Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1086 - 1087

GUSTAV ROLL. Among the more prominent and enterprising farmers of Ohio Township, who are of alien birth, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Like others of his countrymen, he has brought to the new country the habits of economy and frugality which are an inherent characteristic of his native land, and the exercise of which, accompanied by industry and good management, has raised him from poverty to comparative affluence. His residence is located upon section 24, where he is carrying on agricultural pursuits.

             Beneath the clouded skies of Prussia, and surrounded by the woods and valleys of that portion of the German Empire, our subject was born April 5, 1849, under the roof of the humble cot of his father and mother, Henry and Friedericke Roll. In 1856 his parents, with a view to the future of their little family, emigrated to the New World and settled in Wisconsin. After a residence in that State until 1872, they came to Sedgwick County, where he pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 24, Ohio Township, where he now lives. The father died in 1879, and the mother is a resident of Ohio Township, living with her oldest son, Henry. 

            The subject of our sketch settled on his place when there were no improvements upon it, and while it lay a virgin soil with not a furrow turned upon it. He has made all of the improvements himself, and while enduring many of the hardships and privations incident to settlement in a new country, has gradually brought the place to its present high state of cultivation and value. He is a self-made man, as what he has accumulated has been entirely the result of his own exertions, assisted by those of his estimable wife. He has at the present writing some 320 acres of good fertile land, the greater part of which is under the plow, and which is well stocked with fine horses, high grades of cattle and Poland-China hogs.

             Our subject, not wishing to lead a life of single blessedness, on the 2d of March, 1880, was united in marriage with Miss Annie Trippensee, a native of Wisconsin, who was born Sept. 8, 1860. The bride was a daughter of Frank Ludewig and Johanne Trippensee, both of whom were natives of the German Empire, who had emigrated to the United States in 1856, and settled in the Badger State, where her father died in 1863. Her mother, who still survives her husband, is a resident of Ford County, Ill. Three children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roll, although they have been permitted to keep but one. Their names and natal days are as follows: Ida, who was born March 19, 1881, and died Dec. 17, 1884: William was born July 18, 1882, and died Feb. 16, 1888, and Dora, whose birth took place July 17, 1885. The death of William occurred under extremely sad circumstances, which brought sudden sorrow over the peaceful household of his parents. On the day in question, childlike, he accompanied his father into the stable, and while Mr. Roll was employed, the boy went into a stall where stood one of the horses. The animal, which is supposed to have been scared, kicked the child in the stomach and injured him internally. Willie crawled out upon the stable floor, and was lifted up and carried to the house by his sorrowing father, and after lingering in agony for some eighteen hours, passed to "that land from whose bourne no traveler ever returns." He was an uncommonly bright child for his age, and a good scholar for one so young, and had made many friends in the neighborhood. His loss was not only keenly felt by his parents, but was a source of sorrow and regret to all those who knew the little fellow. The daughter, Ida, died of that fatal illness lung fever.

             While entirely independent in his political views, Mr. Roll has been prevailed upon to serve as School Director and Treasurer of the school district, as he manifests great interest in educational work. He has also held the place of Road Overseer, with considerable credit to himself. Both he and his most excellent wife enjoy the esteem and respect of the neighborhood, and are valuable members of the community.

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