The man whose name heads this sketch was born at the village, or little city, of Tondern, in Schleswig-Holstein, then a part of Denmark, in 1816. He is descended on his father's side from a line of instructors or teachers, either in a literary or moral way. His grand father was a minister of the Gospel and his father, Augustus Rohlfs, was the principal teacher in the public schools of his native town. Matthias Jensen Rohlfs received his schooling at the realschule, gymnasium and the Seminary of Tondern, graduating in 1811. The next year he became principal of the schools at Holnsmuehlen, where he remained till 1847. In August of that year, foreseeing the troubles of 1848, he immigrated to America, arriving in New York in August and coming direct to Davenport, of which he had heard through letters from his countrymen to friends in Denmark. At the time of his arrival here the village of Davenport contained, probably, one thousand five hundred people. His first employment here was teaching a small subscription school composed of pupils who spoke German. He also bought a farm of sixty acres about two and one-half miles from town, which he cultivated and lived upon. As he knew nothing of farming he was compelled to go through the rather tedious and discouraging process of learning it. Later he bought a quarter section of land nine miles from this city, which he cultivated till 1873. In 1866 his fellow-citizens nominated him as a candidate on the Republican ticket for the State Legislature, and he was elected and served his constituents so satisfactorily that he was reëlected in 1868, 1870 and 1872. In the fall following his last election as representative he was elected treasurer of Scott County, a position to which he was six times reëlected, serving fourteen years in all. In those days it was the usual custom of the people of Scott County to elect Republicans to office.
Mr. Rohlfs has never been much of a secret society man, but has been an Odd Fellow and member of the Turnverein, being presiding officer of the latter. In 1886 he returned to his native country, visiting England, Denmark, various parts of Germany and Switzerland . In 1891 he again visited Europe, taking with him his granddaughter, Miss Cora Hetzel. He remained abroad a year, spending six months in Berlin and visiting various parts of Germany, Switzerland and his native country.
In religion he was formerly a Lutheran, but is now liberal in his religious views. During his entire life in this country he has been a Republican, but at the last election supported the Democratic national ticket, on account of his endorsement of the platform of that party on the question of tariff.
In the year of 1841 he married Miss Eliza D. Rode. They are the parents of six children, who grew to manhood and womanhood, viz: August and Theodore, who are residents of Pottawatamie County; Meta, the wife of Charles Hetzel, now deceased; Emil, a farmer in this County; Emma, now the wife of George Maier, in Avoca, Pottawatamie County, and Rudolph, who is engaged in the insurance business in Davenport.
In 1856 Mr. Rohlfs formed the German Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Scott County, lowa, an organization intended to furnish valid insurance to farmers of this County and to include only those who were, as a rule, acquainted with each other. From the start the company did well. During the first year the number of persons in the company was about fifty, and the amount of property insured was of about fifty thousand dollars' value. Under the stringent insurance law enacted by the Legislature of the State of Iowa in 1868 the company was reor. ganized in September of that year and incorporated upon a firm basis. From the year it was instituted until the present time this company has grown and prospered. The report of the secretary on the thirty first of December, 1893, showed a membership of about eight hundred and a total of property insurance amounting to one million six hundred and fourteen thousand six hundred and eighty dollars, a truly magnificent showing for a company whose risks are confined to a single County. Under the old organization and up to 1868 Mr. Rohlfs was president of the company; since that date he has held the position of secretary of the company and had charge of its affairs, to which he devoted most of his time.
Mr. Rohlfs is a man whose natural manner and deportment have won him many friends and made him deservedly popular. His long continuance in public offices of honor and trust , where he faithfully and honestly discharged his duties, abundantly attests this. His pleasant manners and industry and faithfulness in business have made him one of the most trusted and popular men in Scott County.
BIOGRAPHIES