Biography - WALTER S. ROTHROCK
It is safe to say that no citizen is better known in Edwards county than
Walter S. Rothrock, who is serving as sheriff of this county. He is one of
the good citizens of Edwards county who have paid it the highest compliment
within their power by electing to remain permanently within its borders and
is now efficiently serving its interests in one of the most important public
capacities. He has proved an able man in the office and is as popular with
the law-abiding as he is feared by those whose business takes them out of
the straight and narrow path. He answers to a dual calling, being also
collector.
Mr. Rothrock was born in West Salem, Edwards county, the date of his
nativity being October 22, 1861. He is a son of Samuel A. Rothrock, who
located in Edwards county in 1840, being brought here as a small lad, his
birth having occurred in Winston, North Carolina, in 1834. His father, Joel
Rothrock, located on a farm near West Salem. In this county the father of
Walter S. Rothrock passed the remainder of his life and followed the trade
of a blacksmith until 1876, from that time in the livery and hotel business
until his death in June, 1909. He was a good citizen and a veteran of the
Civil war, having for about ten months of the great conflict between the
states served as a sergeant of Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-second
Illinois Regiment. Previous to enlisting he was enrolling and drafting
officer. He married Margaret Walser, a native of North Carolina who came to
Edwards county in 1834 with her parents when she was only three years of
age. She died in Edwards county in 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock were born
seven sons and daughters, four of whom are living at the present time. They
are as follows: Walter S., of this review; Addie M. Steele, of Chicago;
Harry Joel, of West Salem; and Maurice B., of Springfield, Illinois.
Walter S. Rothrock was educated in the West Salem schools and after bidding
adieu to his desk in the village school room he entered his father's
blacksmith shop and under the tutelage of that gentleman gained a thorough
training in his trade. However, he did not make it his own trade, and in
1882 he embarked in the hotel and livery business in West Salem and was thus
engaged until the fall of 1910, the date of his election. His hostelry was
ever popular and well-managed and the memory of Mr. Rothrock in the role of
"mine host" is a pleasant one, for he possesses not only business ability,
but a desire to give the guest beneath his roof the best of accommodation.
In 1910, as mentioned, he was elected to the offices of sheriff and
collector and in these capacities has served well the interests of his
constituents, to his own credit and the honor and profit of the people. He
previously served as constable of West Salem. His election lost him as a
citizen of West Salem, for it was necessary for him to remove to Albion. He
is a tried and true Republican and his loyalty to what its admirers term
"the Grand Old Party" has never been found wanting. ' Sheriff Rothrock is a
popular lodge man, holding membership in the ancient and august Masonic
order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of
America. Mr. Rothrock was married October 14, 1894, Miss Julia Clodfelder,
of West Salem, daughter of B. F. Clodfelder, a well-known citizen of that
place, becoming his wife. They have a trio of children, as follows: Margaret
Elizabeth, Lucille, and Walter S., Jr. All are held in confidence and high
regard and are among the popular and helpful members of the community.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, pages 1583-1584.
