My Genealogy Hound

F. W. Roer, insurance agent at 222 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Mo., was born in the city on the 31st of August, 1859, his parents being Francis and Helena (Arens) Roer, who were born in Soest and Borsum, Germany, respectively. The father was a traveling salesman for a wholesale tobacco house and cloth factory in Germany, but gave up this occupation after coming to America. After coming to Jefferson City, Mo., he found that this place would be an excellent location for a tannery, so he returned to his native land and engaged several tanners to come with him to the United States, and established the first tannery in Jefferson City. In 1852 he again returned to Germany, where he remained two years, his business here being carried on by his partner, Charles Pratt. In 1854 he returned to Missouri, bringing more men with him, and spent the following year in teaching school. In 1855 he opened a book store, and the same time was appointed notary public for Cole County, Mo., and engaged in the insurance business. Upon the organization of the Germania Life Insurance Co., of New York, in 1860, he was appointed its first agent, and held the position until his death, on the 3d of December, 1888, in his seventy-eighth year, his birth having occurred on the 29th of July, 1810. In 1861 he was appointed city collector by Mayor H. Clay Ewing, and was one of the founders of the St. Peter’s Benevolent and St. John’s Orphan Societies, both institutions being still in existence. He was one of the first business men in the city, and in social as well as business life he stood very high in the estimation of the people. His widow is still living. They were the parents of three children: Sophia, wife of Dr. George Schwoerer, a resident of O’Fallon, St. Charles Co., Mo.; Elizabeth and Francis William. The latter is the youngest of the family, and was reared and received a portion of his education in Jefferson City. In May, 1871, his father sent him to Germany, and he attended school at Muenster until September, 1873, receiving in this institution instruction in English, French, Latin, German, etc. In October, 1873, he returned to Jefferson City, and clerked for his father in the book and stationery business until the latter sold out, in 1875, to Mr. Oscar Monssig, when he engaged in book-keeping and clerking in a general store, continuing for twelve years. At the death of his father he engaged in the insurance business, and now represents the Germania Life Insurance Co., of New York; German Insurance Co., of Freeport, Ill.; the Orient Insurance Co., of Hartford, Conn.; the Niagara Fire Insurance Co., of New York; the Aetna Insurance Co., of Hartford, Conn.; the Anglo-Nevada Assurance Corporation, of San Francisco, and Norwich Union, of England. In 1887 he was elected to the position of councilman of the Fourth Ward, which he held two years, and was then appointed notary public by Gov. David R. Francis. Mr. Roer is an enterprising and successful young business man of the city, and his career is without a blemish. He belongs to Branch 214, Catholic Knights of America, and St. Peter’s Benevolent Society, and is at present prefect of the Young Men’s Sodality of this city. At the election held on April 2, 1889, he was elected to the responsible office of city collector of Jefferson City, Mo., for a term of two years.