were married in Windsor and spent their entire married life upon the farm which they bought when they were first married. Nine children were born to them, of whom five are living. Their son. E. O., was born in the town of Windsor, February 3. 1850, attended the home schools and has always been a farmer. He aided his parents in the work which has improved and equipped their farm and now owns the old home- stead of two hundred and fifty-seven acres. He is a Republican and has served the town in the capacity of supervisor and chair- man of the board. July 3, 1871, he married Miss Johanna Rendahl, who was born in the town of Windsor, Dane county. December 14, 1849 daughter of Joe and Carrie (Johnson) Rendahl who came to Rock Prairie, Ill., and later to Windsor, from Norway in 1845. Mrs. Roisum is the only survivor of the family of two brothers, who were born in Norway, and two sisters ; her parents are also dead. Mr. and Mrs. Roisum have had three children ; John E., Olans M. and one who died in infancy. John E. and Olans at- tended the home schools and the Dixon business college of Dixon, Ill., and are engaged in managing the farm. Like their father, they are allied with the Republican party. The family has always been identified with the Norway Grove Lutheran church, of which Ole Roisum was one of the original members and the sons are members of the church choir as well as of the De Forest cornet band.
Henry Roles, a miller and farmer of the town of Berry, was born in Hanover, Germany. December 29. 1847. He is a son of Frederick and Johanna Sommas Rolfs, both natives of Hanover. Frederick Rolfs was a farmer. Before Henry was very old his father died and his mother brought him with the rest of the family to America. Shortly after arriving here she married Conrad Schala. By her
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
first marriage she had three children,-Minnie, the wife of Henry Schala of Cross Plains: Henry, the subject of this sketch, and Wil- liam, who operates a large farm in the town of Berry. Henry Rolfs' opportunity for an education was very limited. He lived with his parents until he was thirty years of age and then located on the place where he now lives, two hundred and sixty acres of section 31, town of Berry. The land was partially cleared, but Mr. Rolfs made all the improvements. His home he built in 1895. His fine barn was burned to the ground at one time, but with char- acteristic energy he replaced it with a larger and better structure. Besides managing his farm. he owns and operates a grist-mill where he does custom grinding. Politically he is a Democrat. Like his parents, he is a member of the Lutheran church; his wife is a member of the Catholic church. On February 29, 1879, he mar- ried Isabelle Dahmen, daughter of William and Isabelle (Klertz) Dahmen. Mr. and Mrs. Dahmen were natives of Prussia, who immigrated to this country in 1859, settling in the town of Spring- field, where Mr. Dahman died in 1903. They had three children, Christian and Jacob, farmers in the town of Springfield, and Isa- belle (Mrs. Rolfs). To Mr. and Mrs. Rolfs has been born one son, Fritz, who has always made his home with his parents.
Herman L. Rothe, a prosperous farmer of the town of Deerfield, was born on the homestead where he now resides, on February 15, 1867. His parents were Lars L. and Engeborg (Molster) Rothe, both natives of Voss, Norway. Lars L. Rothe came to the United States in 1840 and for three years sa led the lakes; then he returned to the old country. married, and brought his bride to Deerfield township. This was in 1844. Late in that year he settled on sec- tion 32, where he remained until his death in 1898. Of his twelve children only four are living,-Torger, a resident of Hayfield, Minn .; Julia (Mrs. O. B. Stevens), of Rice Lake, Wis .; Andrew, lives in Mt. Horeb; and Herman L., the subject of this sketch. The mother died January 1. 1904, having made her home with her son Herman, after the death of her husband. Herman L. Rothe received a good education in the district schools of the town of Deerfield, Albion Academy and the Northwestern Business College at Madison. For a couple of years after he became of age he worked his father's farm on shares. In 1897 he purchased the old homestead, the father and mother continuing to make their home with their son until their death. Politically Mr. Rothe is a Re- publican. At present he is the incumbent of the office of clerk of the school board, serving his second term. His religious affilia-
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
tions are with the Norwegian Lutheran church. worshipping at the edifice of that society in Deerfield. On May 18. 1898, he married Helen, daughter of Ole and Breta (Eggom) Husebo of Deerfield. Mrs. Rothe was born in the town of Medina on August 31. 1868, and received her education in the schools of that town. She is one of ten children, nine of whom are living .- Susan (Mrs. S. Lever- son), of Stoughton ; Knute and Andrew, now living in Sioux Falls, S. D .: James, in Worthing, S. D .; Bessie and Mrs. Rothe. twins; Bessie is now Mrs. William Huebsch: and Severt and Ole, living in the town of Medina. To Mr. and Mrs. Rothe have been born four children .- Lloyd Orrin, July 28, 1899; Harry William, April 2, 1901; Dean Bertham, August 21, 1902; and Franklin Ingman, April 16, 1904. Few men have led a more devoted life than has Mr. Rothe. The consideration and fidelity with which he cared for his aged parents for so many years have been an inspiration to his friends and neighbors. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rothe are people of fine address.
