Otto ROLINE

ROLINE, PETERSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/28/2013 at 11:34:20

Otto Roline

The industry that more than any other has raised the United States to a foremost place amongst the nations of the world is that of farming and it is to the agriculturist that the people of this country must give thanks for this gratifying accomplishment. This result has been brought about by the sons of all nations who have settled in this country and among the foremost agriculturists who have been an important factor in farming development are the Swedish Americans. To this hardy race belongs Otto Roline, who owns a valuable place of two hundred and seventy-five acres in Morgan township, Franklin county. He was born in Sweden, March 2, 1862 and is a son of Anderson and Mary (Peterson) Roline, natives of that country. There both the father and mother died. Of their eight children all are deceased but our subject. Four died in infancy and the others were Peter, August, and Emanuel.

Otto Roline was reared in the parental home in his native land and attended public school until he was old enough to engage in farm labor. He worked along that line for two years and then made his way to Norway, where he remained for a similar period of time. Returning to Sweden, he again spent two years in that country. Stories having reached him of the golden opportunities that were awaiting the young man in America, he made his way to this country and coming to Dows, farmed in the vicinity, carefully saving his earnings. In 1883 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Morgan township, which he cultivated with such good success that he was enabled to extend the boundaries of his farm so that he now owns two hundred and seventy-five acres. His land is highly improved, and his buildings are kept in good repair. He engages in general farming, planting the cereals most suitable to soil and climate, and also gives his attention to stock-raising.

On May 1, 1883, Mr. Roline married Miss Johannah Peterson, a native of Sweden, and they became the parents of seven children: a son, who died in infancy; Rudolph, of Morgan township; a son, who died in infancy; and Hilmar, Arthur, Tekla and Victor, at home. Mr. Roline is a member of the Evangelical church and interested in its work. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, whose candidates he has ever upheld at the polls, and he has served as school director of Morgan township. Not only has Mr. Roline attained to individual prosperity, but he has been a factor in agricultural development in Franklin county. He is highly esteemed by all who know him and has made many friends since locating here. He combines the good qualities of the Swedish race with the aggressiveness and enterprise that seem peculiar to this country.

History of Franklin County, Iowa, by I. L. Stuart. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914.