Husband Dr. D. Rosswell Rothrock 1
AKA: Dr. R. D. Rothwell 2
Born: 28 Dec 1861 - New Bethlehem, Clarion Co, PA 3
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Father: Dr. Rosswell Rothrock (1831-1897) 1
Mother: Catherine Mohney (1835-Aft 1898) 4 5
Marriage: 16 Jun 1885 - Centreville, Snyder Co, PA 6
Wife Ella Walter 7
Born: 3 Feb 1863 - Limestone Twp, Union Co, PA 6
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Father: Valentine Walter (1834-Aft 1898) 8
Mother: Susannah Shaffer (1832- ) 9
Children
1 M Walter R. Rothrock 6
Born: 8 Jan 1887 6
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2 F Helen Katherine Rothrock 6
Born: 4 Aug 1894 6
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General Notes: Husband - Dr. D. Rosswell Rothrock
When he was four years old his parents removed to Bannerville, Pennsylvania, where his youth was spent, five months of each year being given to study in the public schools. His independent nature asserted itself very early in life, and from the age of thirteen he earned his own clothes. On April 3, 1879, the family removed to Middleburg, but he did not long remain at home after that as on April 8, following, he and his brother, James B., went to the vicinity of Elkhart, Indiana, where he was employed during the summer on a dairy farm, at from twelve to fifteen dollars per month. In October, 1879, he returned home at his father's request, in order to attend school during the winter, and in the autumn of 1880 he was licensed to teach. During the summer of 1880 he attended the Selins Grove Normal Institute, conducted by Prof. William Noetling, county superintendent. In the following winter he took charge of a school in Franklin township, Snyder County, at twenty dollars per month. In 1881 he took a course in the academy at Freeburg, and during the next winter he taught the Winfield school in Hartley township, Union County, for thirty-five dollars per month. In 1882 he attended the Freeburg Academy again, and in the same year he taught a primary school at that place. His summers were spent in any labor that would bring him in funds to prosecute his studies, as his one ambition was to secure a good education. In the spring of 1882 he passed the examination before the Snyder County Board of Medical Examiners, composed of Drs. H. H. Bordner, H. M. Nipple, and J. Y. Shindle, securing a certificate of competency to read medicine. From that time his spare moments were spent in reading medicine, under his father as preceptor, at the same time teaching school. In the winter of 1882-83 he taught the first term of school ever held in the new brick school house in Franklin township, north of Middleburg, Snyder County, and in the autumn of 1883 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland. On his return home, March, 1884, he spent the summer in working in the harvest field and in other employments as well as reading medicine, and, as his father removed to McClure in that year, he practiced for a short time with him, under his preceptorship. In the autumn of 1884 he entered the Medical Department of Baltimore University School of Medicine, and in the following year he was graduated with the highest honors, receiving a beautiful gold medal as a reward for his proficiency in his studies. His only difficulty during his college course was caused by the scarcity of funds, and after his graduation his money was so nearly exhausted that he had no money to pay his fare to Selins Grove Junction, so had to sell a few of his text books for that purpose. He was rowed across the Susquehanna river, in a boat, to Selins Grove, arriving penniless, at five o'clock one cold morning. Breakfast was out of the question, and he set out on foot through the snow for Fremont, ten miles distant, his precious diploma being carried under his arm, and gold medal in his pocket. At Fremont he found his brother, Dr. Marand, who supplied him with sufficient money to take him home; but this he decided to save, and the rest of the journey, some twenty-two miles, was accordingly made on foot.
On April 2, 1885, he located at Three Springs, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, where he purchased, on a year's time, a stock of drugs, a horse, and certain accessories of a doctor's office, from Dr. John B. Ollig. When he reached his new home he had but thirty-one cents in cash; but fortune smiled upon him and he readily secured a paying practice. In the meantime his brother Marand met with an accident, and October 10, 1886, he went to Fremont, to take charge of his brother's practice, which was very large. There he remained until February 14, 1887, when he established an office at New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania. In 1888 he opened a large drug store, which he conducted in connection with his practice with gratifying success. In accordance with the Act of May 24, 1887, of the Pennsylvania Legislature, relating to pharmacists, he was examined by the State Pharmaceutical Board in the Senate Chamber, Harrisburg, on April 11, 1888, and his examination having proved successful he was given a diploma as a registered pharmacist. In February, 1894, he placed on the market a line of proprietary medicines, which eventually found their way into homes throughout the United States. In June, 1892, the Faculty of Freeburg Academy (which had just been chartered) presented him with a diploma such as that institution gave to those among its students who enter one of the learned professions.
Dr. Rothrock was energetic and public-spirited, and his genial manners made him a general favorite. His influence as a citizen was marked, and was always exerted on the side of progress. He owned a home and business block in New Berlin, also five acres of land near town, and after taking possession of the property made many improvements and additions.
In September, 1897, the Doctor, prompted by a spirit of enterprise and love for the little town of his adoption, also with a view to providing employment for the young folks of the place, rented, in partnership with Prof. A. M. Wonder, a suitable building, bought knitting machinery, together with engine, boiler, etc., in fact everything pertaining to a perfect plant of that description, and in a short time the village and vicinity saw with pleasure, and something akin to wonder, in some cases (it is said) even with envy, the smoke and steam of the first enterprise that ever made its appearance in those parts. So great was the novelty that the people flocked from all quarters to see a stocking knit by steam and machine. The factory manufactured men's half hose, and in six weeks from the time of starting up the product was increased to sixty dozen pairs of hose per day, employment being given to thirty-two people, which meant an average of $300 per month for New Berlin.
Politically he was a leading Republican, manifesting a keen interest in the success of his party. Before he had resided in New Berlin a year he was elected to the office of chief burgess of the place, and he also served as school director and treasurer of the school board. Socially he was prominently identified with the I. O. O. F. at New Berlin, and filled all the important chairs therein; in 1895 he was elected district deputy of Union county, and in May, 1897, he was sent as a representative of the Grand Lodge, which convened at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In religious faith Dr. and Mrs. Rothrock were active members of the Lutheran Church at New Berlin, of which he was deacon and treasurer.
General Notes: Wife - Ella Walter
She was second in a family of four daughters. When she was a child her parents removed to Snyder County, Pennsylvania, and she was reared in the town of Centreville; subsequently she became an experienced public school teacher, teaching seven terms in all.