Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 363 - 364 

MATTHEW ROSSWOG. The subject of this narrative was one of the early pioneers of Salem Township, and has contributed his full quota, toward its development and progress. A farmer by occupation, he operates on a fine tract of land comprising 160 acres, on section 28, in Salem Township, from which be has built up a fine homestead, and he is now ranked socially and financially among the leading men of Sedgwick County. 

            Mr. Rosswog, a native of the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, was born on the 23d of September, 1827, and is the son of Andrew and Mary A. (Zimmermann) Rosswog, who were also of German birth and parentage. The father was a stonemason by trade, and Matthew, at the age of fourteen years, commenced his apprenticeship at broom-making, which occupation he followed until arriving at his twentieth year. Upon the outbreak of the war of 1848, between Prussia and Denmark, he became a soldier in the army which was raised in his native Baden and which co-operated with the Kingdom of Prussia. He fought in three regular battles, in one of which the Danes opened the dykes and drowned about 300 of the enemy. Young Rosswog narrowly escaped with his life, being in water up to the arm-pits, but was a good swimmer and managed to escape. 

            In 1849, still continuing in the service, Mr. Rosswog took part on the side of the Baden revolutionists, and again participated in several battles, in one of which he received a severe wound in the knee, which incapacitated him for further service, and he accordingly received his honorable discharge. Our subject now decided to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, and took passage on a sailing-vessel bound from Havre to the port of New Orleans. After a tedious voyage of fifty-six days he landed at his destination, and after a few months spent in the Crescent City made his way to St. Louis, Mo. There for two years he was engaged as a day laborer, and thence migrated to Marshall County, Ill., where he made his home until the spring of 1870. 

            Mr. Rosswog now determined to cross the Mississippi, and coming to this county made his arrangements to settle permanently. While in Illinois he had worked for a time at $12 per month, and with true German thrift and economy, had managed each year to save something from his earnings, which he eventually invested in land in Marshall County, paying therefor the sum of $3,200. On account of a flaw in the title he lost the whole and had but $60 left with which to begin anew. 

            Too much credit cannot be given to a man who thus, without any time spent in bewailing his losses, began at once to retrieve his fortunes, determined that it should not be for the want of effort if he did not finally succeed. In the short interval which had elapsed from the time he was forced to give up his land until coming to this county, he employed himself for a time as a drayman at Henry City, where he became one of the most popular men of the craft. In Marshall County, on the 15th of November, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Seydel, who had been born and reared in that vicinity, and is the daughter of August and Julia (Hoober) Seydel, who were among the earliest pioneers of that region, locating there in 1837. Of this union there was born one child only, a daughter, Martha P., on the 3d of October, 1864. She is now the wife of Henry E. Laurent, who, in 1885, purchased the farm of our subject, and with whom the latter now resides. 

            Mr. Rosswog, upon coming to Salem Township, pre-empted the west half of the southwest quarter of section 27, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28, thus making 160 acres, which he brought to a good state of cultivation from a wild prairie. He erected, in 1882, a beautiful residence which is flanked by a fine barn and all the out-buildings required by the enterprising and progressive agriculturist. The homestead will stand as a monument to his industry and perseverance long after the projector has been gathered to his fathers. 

            Mr. Rosswog, in due time after emigrating to America, acquainted himself with the general principles of the Republican Government, and decided to cast his lot with the Republican party, its platform meeting his ideas of right and justice more nearly than any other, and he has accordingly given to it his earnest support. Although frequently solicited to accept office, he has invariably declined, preferring to wield his influence in a more quiet and unobtrusive manner, and which doubtless has served fully as well to further the principles of truth and justice. 

            Mr. Rosswog when landing upon American soil had but a single franc piece in his pocket, which is equivalent to fifteen cents in American money, and in looking upon his possessions to-day and the position he occupies among his fellow-citizens, too much credit cannot be given him for the resolution and determination which must have been exercised in order to bring about what he has accomplished. His devoted wife, who for nearly thirty years was his cheerful and faithful helpmeet, and a wise counselor in many difficulties, departed this life on the 22d of February, 1887, leaving in the home a vacancy which can never be filled. She was a lady greatly beloved for her many excellent qualities of heart and mind, having endeared herself to all by her kindness of heart and the ready charity by which she extended a helping hand to whoever around her was in difficulty or distress. Mr. Rosswog in his declining years finds great solace in the companionship of his daughter and grandchildren, by whom he is cherished with that filial tenderness which is involuntarily bestowed upon one who has performed so well his part in life. 

            Our subject, religiously, is identified with the German Evangelical Association, and socially, belongs to the I.O.O.F., at Henry, Ill. While a resident of Illinois he was drafted into the army, and without endeavoring to evade it, cheerfully took upon himself the duties of a Union soldier, becoming a member of Company A, 48th Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the 13th Corps, Army of the Cumberland. He met the enemy at the siege of Nashville, and was in the battles at Snow Hill and Kingston, N.C., besides various minor engagements and skirmishes. After the surrender of the Confederate troops he participated in the grand review at Washington, and received his honorable discharge in September, 1865. 

            Mr. and Mrs. Laurant, the son-in-law and daughter of our subject, are the parents of three interesting children, namely: Mary L., born Oct. 7, 1882; Emil A., Jan. 8, 1885, and Floyd Matthew, Feb. 1, 1888. 

            A handsome lithographic view is shown on another page of Mr. Rosswog's residence.

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