Joseph L. Rothrock
Joseph L. Rothrock, senior member of the firm of J. L. and J. W. Rothrock, is a prominent liveryman at Washington C. H., where for six years or more he has been engaged in business on Fayette Street, opposite the City Hall. The firm occupy a large building with a frontage of eighty feet and depth of one hundred and sixty-five feet, and keep about twenty-six head of horses in their feed and sales stable. In 1890, the firm name was changed by the admission of J. W. Rothrock into partnership, since which time they have carried on the most extensive livery business in WashingtonC. H.
The subject of this sketch was born in Adams County, this State, June 11, 1858, and is the son of Philip and Rebecca (Shaw) Rothrock. His father, who was a farmer and music teacher, was killed during the Civil War at Cleveland, Tenn., and the widowed mother afterward removed to Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, where our subject gained his education. On embarking in life for himself, he first engaged in railroading, and later conducted a tannery business at Winchester, Adams County, where he superintended a tan-yard. Mr. Rothrock first engaged in the livery business in 1880 and continued successfully in that line of business for five years, when he sold out. Upon locating in Washington C H. in 1885, he opened a livery, sales and feed stable, which he has since successfully managed. He is a shrewd business man, farseeing and discriminating, and possesses the peculiar qualifications which bring success. In financial circles, he has an established reputation as a reliable man, and it is safe to predict that the future years will bring him merited honors in the business and social world.
In 1871, Mr. Rothrock was united in marriage to Miss Anna Long, who, dying, left two children: Lucy and Anna Louisa, both of whom reside with their father. Afterward, Mr. Rothrock was again married, choosing as his wife Miss Jennie Howells, a cultured lady of Xenia, this State. Mr. Rothrock has social connections with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in public affairs maintains the warm and deep interest which impels him to favor those measures calculated to advance the welfare of his fellow-citizens. Besides being one of the most enterprising business men of Washington C. H., he is one of its most public-spirited citizens and is always ready to further any truly meritorious project that will advance its prosperity. In politics, he is a thorough Republican.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]