Biography of Otto B Rollwage, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 14 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Transcribed by Lisa Hamilton from 
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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ROLLWAGE - OTTO - BENJAMIN - MAYOR - - 9 23 1853 - 2 29 1926 - CITY Cemetery - 
BORN CINCINATTI, OHIO

Hon. Otto B. Rollwage, mayor of Forrest City, and a member of the firm of
Rollwage & Co., one of the leading mercantile houses in Forrest City, was born
in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854, being reared and educated in that city. At the age
of twenty years he came to Forrest City, and engaged as salesman in a store in
this city for three months, after which he entered into the mercantile business
with his brother Louis. They commenced on a small scale, but by close attention
to business and strict economy, enjoy a very extensive trade, employing eight
salesmen in their store. They own five business houses besides the one they
occupy. Mr. Rollwage was a member of the board of aldermen for some time, and so
efficient were his services in that capacity, and so diligently did he attend to
the duties devolving on him that he was complimented with a nomination for mayor
of Forrest City, while away from home, and without his knowledge. His
administration has been very beneficial to the city, he having enforced the many
ordinances that were before a dead letter on the status, and especially has he
been vigorous in the prosecution of all parties violating the whisky laws; as a
result there is now no better regulated city in the State. In his domestic
relations Mr. Rollwage is not less happily situated than in business circles. He
married Miss Jennie Anderson, of Monroe County, a graduate of a female college
in Tennessee, and a highly educated and refined lady. She is a leader in the
society of Forrest City, and is one of the prominent members of the W. C. T. U.
in Arkansas, having been a State delegate to the National Convention held at
Nashville in 1887. This worthy couple are the parents of five children: Norma,
Otto, Tolise, De Velling and Madeleine. Mr. R. is a son of Frederick and Mina
(Kuker) Rollwage, both natives of Germany. Frederick Rollwage is still living
and resides in Cincinnati, but spends about half of his time with his son, our
subject. 

The Forrest City Times' Art Souvenir-1905-Page 94: Hon. Otto B. Rollwage is a
lawyer by profession, and is a native of Cincinnatti, Ohio, where he was born On
Sept. 23, 1853. He is a son of F. and Mena (Kuker) Rollwage, who emigrated from
Germany in 1838. His father was a tailor by trade, who continued at his chosen
calling until sixty-five years of age, when he retired. Our subject was reared
in Cincinnatti and educated in the common schools of that city. In 1874, at the
age of twenty years, he came to Forrest City and was engaged as a salesman for
the firm of Sparks & Rollwage, said firm being composed of William Sparks, and
L. Rollwage, brother of our subject. They then formed L. Rollwage & Co. and
operated until December 31, 1902, Otto Rollwage retired from the firm and soon
thereafter, admitted to the bar, and since has been practicing law with marked
success. In 1877 he was happily married to Miss Jennie E. Anderson, of Monroe
County, who was born and reared in Arkansas, and is a highly educated and
refined lady whose friends are legion. Ten children have blessed this match,
namely, Talbert, Norma, Otto, Tolise, DeVeiling, Madeline, Ardale, Herman,
Virginia and Ralph, all of whom, their first born, Talbert, who died when four
years of age, are now living in this city. He was a member of the board of
aldermen for three years, and Mayor for two terms, having been nominated for the
latter the first time while away from home and without his knowledge. He was
chosen President of the Arkansas State Merchant's Association in 1900 at it's
organization in Little Rock.