JESSE ROTHROCK, An industry which during the past several decades has grown and flourished in eastern Indiana, is the operation of farm lands for the production of dairy goods, Ever since the necessity for pure milk has been recognized, many of the most progressive farmers and business men have devoted their activities to dairying, One of the best sources of good milk in the city of Anderson is supplied by Jesse Rothrock, who has a thoroughly equipped modern dairy farm in north Anderson.
Jesse Rothrock was born on a farm six miles south of Columbus in Bartholomew County, Indiana, April 6, 1860, His father was Jesse Roth- rock, born near Rotterdam- in Holland, a country noted for its great dairying industries, The grandparents came to America, accompanied by their children, and located in South Carolina, where both died shortly afterwards, The children were then scattered, and Jesse Rothrock, Sr,, found a home with a planter and slave holder in that state, After he had reached young manhood he came west and located in Bartholomew County, Indiana, which was his home until 1867, He then went to Shelby County, Illinois, where he bought a tract of land direct from the government, That land under his capable industry was unproved into a good farm, and by the erection of good buildings afforded a comfortable home to the senior Rothrock until his death in 1898 in his eighty- second year. Jesse Rothrock, Sr., married Sarah Wilson, She survived her husband a number of years, and died in 1908, There were three daughters and one son in the family.
Jesse Rothrock, the only son, was reared on a farm, had a substantial training in all the fundamentals of agriculture, and continued to make his home with his parents until 1885. He then came to Indiana, and located at Greencastle, where he was engaged in farming for five years. From there he transferred his home to Madison County, and bought land. on Meridian avenue in North Anderson, There he built several tenement houses, and while looking after his real estate interests was for several years in the employ of the Local Gas Company, In 1909, Mr. Rothrock bought a farm on Indiana avenue, one mile from the courthouse, and there established his present dairy industry, On his farm he has erected a good set of buildings including his comfortable frame dwelling house, which was remodeled from an older house, In the farm yard, constituting the real factory of his business, he has a commodious dairy barn, and beside it is a large silo, All the equipment is first class for dairy work, and Mr. Rothrock has consistently maintained a high standard for all his products, which are sold in the local market.
In 1884, Mr. Rothrock married Viola Evans, who was born at Greencastle, Indiana, a daughter of Professor James E. and Susan J. Evans, Her father was a well known teacher at Greencastle, where he died in middle life. Mrs. Rothrock was reared in Greencastle, and received her education in the academy of that city, The family of Mr. Rothrock consists of himself, wife and one daughter, and they are all members of the Friends church, in which Mr. Rothrock was reared.