Roth Bros.
Roth Bros., the individual members of the firm being George E. and William Roth, are live, energetic business men, and have been engaged in the tannery business since September, 1872. They are wealthy citizens of Circleville and are truly self-made men, for they had very little to start with. They have all the thrift and energy of their German ancestors and are possessed of all those qualities that make useful and influential citizens.
The father, George Roth, was born in Prussia, Germany, near Mecklenburg, and, like the majority of his native countrymen, learned a trade. He became a tanner and operated a tannery at Wismar, that country, for many years. He was in the Home Guards while in his native country. In 1855, he took passage for America with his son and after residing at Harmony, Ohio, for a short time, in 1856 removed to .Jeffersonville, Fayette County and there remained for a number of years. In 1872, he came to Circleville, Ohio, and bought a tannery owned by a Mr. Jackson. This he remodeled and improved in every way, and carried on until his death, in 1876. Afterward, the two sons, George E. and William, took charge of the business. Aside from the tannery, the father owned four hundred acres of improved land near Jeffersonville, and was a wide-awake, industrious citizen. He was a Republican in politics, and in religion was of the Baptist persuasion. To his marriage were born seven children, as follovvs: George E.; Fredrick, who resides in New Mexico, and is a big ranchman; Albert, is a farmer of Madison County, Ohio; .Joannah, is Mrs. Henry Clausing, and resides in Fayette County, Ohio; William; Adolph died at the age of nineteen; and Lewis who died when fifteen years of age.
George E. Roth, the eldest of this family, was born in Wismar, Germany, on the 15th of September, 1839, and remained there until fourteen years of age. His greatest desire at that time was to become a sailor, and he became a cabin-boy on a merchantman, with which he remained three years. He was on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea during this time, and weathered many severe storms and gales. When he returned home, he was a boy of seventeen, and he came with his parents and brothers and sister to America. They were twenty-six days on the ocean, and after reaching American soil they came immediately to Jeffersonville, Fayette County, Ohio, where the father followed his trade as mentioned before. After the death of the father, George E. and William bought the tannery in Circleville from the other heirs and immediately commenced making improvements. This is the largest enterprise of the kind in the county and reflects much credit upon its owners. They built a brick addition, and the building is now one hundred and twenty feet square and is two stories in height. It is on one and three-quarter acres, situated at the foot of Main Street, on the canal, and they work one hundred and fifty hides per week. This enterprise is operated with steam power, there are one hundred vats, and one thousand cords of oak bark are used yearly. Eighteen hands are employed and everything is superintended by these thorough-going business men themselves. George K. Roth owns five hundred and two acres in Fayette County, Ohio, near Holland, and is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising.
These brothers own two stores in the old Welding Block on Main Street, and George E. owns a fine residence on the corner of Sciota and Watt Streets. This was built by himself and is two stories in height, made of the finest pressed brick, and is valued at $10,000. He and his brother built another house in 1882, but he sold his interest to his brother in 1891. Mr. Roth is a stockholder in the First National Bank, and is one of the substantial men of the county. He was married in Jeffersonville, Fayette County, to Miss Lizzie Millenpaulen, a native of Prussia, who came to this country with an uncle when sixteen years of age. Two children have been born to this union: Adolphus F., now book-keeper at the Straw Board Works, which position he has held for the past seven years, since the age of sixteen years, and George E., who is attending the High School of Circleville. Mr. Roth is a member of the Baptist Church, and was Trustee of the same for some time. In politics, he is an advocate of Republican principles.
William Roth was born in Wismar, Germany on the 18th of July, 1849, and was but six years of age when he came to America with his parents. He was early trained to the tanner's trade, but in connection is also engaged in farming, and has been very successful in both occupations. He received a very limited education, and was hired out when but a lad for the modest sum of $5 per month. Later, he received $10 per month, and subsequently assisted his father in the tannery and on the farm, being on the farm principality. In 1872, he came to Circleville, where he worked in the tannery, and in 1876 he and his brother George K. purchased it. In 1882, he and his brother built the American House, one of the popular hotels in the city. William Roth subsequently bought his brother's interest and is sole proprietor of the building and grounds, and is also the owner of two hundred and two acres in Fayette County, Ohio. He also owns two business buildings, with his brother, in the city three stories and basement in height, and he also owns one-half interest in a large three-story building on Main Street, and has a fine residence on Sciota Street, which cost $16,000. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Carrie Mills, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, who was educated in Zanesville, Ohio. They have two daughters, Anna and Lulu, both taking music lessons, the former on the piano and the latter on the violin, and both showing considerable talent. Like his brother, our subject is a stanch Republican in his political views.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]