Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Rotermund, Herman F 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:58 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

HERMAN F. ROTERMUND. The birthplace of Herman F. Rotermund was the farm on 
which he now resides and throughout his entire life he has been connected with 
the work of tilling the soil and with other agricultural interests. He lives 
on section 30, Crete township, and there he was born January 12, 1852,—the 
third of the four children of Frederick and Mary (Miller) Rotermund, natives 
of Hanover, Germany. The father emigrated to the United States in 1848 and 
making his way to Du Page county, Illinois, there worked at farm labor until 
1851, when he came to Will county and purchased a Mexican land warrant, 
wherewith he secured one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land. It was 
entirely destitute of improvements and after building a little board house 
upon the place he began breaking the sod, planting the seed and in due course 
of time gathering good harvests. Conditions found upon the frontier were still 
prevalent here at that time. Chicago was the nearest market at that time and 
while on a trip there in 1854 Mr. Rotermund became ill and died at Blue 
Island, Illinois. He was a good man, honorable in all life's relations. He 
held membership in the Lutheran church and gave the land upon which St. John's 
Lutheran church in Crete township was built. While he had not been identified 
with farming interests long enough to win an estate of much value he left to 
his family the more valuable heritage of an untarnished name. After the death 
of her first husband Mrs. Rotermund became the wife of Christ Rust. She passed 
away in Crete township in 1885, at the age of seventy years. By her first 
marriage she had four children, but the eldest died in infancy. The others 
are: Sophia, the wife of J. H. Schweer, living on the Indiana side of the 
state line; H. F., of this review; and Henry, who makes his home in the 
village of Crete. By the second marriage there was one daughter—Mary Rust, now 
the deceased wife of John Schweer, of Crete. H. F. Rotermund was reared to 
farm life, remaining with his mother and step-father, while in the German 
schools he acquired his education. He has always engaged in general farming 
and the habits of industry and perseverance which he formed in his youth have 
since been numbered among his strongest characteristics. He now owns one 
hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead, on which are good improvements, 
most of which have been placed here by Mr. Rotermund. As a companion and 
helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Sophia Schweer, who gave him her 
hand in marriage in 1879. She was born in Lake county, Indiana, in 1854, a 
daughter of Christ Schweer, an early settler of Lake county, who died about a 
year ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rotermund have been born four children: Amelia, 
now the wife of Herman Wassman, a farmer of Ormsby, Minnesota; Fred, who will 
graduate from Concordia College, of St. Louis, Missouri, in June, 1907, in 
preparation for the ministry; Martin, at home; and Albert, a twin brother of 
Martin, who died at the age of six months. In connection with the operation of 
his own farm Mr. Rotermund acted as manager of the Interstate Creamery from 
1893 until 1902 and has been one of its directors since 1891. He it was who 
called the first meeting of farmers to talk over the plan of having a creamery 
and was also largely instrumental in putting up the plant. The enterprise has 
proved a decided success and has been of much benefit to the community. In his 
political views Mr. Rotermund is a republican and has filled a number of local 
offices. He was appointed postmaster of Bemis under President Cleveland and 
filled that position for seven years. He served as constable for one term, was 
justice of the peace for sixteen years, was collector for one year, and for a 
quarter of a century has been school director. He and his wife are members of 
St. John's Lutheran church, in which he has served as trustee for seven years 
and as treasurer for four years. The church finds in him a devoted and helpful 
member and his fellow townsmen know him as one worthy of their respect and 
good will.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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