FrederickW. Rottger

 
FREDERICK W. ROTTGER, one of the most successfuland enterprising business men of Mount Sterling, was born near Mendon,Prussia, August 8, 1844. His father, William Rottger, was born in the samecountry, and there was reared and married. In 1845 he determined to tryhis fortunes in the New World, and left his family behind until he shouldseek out a home for them in the strange, new land. He located in Morgancounty, Illinois, where he died about a year later. His wife was left invery humble circumstances, with four little children. In 1850 she broughther family to America, sailing from Bremen and landing in New Orleans;thence they came via the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Naples, andcompleted the journey to Jacksonville by rail. Frederick W. was bound outto E. S. Hendrickson, a farmer then residing in Morgan county, with whomhe remained until he had attained his majority. His early life was spenton the farm, but he managed to learn the art of telegraphy, and came toMount Sterling to accept a position with the Wabash Railway Company asstation agent. For more than a quarter of a century he has had charge ofthe company’s business at this point, and by his years of faithful servicehas gained the entire confidence of the officials of the corporation. Afterhe had been in Mount Sterling a short time he began contracting for railroadties, and has carried on this business continuously since that time. In1874 he purchased an interest in the lumber business of C. M. Dunlap, andin 1882 bought the entire concern, since which time he has conducted thetrade alone. In 1878 he added the grain business to his own interests,and has done a large amount of buying and shipping. He also has immenseagricultural interests, and owns 800 acres of fine farming land in PeaRidge township.

Mr. Rottger was married October 18, 1865,to Eugenia Peters, a native of Steubenville, Ohio, and a daughter of Stebbensand Alicia (Tracy) Peters; of this union five children have been born:Eugenia, Nina, Myrtle, Frederick W. and Winnifred. Mrs. Rottger is a consistentmember of the Presbyterian Church. Our worthy subject belongs to the Masonicorder, being a member of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A. F. & A. M., DeltaCommandry, No. 48, K. T., and the Quincy Consistory. Politically he isidentified with the Democratic party, and has represented the people ofhis township in many of the local offices; he was the first Mayor of MountSterling, and has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors. Heis also the choice of his party to represent Brown county in the StateLegislature. He is a man of unquestioned integrity, true to his friends,and strong in the purposes he considers just and right.
 

Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 179-180.

Copyright1999-2006 Judi Gilker; all rights reserved. For personal use only.Commercial use of the information contained in these pages is strictlyprohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appearwith the information.

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