John R. Roelke

From History of Frederick County. p. 1095-1096:

John R. Roelke, cabinet-maker and undertaker, Burkittsville, Frederick County, Md., son of Peter and Mary (Anderson) Roelke, was born at Walkersville, Frederick County, Md., October 27, 1866.

The Roelke family came from Hesse Cassel, Germany. They were weavers, and all of them were members of the Reformed Communion.

John Roelke, grandfather of John E; Roelke, weaver, left Hesse Cassel in 1827 with his wife and eight children, four boys and four girls. The voyage from Bremen to Baltimore was made in twenty-one days, then considered very rapid traveling. They settled in Frederick, Md., where they engaged in weaving carpets and woollen goods. When the boys grew they were engaged with their father in huckstering. John Roelke was married and had eight children: 1, William, a cabinet maker in Middletown, Md., later tobacconist in Frederick, Md., married Sarah Slake, died in Frederick; 2, Augustus, coffee merchant, Baltimore, Md., married, died in Baltimore; 3, Peter; 4, Harmon, enlisted, when a boy of eighteen, for the Mexican War, in 1849 went to seek for gold in California, where he married; resides in Sacramento, Cal.; 5, Chrissie, married Mr. Kester, a baker, died in Frederick, Md.; 6, Sophia, married John Berger, baker, died in Frederick; 7, Eliza, married David Haller, machinist, died in Frederick; John Roelke died in Frederick in 1861, aged seventy.

Peter Roelke, father of John E. Roelke, was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, May 5, 1821, and was six years old when his parents emigrated to this country.. He was educated in the schools of Frederick, Md., and learned blacksmithing. After working at his trade for some time, he huckstered awhile when he turned his attention to farming. After cultivating various tracts among which were the Henry Culler farm below Jefferson, Md., some land near Point of Rocks, Md., and a place near Walkersville, Md., he settled on the Mrs. Gouvernour farm, near Burkittsville, Md. Peter Roelke was married, in Frederick, February 28, 1850, to Mary Ellen, daughter of Robert Anderson, of that district. Their children are: 1, Annie, married Jacob Shaw, baker, Monroeville, Frederick County, Md., died in Monroeville, aged forty-two; 2, Emma, married her brother-in-law, Jacob Shaw, baker; 3, David, farmer, married Alice Renn, resides near Knoxville, Md.; 4, Laura (Mrs. Devitt Dixon), resides near Brunswick, Md.; 5, Lloyd, farmer, married Helen Dorsey, resides near Petersville, Md.; 6, John E.; 7, Minnie (Mrs. George Hightman), resides near Burkittsville, Md.; 8, Lawrence, miller, married Mary Thomas, resides in West Virginia. Peter Roelke died at his home on the Mrs. Gouvernour farm near Burkittsville, May 28,1892, and is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemtery, Frederick, Md. Mr. Roelke was a Republican, highly esteemed in the district. He and his wife were members of the Reformed Church. His widow, now eighty-one, finds a home among her children.

John R. Roelke grew up on his father’s farm, near Burkittsville, Md. He attended the schools of his native county and completed his education in the High School in Baltimore. He remained at home, working with his father until his father died and the family was scattered. In 1893 he began farming for himself on a place near Burkittsville and, after cultivating this land for seven years, purchased a farm of 100 acres in the same district. He is an enterprising man and a successful farmer, caring for his land in every possible way. In 1906, Mr. Roelke removed to Burkittsville and purchased the business of the late Josephus Kara, undertaker. He is highly esteemed and has a large patronage. He is actively interested in public affairs. He belongs to the Republican party.

John R. Roelke was married, December 14, 1893, to Vernie, daughter of Ezra and Julia (Williard) Kara, both deceased. Their children are: 1, Charles Robert, born July 29, 1898; 2, John Peter, born April 8, 1901; 3, Olive May, born August 16, 1905. Mr. Roelke is a member of the Reformed Church.