JAMES WHALLON ROLL

JAMES WHALLON ROLL, successful farmer and highly respected citizen of Carlyle township, Allen County, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, near Glendale, December 28, 1835. His father, Samuel V. Roll, was one of the pioneers of Hamilton County, going there in 1805 from Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey. The latter was born at Mendham in 1758 and died in September, 1885. In early life he was a saddle and harness maker. His father, Abram Roll, bought a large tract of land near Cincinnati (the 25th ward of that city) and opened a farm there. Samuel V. Roll rode over across the mountains into Ohio on horseback and was offered the square in Cincinnati where the Galt house stands, for his horse. Samuel V. Roll was a gentleman well known as a pioneer, took a conspicuous part in the affairs of his locality and the second Abolition ballot cast in Springfield township, Hamilton County, was cast by him. He married Nancy A. Whallon, daughter of James Whallon, a large farmer and a Jerseyman. Their marriage resulted in the following issue; Samuel, deceased; James W.; Lavina, deceased; Nancy, deceased; John, deceased and Benjamin, of Mt. Healthy, Ohio.

James W. Roll grew up at Glendale and was educated in College Hill, Ohio. He taught in the public schools five years and then entered the Cincinnati Business College as one of the professors. Following this con-

nection he purchased a half interest in a business college in Zanesville, Ohio, and remained with it eight years. Returning to his first love, the farm, he remained four years on the old home and then disposed of his personal effects and came west. Kansas, and especially Allen County, was absolutely strange to him when he entered it. He purchased a farm on the north line of the county and began its successful cultivation and management. Another farm, adjoining, in Anderson County, he owns, and altogether his time and energies are in full demand.

Mr. Roll was first married in Ohio, January 16, 1861, to Anna McCormick. She died in March two years later. In October, 1865, he was married to Sarah J., a sister of Hon. James Neal, of Hamilton, Ohio. She died before their first anniversary and July 7, 1867, he was united in marrage with Susan M. Weatherhead, of Ogdensburg, New York, a daughter of Robert Weatherhead, a government officer. Robert H. Weatherhead, a leading druggist of Cincinnati, and Judson Weatherhead, of Chicago, are brothers of Mrs. Roll and Mrs. Fannie Church, of Chicago, is her sister.

Mr. Roll's children are Samuel A. Roll, with the Electric Appliance Company of Chicago; Bessie, wife of Arthur Paine, of Chicago; Lillie M., head book-keeper for the E. A. Armstrong Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, and Robert Roll, of Allen County.

The politics of the Rolls has been permanent and unchangeable. Our subject cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont and followed the Republican party on down to and including its late candidate, William McKinley.

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