Rohrer, Millard F. (1850-1934)

ROHRER

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 1/20/2009 at 20:31:10

Millard Fillmore Rohrer
Aug 30, 1850 - Aug 5, 1934

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.51, Council Bluffs)
M. F. Rohrer, commission, Council Bluffs, became a resident of Council Bluffs in 1871. He came to the city in the interests of a milling firm of Wathena, Kan., and finding the place possessing attractions for him over other cities of the West, he quit traveling and settled down, and instead of stopping three months, as he at first intended, he has prolonged the time to about eleven years. He was born in Rohrersville, Washington Co., Md., on what afterward was the Antietam battleground, August 1, 1850, and at the time that battle was fought, he was a lad of twelve years old. Even at this age, he was pressed into the service as a nurse, as his father's house and barn were turned into hospitals, and all possible aid rendered by the family to the wounded soldiers of the Federal army. He was a witness of that terrible battle, and boy though he was, did manly service in caring for the wounded. His first employment in Council Bluffs was in the capacity of salesman for the firm of Bracket & Golden, with whom he remained about one year. This was in 1872. In 1873, he acted as Deputy Sheriff for George Doughty. In the latter part of 1873, and until August of 1875, he was engaged as bill clerk for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and as agent for the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in Nebraska. He then engaged in the insurance business in company with his present partner by the purchase of the business of Messrs. J. P. and J. N. Cassady. Changes were subsequently made in the firm, but Mr. Rohrer continued interested in the insurance and real estate business until he engaged in the storage and commission business in November, 1881, under the firm name of Bowman, Rohrer & Co. He is, however, still largely interested in the real estate business, though only in property owned by himself. He has taken an active part in all enterprises of a local nature. In 1871, he joined Rescue hand Engine Company, No. 3. and was shortly after made Vice President, which office he has since held. He is P. G. of Hawkeye Lodge, No. 184, I. O. O. F., and is P. C. P. of Twin Brother Encampment, No. 42, of that order; he is also a charter member of Widvey Temple, No. 5, P. C. He had served one term as Township Clerk, and in the fall of 1880, while he was in Missouri, he received the nomination for a second term, though he had left positive orders that he would decline to become a candidate for the office. This was the more provoking as the Republicans had put up a colored man as their candidate. There remained but one of two things for him to do, either to withdraw and let the public think he was afraid to enter the contest, or to enter the field with a colored man as an opponent. He chose the latter, and was elected by a good round majority of 800 votes, though he did not want the office. With this elecction, the term of office was changed to two years, so he is still filling the position. In 1877, he was married to Miss Sarah B., only child of John B. and Eliza Beers. Mr. Beers was one of the most prominent real estate dealers and property owners in the city, as well as the first wholesale grocery merchant. Mr. Rohrer, though a young man, has builded for himself a good, honorable reputation in the city of Council Bluffs. That he is in every way worthy of the position he holds in both social and business circles is evidenced by his popularity among the best citizens of the city.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.255)
MILLARD F. ROHRER. Mr. ROHRER has been a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, since July 1871, arriving before he had attained the age of twenty-one. He came originally from Rohrersville, Washington County, Maryland, where he was born on the old family farm, August 30, 1850, the family of which they are representatives having been natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry.
The greatest excitement during his boyhood days was that created by “Old John Brown” at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, in 1859, which was only twelve miles distant. He received a common school education in the private and public schools of Boonsboro and Keedysville, Maryland. During the late War, his home was on the border of the battlefield of Antietam, the battle having been fought September 17, 1862. He was at that time aged twelve years.
Even at this age, he was pressed into service as a nurse, as his father’s house, barn and woodhouse were turned into hospitals, and all possible aid rendered by the family to the wounded soldiers of the Federal Army. He left his native state and home to begin life for himself in 1870, to accept an engagement to travel for a wholesale glove house in Chicago, and, having closed this engagement in the fall, he then located for the winter near Avalon, Livingston County, Missouri, at which place he engaged in teaching school. In the spring of 1870, he selected their present family farm of 280 acres in said county, and immediately wrote for his father and family, and upon their arrival from Maryland, he assisted in putting in the spring crops.
As stated before, in July, 1871, he made his first appearance in Council Bluffs, to introduce a fall wheat brand of flour manufactured by SNIVELY & HEDGES of Wathena, Kansas. At the expiration of three months, he was ordered to Texas to introduce the same flour, and on account of being pleased with the business outlook in Council Bluffs, he resigned his position and decided to make this city his home.
He found immediate employment as clerk of the Briggs House, which was then one of the leading hotels. He was next employed in the Postoffice Bookstore of BRACKETT & GOULDEN as clerk, which position he held until D. W. BUSHNELL succeeded J.P. GOULDEN, at which time he was appointed Deputy Sheriff by ex-Sheriff George DOUGHTY, deceased.
In the discharge of his duties as Sheriff, it was necessary for him to ride over the entire county; inasmuch as only about one half of the farm land was occupied and fenced at that time, he rode in every direction over the grand prairies that now constitute many of the most valuable farms. Following this, he was employed by J.M. PALMER to assist in opening the first frame hotel and depot on the identical ground now occupied by the brick and stone Union (Pacific) Passenger Depot. Subsequently, he was appointed agent of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska, and bill clerk of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in this city, by J.W. MORSE, late general passenger agent of the Union Pacific Railroad.
