Robert Henry Rowland
I knew also well Robert Henry Rowland. Born in the county, prepared likewise by his father for college, graduating the same year at Jefferson and returning to Ohio, he also became a student-at-law and was admitted to the practice. He was a young man of special ability, and his specialty was finance. He prospered, not taking up the work of his profession, but sought position in a different line, and for a number of years was teller of the Richland National Bank, the heaviest monied institution at the time in the city. He developed well and was accorded prominence and position. He sought official place at the hands of the people and was elected treasurer of the county. I would not open the story of the misfortune that overtook him, now closed for one and twenty years, by the concurrent action of all men and all parties. He was too confident of his powers, rested too fully in his ability to master the situation. One thing I know, that prior to his entry on the duties of the office the methods of book-keeping of treasurer of the county were less than now. He was the first to inaugurate system method and accounting day by day. The country at large, Ohio included, fell into a panic. The failure of Jay Cooke, the reaction after the war, with all its troubling consequences, came. Rowland did that which every treasurer before him did. The money of the treasury was not at all on hand in money. In his case he could not realize and so he did a very unwise thing. He temporarily left the state and, returning with more than half the money, the other half being in securities not taken away, he effected a settlement and went west. For many years thereafter he was the cashier of a great hotel in Milwaukee and was greatly trusted. Bright's disease developed by his sedentary habits of life, and a few years ago he departed into the "far off country".
From The Richland Shield & Banner, December 15, 1894