WILLIAM ROHLF, b 5 Apr 1852

ROHLF, STOCKMAN, BROCKMAN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 10/9/2004 at 08:22:12

William Rohlf is a farmer of ability, forethought, and marked force of character, who brings a clear, well-trained intellect to bear upon his work, and his fine farm of 160 acres (120 on section 6, and forty acres on section 7), in Perry Township, is classed among the best in this part of Jackson County. Besides cultivating his own land, Mr. Rohlf tills eighty acres belonging to his father's farm.

The subject of this biographical notice was born in Tete des Morts Township, Jackson County, April 5, 1852. (For parental history see sketch of his brother, John Rohlf.) He was thirteen years old when his parents came here, where they have ever since made their home. His education was begun in the primitive log school-house, survivor of early pioneer days, which he attended four winters, and he then studied in other public schools. At the age of twenty he entered the school at the Asylum at Andrew. There he pursued an excellent course of studies, and became a proficient German scholar, learning to read and write the language of his ancestors with ease. He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one, and, as after a certain age his schooling was confined to the winter terms, he used to farm the rest of the season, renting land of his father during his youth. In 1873, after he attained his majority, he bought 160 acres of land of his father. He has since broken about half of it, has it neatly fenced, and has erected substantial buildings, including a commodious, well-appointed frame dwelling, 24x40 feet, with an ell. He has beside a good barn, and has put up a wind-mill and tank. The land is well watered by the waters of Farmers' Creek. He raises considerable grain and rears stock of fine grades, having five head of horses, a good herd of cattle, and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Rohlf owns other property besides his farm, and is proprietor, with his brother John, of a store building in Bellevue. Mr. Rohlf is a powerful, well-built man, of fine physique, possessing great energy, deep penetration, and an indomitable will, and to these traits, as well as to his excellent management, prudence and thrift, he doubtless owes the fact that he is in good circumstances, and is already numbered among the substantial citizens of his native county. He is popular and well-liked in this community, where so many years of his life have been passed, and he heartily enters into all plans for improving township or county. He has done much toward securing good highways of travel during his incumbency of two years of the office of Supervisor of Roads.

April 20, 1882, Mr. Rohlf and Miss Johanna Stockman were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, and of their pleasant wedded life two children have been born - John H. and Lena J.M. Mrs. Rohlf was born in Hanover, Germany, and in 1880 came to America with her parents, Henry and Anna May (Brockman) Stockman.

Mr. and Mrs. Rohlf are zealous workers in the Lutheran Church, of which they are consistent members, as is shown by the record of their daily lives. Mr. Rohlf is in full sympathy with the Republican party, cast his first vote for Grant, when he was nominated for his second tern, and has ever since stood by his party.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)