John H Rohrbach
JOHN H. ROHRBACH, farmer, residing on his tract of fifty-five acres in Brady's Bend township, Armstrong county, located a half mile southwest of Kaylor, on the Sugar Creek and Brady's Bend road, was born in Brady's Bend township, Nov. 1, 1869, son of Peter and Barbara (Kerchner) Rohrbach.
Peter Rohrbach, father of John H. Rohrbach, was born in Germany June 15, 1829, and attended school and learned the shoemaking trade there. In 1854 he accompanied his sister, Mrs. Margaret Boltz, to America, and after they located in Brady's Bend township, he secured work in the rolling mills at Brady's Bend, where he continued until he had earned enough money to enable him to buy twenty-five acres of land, which lies to the east of the farm of John H. Rohrbach. To this he added until he owned fifty-one acres, which he improved, building the present farm residence. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and gave assistance when a new edifice was erected. His death occurred Oct. 13, 1902, and he was buried in the cemetery of the Lutheran Church in Sugar Creek township. His first marriage was to Phoebe Kamerer, daughter of David Kamerer, an early settler in this township. At her death she left two children: Henry, who lives at Stoneboro, Mercer Co., Pa.; and Mrs. Kate Richardson, of Wampum, Lawrence Co., Pa. The mother of these children was buried in the cemetery attached to the old church. The second marriage of Peter Rohrbach was to Barbara Kerchner, a native of Butler county, and they had the following children: Adam J., was born March 21, 1886, lives in Lancaster, Ohio; John H. was born Nov. 1, 1869; Margaret, born Feb. 24, 1873, is the wife of H. G. Frederick, of Donegal township, Butler Co., Pa.; Anna, born Jan. 10, 1879, is the wife of R. Edward Zahniser, residing in Brady's Bend township. The widow of Peter Rohrbach lives on the old homestead.
John H. Rohrbach received his education in his native township and remained assisting his father until he was twenty-eight years old, continuing at home one year after he married. With the exception of a few months, a period included between November and May, he has always lived in Brady's Bend township, this period being spent in East Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co. Ever since his return he has lived on this farm, on which L. W. Miller (oil producer) has three producing oil wells. Six acres are in woodland and pasture. On July 5, 1902, Mr. Rohrbach bought the farm from his brother, Adam J. Rohrbach, and he has built an addition to the original residence.
Mr. Rohrbach married Ella Simpson, who was born in Jefferson county, Pa., daughter of D. C. and Nancy (Herron) Simpson, and they have four children: Ethel, born in Brady's Bend township, March 3, 1899; Florence, born at East Pittsburgh Jan. 30, 1902; Helen, born March 18, 1906; and Kermit, born May 3, 1908. Mr. Rohrbach is a member of the Lutheran Church. In politics he has always voted with the Republican party, and he is one of the prominent township officials. For three years he has been assessor of Brady's Bend township, and by appointment of the county commissioners is the present assessor. He has also served continuously on the school board of Brady's Bend township for the last twenty-three years with the exception of eighteen months, part of which time he spent at East Pittsburgh, Allegheny county. He is also a faithful worker in the temperance cause, to stamp out the liquor traffic, which he believes is ruining so many homes and blighting the characters and souls of many victims. Mr. Rohrbach is one of the original members of Kaylor Grange, No. 1396, organized by E. O. Snow and himself, and has been officially connected with the body ever since.
Source: Pages 683-684, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 1998 by James R Hindman for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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