Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 479; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
George B. Roller, is a practical and wide-awake business man of
Canton, and is a brick manufacturer of some prominence throughout this
county. His birth occurred at Allegheny City, Pa., February 21, 1855,
he being the son of Matthew and Susan (Bronson) Roller.
Our subject has lived in Canton since he was two years of age,
receiving his education in the High School of this city. He partially
learned the blacksmith trade from his father, and then took a position
in the Parlin & Orendorff manufacturing establishment. Naturally
this position at first, when he commenced to work in 1872 was but a
poor one, but in a short time he became an expert in the manufacture of
plows. He continued his connection with this firm until 1889, at that
date starting to manufacture brick just outside of the city limits of
Canton, and at the termination of Illinois Street. Mr. Roller is the
sole proprietor of his business, and even from the start met with
marked success, and as the months passed by his trade continued to
increase, until at present time he works a large force and is doing a
first-class business.
The subject of our sketch married Miss Juliet Palmer, a native
of Canton, and a daughter of Henry and Amanda A. (Talmage) Palmer. Mrs.
Roller's parents were formerly from New York, and number among the
oldest residents in this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Roller were married on March 27, 1877, and to them
have been born two children, viz: Henry P. and Ethel M. Mrs. Roller is
a member of the Rebecca Degree of Odd Fellows. Mr. Roller is an Odd
Fellow, and a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, and Star Encampment. He
is one of the brightest and most active members of this order. At the
present time he is Alderman for the First Ward of Canton, and held the
same position in 1885.
Our subject is turning out ten thousand brick per day, and
having worked up to all the different branches of his business is well
qualified to achieve unlimited success in this line.
Our subject's father was born in Baden Baden, Germany in 1824
and emigrated to America while quite a young man, and after reaching
this country settled in Allegheny City, Pa., where he worked as a
blacksmith for a number of years. The mother of our subject was Miss
Susan Bronson, previous to her marriage and was born in the State of
Ohio in 1829. They settled in Canton in 1857 and through the passing
years have continued to make this their home, the father working at his
trade until the last six or seven years, during which time he moved to
the country. However, he had returned to the city previous to his death
which occurred in March 1884 - his wife dying in August the same year.
Our subject's parents had five children, viz: Anna Mary, wife of Lee N.
Gillett, of Canton; our subject; Joseph; John Albert, who died in
infancy, and Laura, who resides in Canton.
Mr. Roller's career up to the present time has
been a most successful and deserving one, and his prospects for the
future are indeed bright and promising.