August F. Roske is a well-known and successful farmer of the township of Windsor and makes a specialty of a fine breed of Plym- outh Rock poultry. He also carries on a general farming and stock- raising business on the farm which his father owned before him. His father, Michael Roski, was born in Germany in 1824, was edu- cated in Germany and there married Miss Wilhelmina Lents, a native of the same place, born in 1828. Their first years of married life were spent in their native land, but in 1874 they decided to try their fortunes in the United States and accordingly came to the town of Bristol, Dane county, Wis. After a residence of a year in Bristol they moved to Windsor, obtained a farm of ninety acres and made it their permanent home. Here Mr. Roske died in 1890 and his widow, seventy-eight years of age, still lives with her son. Three members of their family of four children are living. Aug- ust F. was born in Germany, February 3, 1866, came with his parents to Wisconsin when he was but eight years old and was edu- cated in Windsor township. He early engaged in farming which has ever since been his occupation. His wife was, before her mar- riage, Miss Anna Reuter, who was born in Blooming Grove, Wis, daughter of Carl and Fredericka Reuter, both of whom were natives of Germany, came to the United States in an early day and located in Dane county, when it was a sparsely settled community. Their home is now in Verona, Dane county, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Roske attend the Congregational church. Mr. Roske is allied with the
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Republican party and particularly active in school interests which he has served as clerk of the school district for some time.
Thomas Royston, a general farmer of the village of Mazomanie, was born in Mazomanie, Dane county, Wis., November 20, 1861. His parents were Reuben and Mary (Lockwood) Royston, natives of Yorkshire, England. Reuben's father was John Royston of York- shire, who emigrated to this country early in the century and was one of the first settlers of the town of Mazomanie. He bought one hun- dred and forty acres, built his home and lived the rest of his days on the place. In 1844 John Royston, the grandfather of Thomas Royston, came over from England. He worked at his trade of weaver and did farming here. Reuben Royston's only sister married William Ellis. Reuben Royston died in 1865, leaving four children, John, deceased; Thomas, and William and John, both carpenters in Mazomanie. After his death his wife married Daniel Kiley, a native of Wales, who has since died. By this marriage she had three children, Daniel, of Mazo- manie: Kate, wife of Edward Lawler of Chicago, and Charles of Mazo- manie. Thomas Royston, the subject of this sketch, received his edu- . cation in the public schools of Mazomanie. He does general farming and market gardening. For the past few years he has de- voted a good deal of attention to the raising of bees and the making of sorghum. Politically Mr. Royston is a Democrat, but has never held office. On January 27, 1881, he married Emma, daughter of Willoughby and Martha (Norton) Hawley, natives of Yorkshire, Eng- land, who came to this country in 1847. Mr. Hawley enlisted in the Union army and met his death in one of the big engagements. Mrs. Hawley has since passed away. Thomas and Emma Royston have had five children, Ella, wife of William Kelly of Madison; Reuben, a plumber in Madison; Bernetta, Charm, and Richard, at home. The children were all educated in the home schools. On December 19, 1895, Mrs. Royston passed away. Mr. Royston is an active and able member of the Mazomanie camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Manley S. Rowley, one of the well known and representative citi- zens of the beautiful capital city of Wisconsin, and a veteran of the Civil War, is identified with a line of enterprise which has important and direct bearing upon the material and social advancement and priority of every community, that involved in the handling of real es- tate, in which line he here controls large and important interests, be- ing known as one of the leading real-estate brokers of this part of the Badger commonwealth. Mr. Rowley comes of stanch New England stock and is a scion of a family there founded in the colonial era of
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our national history. He was born in Vermont, May 24, 1842, and is a son of Silas and Abiga:1 (Cooper) Rowley, who removed to the west when he was twelve years of age. locating in Berrien county, Michigan, where he was reared to maturity and completed his early education in the common schools. His parents both died in that state, his father having been a farmer by vocation. At the outbreak of the Civil War. in response to the first call for three-year men, Mr. Rowley enlisted in Twelfth Mich gan Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made sergeant major, proceeding to the front with his command and continuing in active service therewith until September 1863, when he was transferred to the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, in which he was made adjutant. He remained in service for nearly three years. having taken part in numerous engagements, including the battle of Shiloh, and being a part of the troops which were in pur- suit of Morgan during his famous raid through Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Though he was never wounded. the hardships of his army life caused Mr. Rowley's health to become seriously impaired, and after several vain attempts to recuperate his energies without leaving the field, he found it imperative to resign, by reason of such physical disability, and received his honorable discharge. at Lexington, Ky., June 15, 1864. He returned to his old home in Niles, Michigan, where he remained until 1866, when he went to Ossian, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he was engaged in the clothing business for five years. having been one of the pioneer merchants of the town. In 1870 Mr. Rowley took up his residence in Wisconsin's capital, which has been his home the greater portion of the time during the inter- vening period of more than thirty years. In the year mentioned he opened in Madison a clothing and furnishing-goods establishment, on Carroll street, building up a good trade and establishing himself firmly in the confidence and esteem of the community. After being thus engaged for twelve years Mr. Rowley made favorable re- sponse to overtures extended by the well known hatters, Clark Broth- ers, of New York city, whom he represented as a traveling salesman until 1890. in the meanwhile maintaining his home in Madison. In the year mentioned, he here established himself in his present line of business enterprise, in which his success and precedence are of the most unequivocal order, as has already been stated. Mr. Rowley has ever been an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and he has been an active factor in its local councils. He served one term as city treas- urer of Madison, giving an able and satisfactory administration of the fiscal affairs of the municipality. He is an appreciated member of
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