Orville D. Rollstin

HARRELL, HAMMINGER, HOLLOWAY, HUSS, JAMES, MCGUFFIN, ROLLSTIN, TRAVIS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/8/2004 at 19:16:49

O. D. Rollstin, representing a pioneer family that was established here more than a half century ago, is a worthy native son and prosperous agriculturist of Madison county and owns a valuable and highly improved farm of eighty acres on section 17, Scott township. His birth occurred in that township on the 28th of October, 1863, his parents being Andrew and Mary (James) Rollstin, the former born in Guernsey county, Ohio, January 3, 1833, and the latter in Madison county, Indiana, September 25, 1838. Andrew Rollstin is a son of John and Margaret (McGuffin) Rollstin, who spent their entire lives in the Buckeye state. When twenty-seven years of age he came to Iowa and in 1860 wedded Miss Mary James, renting and cultivating a farm near that of his father-in-law for one year. After the birth of his first child he settled in Scott township and there purchased a farm which he operated successfully during the remainder of his active business career. For the past eighteen years he has lived retired at Winterset, enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil. He formerly supported the democracy but in recent years has voted the prohibition ticket.

His wife is a daughter of James M. and Mary (Rambo) James, natives of North Carolina, both of whom are deceased. The mother passed away in Indiana at the age of forty-one years, and the father came to Madison county, Iowa, when his daughter Mary was a maiden of sixteen, settling northeast of Winterset. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rollstin have been members of the Baptist church for forty-five years and their upright, honorable lives have won them the high esteem and regard of all with whom they have been associated. They have lived in this county from pioneer times to the present and are largely familiar with its annals. To them were born seven children. James has been twice married, his first wife bearing the maiden name of Adeline Harrel and leaving five children: William, for sixteen years a missionary in Japan, is now residing in Colorado for the benefit of his health O, D., of this review, is the next in order of birth Ance and Mida are both deceased. Preston wedded Miss Lena Huss and makes his home in Winterset. Leston, twin brother of Preston, married Miss Nellie Hemminger and resides in Nebraska.

O. D, Rollstin was reared in the township of his nativity and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he lived , Nebraska for a short time and was married in that state. After returning to this county he purchased his father's farm of two hundred and twenty-seven and a half acres on section 21, Scott township, which he operated continuously and successfully until 1913, when he disposed of the property and bought an excellently improved tract of eighty acres on section 17, Scott township, on which he has remained to the present time. He long conducted his general farming interests with gratifying and well merited success but has now largely put aside the active work of the fields.

In 1886 Mr. Rollstin was joined in wedlock to Miss Martha Holloway a native of Iroquois county, Illinois, by whom he has two children: Nellie the wife of Delwm E. Travis, of Walnut township; and Edna. He gives his politics allegiance to the democracy and at one time ably served in the capacity of township assessor. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church, to which his wife also belongs He has resided in this county throughout practically his entire life and is widely and favorably known within its borders, the circle of his friends being almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”