BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

Adolph Roemer

ADOLPH ROEMER.  On the roster of Calhoun county's officers is found the name of Adolph Roemer in connection with the positions of high sheriff and tax collector.  This is an indication of his popularity and prominence, and all who know him willingly accord him a leading place among the esteemed citizens of the community.  He is a representative of an honored pioneer family of Calhoun county, where he has passed his entire life, his birth here occurring on the 23d of February, 1853, a son of John and Anna M. Roemer, both natives of Frankfort, Germany, and descendants of prominent old Protestant families of that city.  The paternal grandfather, Jacob Roemer, was a titled gentleman in the fatherland, associated with the aristocracy of his country, and he held government positions of honor and trust.  He was well posted on all matters pertaining to state and nation, and was popular in the councils of the government.  He had large landed estates and platted the town of Roemer, which will for all time to come honor his name.  He also fixed the sale of lots so that no special privileges were allowed, was a leader of men and honored by his government, and was widely known and highly respected.  At his death, which occurred in his native land, he left a large estate, and he passed away in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which he was long a faithful member.  In his family were three children, but the son John was the only one whose name is recalled.

John Roemer received an excellent literary education during his youth, and could speak several languages.  Deciding to throw off the yoke of monarchical government and establish his home in a free land, he accordingly in 1845 emigrated to America and landed at Galveston, Texas, later removing to Indianola, and about 1847 came to Calhoun county, where his marriage subsequently occurred.  Previously, however, he had joined the state ranger service and patrolled long distances, up the Rio Grande.  After his marriage he located at Longmott, Calhoun county, where he purchased a small tract of land  and improved a farm.  At that time range was free and in addition to farming he also carried on stock raising, but later abandoned that part of his business and began the raising of cotton, corn and vegetables, being successful in his ventures and from time to time adding to his land until he now owns extensive tracts.  He also received assistance from his father's estate, and he has long been numbered among the leading business men of Calhoun county.  He has always been proud of his adopted country, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the republic, and is a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations, having been the choice of his party for the office of justice of the peace.  Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, from which they have never departed, and he is also a member of the Odd Fellows.  During many years they have made their home in Longmott, where together they are passing down the western slope of life, for he has reached his ninetieth year, and his wife is over eighty.  She came to America with her parents and landed at Indianola, Texas, with the Fisher and Miller colony in a very early day, and the father engaged in improving land.  He became a prominent citizen of the locality, but his death occurred of cholera during the terrible epidemic which swept over this section of the country.  The daughter Anna is the only one of his children whose name can be recalled.  To Mr. and Mrs. Roemer were born eight children, namely: August, a prominent agriculturist; Adolph, whose name introduces this review; Fred W., a merchant and postmaster at Longmott; Mary, Mrs. John Beriman; John, a stock farmer; Emil, a speculator and trader; Rudolph, a lumber dealer of Elgin, Texas; and Edward, who is engaged in stock farming on the old homestead.  Emil and Edward are unmarried.

Adolph Roemer remained under the parental roof until his marriage in 1875, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account.  He had previously been raising stock, and after his marriage he purchased land and engaged in stock farming, making substantial improvements on his place as time passed and remained thereon for sixteen years.  In 1890, to provide his children with better educational facilities, he removed to Port Lavaca, but in the following year returned to the farm.  In 1896 he again came to Port Lavaca, renting the agricultural part of his ranch, and has ever since made his home in this city, where in 1898 he was elected high sheriff and tax collector, positions he has since continued to fill with honor and ability.  He is fearless in the discharge of his duties, and although he has handled some very bad characters he has never been obliged to use violence.  He now owns over three thousand acres of land, on which he runs a large herd of cattle, while in addition he owns a commodious two-story residence in Port Lavaca, also much rental property, and is a stockholder in the Port Lavaca National Bank and the Port Lavaca Fish & Oyster Company, in both of which he is a director.

In 1875 Mr. Roemer was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Willmers, who was born in Indianola, Texas, in 1855, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hockenberry) Willmers, both natives of Germany, but their marriage was celebrated in Texas, they having been the pioneers of the Lone Star state.  The father, who was a general mechanic and carpenter, greatly assisted in the building up of Indianola and there resided until the great storm of 1875, when he removed to Longmott and there spent the remainder of his life.  He served through the Civil war in the Confederate army, and was ever a loyal son of his adopted country.  After his death his widow resided with her daughter, Mrs. Roemer, in Port Lavaca, until her death in 1898.  In their family were six children: Lena, the wife of F. J. Deck; Josephine, who became the wife of Mr. Roemer; Katie, wife of J. D. Crane, a prominent merchant of Port Lavaca; John, a carpenter; Theodore, who is well known as a trader; and Betty, now Mrs. Dierlam.  The union of Mr. and Mrs. Roemer has been blessed with six children, namely: Fred, a popular physician and druggist of Port Lavaca; Oscar, who is engaged in the grain and feed business; Lorena, Mrs. Thomas Best; Dolph, who is engaged in business with his brother Oscar; Charles, a drug clerk; and Preston, in school.  Mr. and Mrs. Roemer are members of the Methodist church, and he is also a worthy member of the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias.  His record is that of a man who has ever been true ot himself, his neighbors and his country.  He enjoys the high regard of his fellow men, and is very widely and favorably known throughout Calhoun county, and many counties in Texas.

Source: Transcription from the book, A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, volume II, published in 1907; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org), accessed on 6 March 2023.