My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM MAHLON ROCKEL, a native-born citizen of Clark County, is one of the prominent members of the bar in this part of Ohio, having a large practice in Springfield, where he makes his home. Though still a young man, Mr. Rockel has thus early in his professional career gained a high reputation, not only as a lawyer, the acknowledged peer of many of the ablest legal minds of the State, but is considered authority on many points as the joint author with Judge White, of one of the best works regarding a certain class of laws.

Mr. Rockel was born in German Township, Clark County, July 18, 1855, and is a fine representative of sterling pioneer stock, his father, Peter Rockel, having been born in the same township in May, 1831. His grandfather, Adam Rockel, was born in Lehigh County, Pa., while his great grandfather Rockel was born in the same county of German parentage. Adam Rockel was a farmer, and in 1822, in early manhood, while he was still unmarried, he crossed the border line between Pennsylvania and Ohio, accompanied by five or six sisters, the removal being made with team, and cast in his lot with the early pioneers of German Township. He bought a tract of heavily timbered land, built a log cabin, and at once entered upon the hard task of clearing away the forest trees from his homestead and improving a good farm. The surrounding country was then sparsely settled, with but little indication of its present wealth and prosperity, with no railways or canals, and with scarcely any other signs of the coming civilization. In the comfortable home that he built there his long life was brought to a close, in 1884, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. Four of his sisters survived him, and the combined age of the five was four hundred and twenty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary M. Baker, was a daughter of Philip Baker, well known as one of the early pioneers of Clark County; he came here in 1813, and settled one half mile west of Eagle City Mills, in German Township. There he bought several hundred acres of land, heavily timbered, of which he cleared quite a large tract before his death. The grandmother of our subject died at his father’s home in 1886, aged seventy-six years. The grandfather was a veteran of the War of 1812, serving under Gen. Henry Dealing, and for his good services in that conflict was a pensioner during his last years.

The father of the subject of this notice was reared to the life of a farmer on his father’s large homestead, and was an inmate of the parental household until his marriage. He then bought land one mile east of Tremont City, where he lived until 1867. In that year he rented his farm, which he had brought to a high state of improvement, and bought another located east of his original homestead on the Urbana pike. There he still makes his home, enjoying the comforts procured by the competence that he has acquired by persistent and well-directed industry. He has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, mother of our subject, was Margaret Shiek, and she was a native of Carroll County, Ohio, and a daughter of William Shiek, a native of Virginia, and of German antecedents. He was a pioneer of Ohio, and in 1844 moved to Logan County and located one mile north of Bellefontaine, where he still resides, being now eighty-four years of age. His wife who is eighty-one years old, is spared to be the companion of his declining years. She was born in early pioneer times in Ohio, and her maiden name was Catherine Shawver. The mother of our subject died in 1865, leaving behind her the gracious memory of a true womanhood. His father married for his second wife Miss Sarah A. Ilges, who is devoted to his interests.

William M. Rockel, of whom we write, was the only child of his parents. He laid the foundation of a solid education at the local district school in his native town, and was then given the advantages of an excellent course at the Bellefontaine High School, from which he was graduated with honor in the class of ‘76. He then pursued his studies in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and was graduated from the commercial department. After that he took a miscellaneous course in the same institution, making a specialty of languages. With his mind thus thoroughly trained, after teaching one term in the Franklin School in this county, he commenced the study of law, toward which his ambition had long pointed, and for which his natural abilities peculiarly fitted him. He became a student in the law office of Keifer & White, was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1879, and in the fall of that year opened an office in Springfield, and for more than a decade has been in active practice in this city, his well-known ability and faithfulness to the interests of his patrons bringing him in a fair clientage. During his busy career he has been able to devote considerable time to the literature of his profession, and is the joint author with Judge White of a valuable work, entitled “Mechanics and Subcontractors Liens,” which has been very highly commended for its erudition and the clear exposition of the laws in such cases. Our subject has also contributed to the English and American Encyclopaedia of Law, as well as a work of selected questions from the Ohio Supreme Court Reports, for the use of students, etc. On Memorial Day, 1889, he delivered the address before the Grand Army Post of Vienna, which, at their request, was published, and has been read with deep interest by Grand Army circles far and wide. He is a valued member of Clark Lodge, No. 101, A. F. & A. M.; and of Red Star Lodge, No. 205, K. of P. In April, 1890, Mr. Rockel was nominated by the Republican party for Judge of Probate.

As showing the estimation in which Mr. Rockel is held by his fellow-citizens, we will insert the following as voicing their sentiments, which we quote from two leading local papers: From the Sentinel — “William M. Rockel, who is announced in the Sentinel this week for Probate Judge, is well known to our readers. He is a farmer’s son, being a native of Moorefield Township, this county, has never held an office, has had ten years experience at the bar, is the joint author, with Judge White, of a legal work on Mechanic’s Liens, and was appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio to examine applicants for admission to the bar; has served on the Clark County Republican and Executive Committees during the past seven years, one year as Secretary and two years as Vice-Chairman; was temporary and permanent Chairman of our last county convention, and is in every respect worthy and well qualified.” From the Sunday News — “William Rockel is making a strong fight for the Probate Judgeship He is, perhaps, one of the best equipped candidates for the position. It has never been said that at any time he ever mismanaged or neglected any business entrusted to his care. As a legal author, his is a very creditable reputation. His knowledge of the German language would make his selection an accommodation to our large German population. The old soldiers will remember his very able and patriotic address made on last Memorial Day at Vienna, and printed by request of the Grand Army Post in full in the Republic-Times. While pronounced in his Republicanism, he is always a fair and honorable opponent. His long, active, efficient and unrewarded service in the committee and on the stump, in behalf of the Republican cause, with his unquestioned qualifications, appeal very strongly in his behalf for this nomination.”

Mr. Rockel has the advantage of a fine education as the basis of his professional knowledge, and brings to his task a well-disciplined mind. He is devoted to his profession, and is still a hard student whenever his onerous duties permit him to give attention to his books. He is an extremely easy and fluent speaker, having a fine command not only of the English, but of the German and other languages, and at the same time he is logical and concise in his statement of the facts of a case.

A lithographic portrait* of Mr. Rockel is shown on another page of this volume.

*Portrait was included in the original printed volume.