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WALTER S. ROTHROCK.
It is safe to say that no citizen is better known in Edwards county than Walter S. Rothrock, who is serving as sheriff of this county. He is one of the good citizens of Edwards county who have paid it the highest compliment within their power by electing to remain permanently within its borders and is now efficiently serving its interests in one of the most important public capacities. He has proved an able man in the office and is as popular with the law-abiding as he is feared by those whose business takes them out of the straight and narrow path. He answers to a dual calling, being also collector.

Mr. Rothrock was born in West Salem, Edwards county, the date of his nativity being October 22, 1861. He is a son of Samuel A. Rothrock, who located in Edwards county in 1840, being brought here as a small lad, his birth having occurred in Winston, North Carolina, in 1834. His father, Joel Rothrock, located on a farm near West Salem. In this county the father of Walter S. Rothrock passed the remainder of his life and followed the trade of a blacksmith until 1876, from that time in the livery and hotel business until his death in June, 1909. He was a good citizen and a veteran of the Civil war, having for about ten months of the great conflict between the states served as a sergeant of Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Regiment. Previous to en. listing he was enrolling and drafting officer. He married Margaret Walser, a native of North Carolina who came to Edwards county in 1834 with her parents when she was only three years of age. She died in Edwards county in 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock were born seven sons and daughters, four of whom are living at the present time. They are as follows: Walter S., of this review; Addie M. Steele, of Chicago; Harry Joel, of West Salem; and Maurice B., of Springfield, Illinois.

Walter S. Rothrock was educated in the West. Salem schools and after bidding adieu to his desk in the village school room he entered his father's blacksmith shop and under the tutelage of that gentleman gained a thorough training in his trade. However, he did not make it his own trade, and in 1882 he embarked in the hotel and livery business in West Salem and was thus engaged until the fall of 1910, the date of his election. His hostelry was ever popular and well-managed and the memory of Mr. Rothrock in the role of "mine host" is a pleasant one,

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for he possesses not only business ability, but a desire to give the guest beneath his roof the best of accommodation. In 1910, as mentioned, he was elected to the offices of sheriff and collector and in these capacities has served well the interests of his constituents, to his own credit and the honor and profit of the people. He previously served as constable of West Salem. His election lost him as a citizen of West Salem, for it was necessary for him to remove to Albion. He is a tried and true Republican and his loyalty to what its admirers term "the Grand Old Party" has never been found wanting. Sheriff Rothrock is a popular lodge man, holding membership in the ancient and august Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Rothrock was married October 14, 1894, Miss Julia Clodfelder, of West Salem, daughter of B. F. Clodfelder, a well-known citizen of that place, becoming his wife. They have a trio of children, as follows: Margaret Elizabeth, Lucille, and Walter S., Jr. All are held in confidence and high regard and are among the popular and helpful members of the community.