"Paul W. Rockey, who is now living retired in Freeport, was formerly actively identified with the industrial interests of this county as a carpenter and followed contracting for forty years. His birth occurred in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of March, 1831, his parents being Abraham (1808 1857) and Lydia (Womaldorf D. 1892) Rockey, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Barnett Rockey, was a farmer by occupation and lived in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, for many years, passing away at the age of seventy five. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Dalton and whose birth occurred in 1773, lived to attain a remarkable age, her demise occurring in 1876, just six days prior to her one hundred and third birthday. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters, namely: Abraham, Jacob, Michael, John, Elizabeth, Henry, David, Susanna and William. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Frederick Womaldorf, was likewise an agriculturist by occupation and lived in Clinton county, Pennsylvania. About 1845 he and his wife came to Illinois, settling in the northern part of Stephenson county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Frederick Womaldorf died of cholera in 1854 when sixty five years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Barbara Bierly, passed away in 1852 when about sixty years of age. Their children were as follows: Lydia, John, Kate, Hannah, Barbara, Peter, Michael, Mary, Jacob and David. The father of Mrs. Womaldorf served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
"Abraham Rockey, the father of Paul W. Rockey, was a farmer and proprietor of a sawmill and made his home near Loganton, Clinton county, Pennsylvania. He was called to his final rest in 1865 when nearly fifty seven years of age. Both he and his wife belonged to the Evangelical Association. Following the death of her first husband, Mrs. Rockey was again married, her second union being with Frederick Staver, who passed away when eighty four or eighty five years old. Her demise occurred in Wisconsin in 1892, when she had attained the age of nearly eighty one years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Rockey were born thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, namely; Paul W., of this review; Jacob, who is deceased; Rebecca, the deceased wife of Aquilla Berry; Jeremiah, a resident of Pennsylvania; John and Thomas, who have likewise passed away; Mary, the widow of William Runyan; Abraham D., living in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Louis, of Jewell, Kansas; William, who makes his home in Pennsylvania; James, who is deceased; Harriet, the widow of William Huber; and Hannah, the wife of E.S. Howe, of San Jacinto, California.
"Paul W. Rockey was reared in the county of his nativity and early in life worked at lumbering. In 1854, when a young man of twenty three years, he came to Stephenson county, Illinois, and here worked in a sawmill during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he taught school. He likewise followed carpentering until the time of his retirement from active business life in 1906 and was engaged in contracting for a period of forty years. A great many of the residences in Freeport stand as substantial monuments to his skill, handiwork and businss enterprise and that his efforts were attended with prosperity is indicated by the fact that he now enabled to spend his remaining days in well earned ease, surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He resides at No. 170 Union street, where he built a fine home in 1876, and also owns other city property as well as some land in McIntosh county, North Dakota. When a young man he owned land in Kansas, Nebraska and Arkansas.
"On the 5th of June, 1856, Mr. Rockey was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Matter, whose birth occurred in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, her parents being Isaac and Hannah Lenker Matter, likewise natives of the Keystone state. The year 1845 witnessed the arrival in this county and here they continued to reside until called to their final rest. They were the parents of the following children; Jonathan, Sarah, Moses, Mary, Joseph, Catharine, William, Susan, Lydia, Elizabeth and David. Mr. and Mrs. Rockey had four children, the record of whom is as follows. Alpha Eugene, a physician and surgeon residing in Portland, Oregon, wedded Miss Jane Watson, by whom he has two children, Paul and Eugene, who are also medical practitioners. Willard, an issurance agent who makes his home in Greensboro, North Carolina, married Miss Clara Burnett. Thomas, a contractor and builder of Freeport, wedded Miss Martha Saxby and now has four children: Helen, Paul, Marion and Charles Willard. Miss Mary Rockey is at home with her father. The wife and mother passed away on the 24th of June, 1894, at the age of sixty two years and six months. She was a devoted member of the Evangelical church and her life was in harmony with its teachings, her many good qualities winning her uniform regard and esteem.
"Politically Mr. Rockey is independent. He has continuously resided in Stephenson county for fifty six years and is therefore well known and highly esteemed within its borders. Though now past the seventy ninth milestone on life's journey, he appears to be a much younger man and in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime.
Contributed by Roger Cramer
