My Genealogy Hound

Charles Roster, life insurance and real estate agent, also general merchant, at St. James, Mo., was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1848, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Groff) Roster, who were born in Waldeck, Hesse Cassel, in 1822 and 1820, respectively, and in 1851 came to the United States, and after residing in Ross County, Ohio, until 1867, came to Phelps County, Mo. They have since re sided near St. James, and have two good farms, comprising 720 acres in all, with 300 acres under cultivation. The father has also followed the occupation of iron-making, off and on, throughout life, but since his residence in Phelps County has given the most of his attention to farming. Charles Roster is the eldest of their seven children, five of whom are living, and was only four years of age when brought to the United States. All his schooling was received in Ohio before he was fourteen years of age, but by self-application since becoming grown he has acquired a good education. About 1874 he began farming for himself, which occupation he gave up to engage in the saloon business two years later, and in 1878 engaged in clerking, continuing three years, in the dry goods house of Sutton & Young. In 1881 he again embarked in business on his own responsibility, but in 1883 his brother, Christopher, became his partner, the firm being known as Roster & Bro. until October, 1887, when Charles retired Some time prior to this, however, he had been selling the Osborne Harvester and Mower, and is now engaged in that business, and is also a successful life insurance and real estate agent, and is about to embark in the mercantile business again at St. James. He has served on the town board three terms of several years each, and has been a member of the school board many years. He has ever been an active worker for the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Hayes, in 1886. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and in March, 1880, was married to Miss Elizabeth Auckman, who was born in Austria, and at an early day came with her father, Andrew Auckman, to the United States. The latter served the full term in the army of his native country, and is now a farmer, residing in Crawford County. Mr. Roster is the father of three children, and is sparing no pains to give them good educations.