Sunday’s Obituary: Elias Rohrer

Elias Rohrer, son of Christian Rohrer, died on 31 March 1880 at the age of 75 in Lancaster. He is buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery in the city. He was a tipstave; that is, an officer of the court.

His obituary reads:

Elias Rohrer, for many years, a tipstave in our county court, died this morning about 11 o’clock at his residence, No. 131 East King Street, after an illness of several weeks, the immediate cause of his death being dropsy and heart disease. Deceased was a son of Christian Rohrer, and was born in West Lampeter township. His early life was spent mostly in that township and the neighboring borough of Strasburg, where he was apprenticed to a Mr. Connelly and learned the hatting business. He followed his trade for some years in Strasburg and also carried on the manufacture and sale of hats in this city, doing business on North Queen Street, near Orange, in partnership with Jacob Hess. Returning to Strasburg he carried on business there for some time, and about 1849 was appointed postmaster, which position he held during Filmore’s administration. Removing again to Lancaster about a quarter of a century ago, he was appointed by Judge Long a tipstave of the courts, and held the position to the time of his death.

Mr. Rohrer was an upright, intelligent and pleasant gentleman, an ingenious mechanic, capable of doing almost any kind of work, and was remarkable for his painstaking in all that he undertook. He married in early life, but his wife died some years ago and left no children. Mr. Rohrer was a consistent and esteemed member of the Duke Street Methodist Episcopal church. His funeral will take place on Saturday next at 2 o’clock p.m.

Source:

Lancaster daily intelligencer. (Lancaster, Pa.), 31 March 1880. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.

Sunday’s Obituary is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

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