Bio: Roohr, Jacob Lewis (1848 - 1921)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: ROOHR SISNAULT THOMAS STEELE SUMNER STOWE PLUMSTEAD WISNASKYE STRINGEM

Sources: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

JACOB LEWIS ROOHR, a resident of Beaver Township, where he is successfully engaged in stock farming, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, Dec. 20, 1848, son of George C. and Margaret Ann (Sisnault) Roohr. He was about thirty years old when he came to Clark County, where he first found employment cutting maple wood, which he sold for 75 cents a cord, receiving groceries in exchange. Sometimes he would take a yoke of steers and drive from Neillsville to Hewettville, with a couple of sacks of corn to be ground into corn meal. The father, George C. Roohr, who also came to Wisconsin, was drafted for service in the Civil War, in Company 1, 27th Wisconsin Regiment, serving nine months. After the expiration of his term he enlisted for three years. He died soon after the war, in 1866. Jacob L. also enlisted, at t 'he age of 18, in Company D, 45th Wisconsin Volunteers, at Fond du Lac, Wis., and served under General Thomas at Nashville until July, 1865, being finally injured in a train wreck. After the war he engaged in farming, an occupation with which he was familiar from early experience. Subsequently he went to Green Bay, where he was employed in the sawmill of Monroe Brothers, for five years. He then farmed in Washington County for a year, after which, in 1887, he came to Clark County, living in Neillsville, where he resided two years. At the end of that time he began working on farms in Beaver County, and also did more farm work, and mill work. He then took charge of C. A. Youmans' farm.

About 1903 he bought his present farm from B. Curtis., of Columbia County, it being then a tract of 120 acres of timbered land cut over, with no roads in the vicinity, so that he had to chop a trail to his place. He started with six head of horned cattle and four, horses, and has since built a frame house and a good barn, 74 by 30 feet. His stock consists chiefly of Durham, Guernsey and Pole cattle, all of good grade. Mr. Roohr is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, formerly belonging to the post at Unity and now to that at Colby. He also belongs to the Guardians of Liberty.

He was married, in 1873, to Gertrude Steele, of Green Bay, Wis., and he and his wife have ten children: George, Mary, William, Maggie, Nellie, Anna, Fred, Jacob, John and Hazel, all of whom are living. Mary is now the wife of Ernest Stowe, of Beaver. Maggie is the wife of George Sumner, of Beaver Township, and has four children: Nola, Sarah, Mary and Elnora. Nettie, who married Thomas Plumstead, died at Buffalo, N. Y., July 21, 1917, and her remains were brought home and interred in the Beaver cemetery. George, living at Colby, married Alma Sumner, and has two children, Archie and Winona. William, a resident of Beaver Township, married Lisey Rake, and his children are William, Jr., Bernice, Gertrude and Adam. Fred, also of Beaver Township, married Clara Wisnaskye, and has two children, Alice and Dorothy. Jacob married Stellie Stringem and resides in Beaver Township, and has two children, Melwin and Pearl Margaret.

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Jacob was born in Springfield, Mahoning Co., OH, 20 Dec 1847, son of George Christian and Margaret Ann (Sisnault) Roohr.  The family moved to WI where his father served for 9 months in the Civil War with Co. I, 27th Wis.  After completing his term he enlisted for an additional 3 yrs.  Jacob also enlisted at Fond du Lac and served with Co. D, 45th Wis., Inf.,  under General Thomas at Nashville. Toward the end of the war during July of 1865, he was injured in a train wreck.  After returning to civilian life, he worked 5 yrs. with the Monroe Brothers’ sawmill at Greenbay.  He then farmed in Washington Co. for a year before moving to Neillsville.  For a couple of years he worked as a farmhand and also did millwork in Beaver Twp.  He married Gertrude Ann in Swamico, WI, 6 May 1873.  She was born in July, 1855 in Milwaukee, the daughter of John and Mary Ann (Gross) Steele.  As a 5 yr. old, she’d moved with her parents to Duck Creek.  The Roohrs had 10 children: George Christian (1 Nov 1874, m. Alma Sumner), Mary Ann (13 May 1875, m. Ernest Stowe of Beaver), William Archie (25 Dec 1876, m. Lisey Rake), Margaret "Maggie" (Sep 1878, m. Geo. Sumner of Beaver), Frederick C. (17 Jul 1882, m. Clara Wisnaskye), Jacob Henry (21 Oct 1885, m. Stellie Stringem), Anna (Jul 1891), Nettie P. (6 Sep 1893, m. Thomas Plumstead), John Lewis (5 May 18960 and Hazel Sansen G. (Dec 1897, m. Vernon Goutcher).  At first Jacob supported his family by cutting maple wood and exchanging it for 75¢ worth of groceries per cord.  Occasionally he’d drive a yoke of steers from Neillsville to Hewettville to have corn ground into meal.  Later, the Neillsville lawyer, Clarion A. Youmans, hired him to manage his 400 acre stock farm on Pleasant Ridge and manage one of the finest herds of registered Holstein cattle in the county.  About 1903 Jacob bought 120 acres of heavily timbered land from B. Curtis of Columbia Co., WI.  He had to chop a trail to the property because there were no roads in the vicinity.  Beginning with 6 head of horned cattle and 4 horses, he expanded his stock with quality Durham, Guernsey and Pole cattle.  He also built a good barn and a nice home.  The family worshiped at the Methodist Church and Jacob belonged to the G.A.R. and the Guardians of Liberty.  When his health began to fail, they purchased a home in Loyal, WI and after a year-long-illness he died, Tue., 14 Jun 1921 at the age of 72.  His funeral was held at the Modern Woodman of America Hall and laid to rest in the Loyal city cemetery.  Gertrude passed away in Greenwood 7 yrs. later, 11 Dec 1928 and was buried next to Jacob. 

Jacob Lewis Roohr is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."