Bio: Roller, Edward J. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Edward J. Roller

Edward J. Roller (deceased) was born March 25, 1857, in Watertown, Dodge Co., Wis., a son of John and Anna (Johis) Roller, natives of Austria, who were the parents of six children---Mary, Augusta, Edward J., John, Anna and Amelia.

In 1853 the parents of our subject came to America and to Wisconsin, settling in Watertown, Jefferson County, where they remained some ten years, then removing to Richwood, Dodge County, where the father is yet living, all these years following his trade, that of blacksmith, in connection with farming. The mother died November 20, 1886. John Roller, paternal grandfather of Edward J., came to America from Austria with his children, and died in June, 1891, at the age of eighty-eight years; the grandmother, is at present living at the home of her son John; they had two children-John and Anna.

The subject proper of this memoir was reared on the farm, assisting his father until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he went to Minneapolis, where he commenced the trade of cooper, which he carried on there some five years, and then selling out in 1883 embarked in the saloon trade, continuing thereat at Minneapolis till 1887, in which year he came to Tomahawk, Lincoln County, and opened out a general mercantile business, one of the first in that line to be commenced in the place. By strict attention to the wants of his customers, honest dealing and courteous deportment, he succeeded in building up a remunerative business and surrounding himself with hosts of friends, among whom he was recognized leader. In addition to his mercantile business he was interested in other industries, including logging and handling of wood, etc. for he was one of the most active business men in northern Wisconsin. But death interrupted his busy life, he being called from earth January 1, 1893, in the heyday of his early manhood and zenith of his usefulness, deeply mourned by all who knew him.

In June, 1885, Mr. Roller was married to Miss Josephine M. Cabot, daughter of Martin and Henrietta Cabott, father of this family, was born near Berlin, Prussia, in 1821, learned the trade of carpenter, was married in Posen, Germany, in 1840, and came to America in 1855, taking up his residence in Detroit, Mich., where he died in 1855. His wife was born in Berlin, Prussia, in 1822, daughter of Judge John Van Zoebol, a man of considerable prominence in that city, who had a family of seven sons and five daughters. After the death of her husband Mr. Henrietta Cabott moved from Detroit to Watertown, Wis., and was there married to a Mr. Howard, by whom she had five children, named respectively, Theodore, Albert, Rosa, Ferdinand and Henry. Mr. Howard died in the fall of 1893, but Mrs. Howard is yet living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Roller were born two children-Julian A., and George E., who died in infancy. In National and State politics Mr. Roller was a Democrat, but in local affairs he invariably cast his ballot for the candidate he considered best suited for the position, regard of party ties. He served as deputy sheriff two years and constable four years, filling both offices with eminent satisfaction. The entire family (as was also Mr. Roller himself) are consistent members of the Catholic Church, and enjoy the highest esteem and regard of the community at large.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 53-54