Elias B. Rorick's Biography, Seneca Township, Lenawee County, Michigan

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Elias B. Rorick

Elias B. Rorick was born in Horse Heads, Chemung County, N.Y., December 9, 
1831, and came to Michigan with his parents in December, 1836.  His father, 
William Rorick, was born in Deckertown, Sussex County, N.J., March 30, 1805, 
and was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wilson) Rorick, who were natives of 
Sussex County.  The ancestor of the Rorick family was a German, who settled 
in Sussex County, N.J., early in the 18th century.  The ancestors of the 
Wilson family were Irish.  William Rorick lived in Sussex County until 1826, 
when he went "West," and settled in the "Lake Country" near Horse Heads, and 
lived there until the fall of 1836.  In December, that year, he started for 
Michigan with a team of horses, coming through Canada, and crossed the 
Detroit River from Windsor on the ice.  From Detroit he came to Adrian, and 
finally settled on Section 18, in Seneca Township, in this county. Here he 
was successful and continued to purchase land until he owned some 200 acres. 
  He resided on this farm for about 35 years.  He was a thrifty, successful 
businessman, and was held in high esteem by all who came in contact with 
him.  He became a victim of ill health, and about 1875 removed to the 
village of Morenci, where he died, January 15, 1898.

May 22, 1830, William Rorick married Miss Phoebe Ann Breese, daughter of 
Elias and Deborah (Bennett) Breese, Horse Heads, N.Y., and they had five 
children, as follows:  Elias B., John C., Jacob M., Estell H., and Lussetta. 
  Mrs. Phoebe (Breese) Rorick, was born in Horse Heads, N.Y., October 1811, 
and died in Seneca, this county, September 1, 1858.  Elias B. Rorick was 
reared a farmer, and was educated in the primitive country school house, 
supplemented by a three months' course in the Medina Academy, J.M. Barrows, 
principal.  At the age of seventeen years he went to Adrian, and for two 
years was engaged as clerk in the then large and prosperous hardware store 
of George L. Bidwell.  In 1852, he went to Corning, N.Y., and for two years 
acted as clerk in a dry goods store. In the winter of 1854-5 he went to 
Cleveland, Ohio, and spent three months in Fulsom's Commercial School. In 
the spring of 1854 he went to Green Bay, Wis., where he was engaged for six 
months in the fish business with a Cleveland, Ohio firm.  The next two years 
he spent at Ontonagon, as manager of the Evergreen Bluff copper mine.  He 
returned home in the spring of 1856, making the trip from Ontonagon to Green 
Bay with dogs and Indians.  In April, 1856, he went to Kansas in the height 
of the "Border Ruffian" troubles and witnessed many thrilling scenes.  He 
sound found employment in the government corps of topographical engineers 
who were selecting a route for a future railroad to San Francisco.  He 
remained in this service for about six months, and returned home in 
December. In the year 1857 he went back to agriculture, which he followed 
for about three years, when he went to Aurora, Illinois, and farmed for 
about seven years.  In 1867 he went to Chillicothe, Mo., purchased a small 
farm, and remained there until 1869, when he returned and went on his 
father's farm.  In April, 1873, he removed to the village of Morenci and 
went into the employ of J.P. Cawley & Co. in the general mercantile 
business.  That fall he went to work for Rothrock, Cawley & Green, in the 
hardware business, and has been engaged in that trade ever since.  In April, 
1876, he purchased a half interest in the store, in company with Henry E. 
Green.  He was for 27 years express agent and six year postmaster in 
Morenci.  In 1896 he was made cashier of the Bank of Morenci.  In 1900 a 
national bank was organized, and Mr. Rorick was elected president, which 
position he now holds.  He has acted as Town Clerk for six years, and has 
served on the public school board for 25 years. He is a member of the 
Congregational Church, and affiliates with the Republican party.

August 25, 1857, Elias B. Rorick married Miss Mary A. Corwin, daughter of 
George E. Corwin, of Batavia, Ill., and they had three children, as follows: 
  Luella, born in Seneca, this county, June 9, 1858, married Pearly Cawley, 
of Morenci, was the mother of three children, and died in Fayette, Ohio, 
November 27, 1899; William B., born in Aurora, Ill., August 12, 1861, 
resides in Morenci, and is engaged in the hardware business; George C., born 
same place, November 29, 1863, died July 11, 1889.  Mrs. Mary A. (Corwin) 
Rorick was born in Watkins Glen, N.Y., March 14, 1835, and died in Morenci, 
March 23, 1895.  September 21, 1899, Mr. Rorick married Miss Amelia 
Shepherd, of Morenci.  She was born in Monroeville, Ohio, March 16, 1850.  
Her parents were English, and were early settlers in Huron County, Ohio.  
They afterwards removed to Fulton County, where they resided for many years. 
Her mother died in Morenci, June 9th, 1898.

Source:

Knapp, John I. and R.I. Bonner. 1903. Illustrated History and Biographical 
Record of Lenawee County, Mich., Containing an Accurate Epitomized History 
from the First Settlement in 1824 to the Present Time. Adrian, MI: The Times 
Printing Company.