In 1875 he formed a partnership with Thomas BOWMAN, the present congressman elect, in the insurance business, having purchased the large fire insurance agency of J.P. & J.N. CASADY. About three months after forming this partnership, Mr. BOWMAN was elected County Treasurer and after January 1, 1878, Mr. ROHRER conducted the business alone. In 1881 he became a member of the commercial storage and agricultural implement firm composed of Thomas BOWMAN, George F. WRIGHT and himself, and known as the firm of BOWMAN, ROHRER & Co. The firm closed out their business on January 1, 1885, to SHEPHARD, FIELD & COOK. At this time, Mr. ROHRER was appointed general agent of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York for the state of Iowa.
On December 31, 1887, he was elected Mayor of the city of Council Bluffs by the city council, to succeed ex-Mayor William GRONEWEG, who resigned the office on account of being elected State Senator. At the following city election in March, 1888, he was the Democratic candidate for Mayor, and David J. ROCKWELL the Republican nominee for the same office. Mr. ROCKWELL being a popular gentleman polled the full strength of his party; nevertheless, Mr. ROHRER was elected by between 700 and 800 majority, his term expiring March 17, 1890.
During his continuous term of twenty-six and one-half months as Mayor of the City, Council Bluffs made more progress as a city than during any previous term, viz: the paving with cedar blocks of Broadway from Twelfth Street to Omaha, a distance of three miles, connecting with the (second) great iron and steel bridge over the Missouri River, uniting the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha by the first electric street railway introduced in the great West; opening up the Lake Manawa steam street railway; opening up the Council Bluffs and Omaha Chautauqua grounds, etc., etc. During his term of office, eight miles of streets were paved with cedar blocks, and brick and other public and private improvements were made in keeping with the same.
In his final message to the City council on March 17, 1890, he made the following valuable recommendations in reference to that portion of the city which is now apparently (to the eye) in Omaha:
“My attention has but recently been called to some facts to which in this parting message I deem it my duty to call your attention. I am informed by able lawyers and also by officials who are in a position to know that the long neglected body of land known as Cut-Off Island, and sometimes slightingly referred to as No Man’s Land, is within the corporate limits of the city of Council Bluffs, and it seems that in five or six suits which have been had concerning this land it has been conceded on all hands, by lawyers and judges, that such is the case.
Heretofore this land has been almost of no consequence, but the marvelous growth of our city and its sister across the river has attracted the attention of capitalists to this tract of land which is in Iowa, but contiguous to Omaha. This point settled, important consequences ensue therefrom. The Union Pacific Railway Company has built its tracks on this island, bridges are being built, streets opened up; arrangements are being made to fill up the unoccupied ground with factories, warehouses, and busy industries. I have only recently learned these facts, but should consider myself derelict in duty were I to fail to call your attention to the same upon this particular occasion. The island in extent embraces nearly 2,000 acres of valuable land; and if I understand the matter aright, this is all subject to taxation by the council of the city of Council Bluffs, and the trackage of the railroads as well. This should be looked into and attended to.
We, in turn, aiming to give to the public as good government as possible, and watchful of the interests of all within our jurisdiction, should see to it that the right of franchise so dear to the American heart should be accorded to the residents of that district who are in fact citizens of Council Bluffs. The children of these parents have a right to attend our public schools. The census taker must not omit to include this population in his list. The importance of the right to tax this large body of land is liable to be underestimated, as, in my opinion, but very few years will pass before a large revenue will be derived therefrom and steps should be taken at the next real estate assessment in the spring of 1891, to get the same property upon the books.”
His recommendations were acted upon promptly by the present city administration, and at this writing the exact boundary lines between the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha, in the vicinity of this valuable tract of ground constitutes a case in the Supreme Court of the United States.
His parents, Judge George C. ROHRER and Sophia E. (DEANER) ROHRER, were born in Washington County, Maryland; however, as before stated, they have resided on their farm near Avalon, Livingston County, Missouri, since 1871, his mother having died on May 19, 1889, at the age of sixty-two. Twelve children were in their family; of these, Winfield Scott, Susan Maria, Emma Alice and Laura Ellen, died when quite young – from infancy to age seen. Harry Crytzman died at home, August 30, 1889, at the age of twenty-seven.
Ida Florence is the wife of Irwin F. ROBINSON and resides at Chillicothe, Missouri. Samuel Deaner resides in Council Bluffs and is, at present, a member of the city engineer’s force, while Luella Dinah, Christian Franklin, and Julia Elizabeth, reside on the farm which is now and has been for years farmed in partnership by the subject of this sketch, Millard Fillmore and his brother C. Franklin. Mary Catharine is the wife of Noah W. CRONISE, who resides at Rohrersville, Maryland, and is a half-sister, being the only child of his father’s first wife.
On September 11, 1877, Mr. ROHRER was married to Sarah Beach BEERS, the only child of John B. BEERS and Eliza (BEERS) CRAWFORD. They have had three children: the first born, John Beach Beers, died February 8, 1880, at the age of thirteen months. The remaining two children: Isaac BEERS is ten years old, and Carrie Test is seven years of age.
Mr. ROHRER’s parents were among the early settlers of Council Bluffs, her father having been engaged in the wholesale grocery business, and very extensively in real estate in western Iowa, and in Omaha and Nebraska City in Nebraska. In Council Bluffs, Beers’ Addition and Beers’ Subdivision bear his name. Mrs. ROHRER is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and takes a great interest in the Woman’s Christian Association Hospital, having been one of the first officers. Mr. ROHRER is engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business. His real interests are very large in Council Bluffs, and likewise at Blue Hill in Webster County, Nebraska. He is a stockholder in the Council Bluffs Savings Bank, one of the largest commercial savings and general banking houses in western Iowa.