Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-09
VIM. ROHLFING
DIES SUDDENLY
At EARLY HOUR
WELL KNOWN PIANO MAN EXPIRES
WHILE APPARENTLY IN EX-
CELLENT HEALTH.
IN BUSINESS MANY YEARS..
Spent His Life in Manufacture and Sale
Of Pianos-Active in Milwaukee
Musical Societies.
DEMISE IS A SHOCK TO FRIENDS.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. Oct. :. 1905
William q. Rohlhng. one of AIilwau-
KEGS pioneer piano dealers. and an active
resident of the city for thirty years died
suddenly this morning at > O'Clock, ut
his residence, 543 CaSS street. ut the
age Of nearly 7S years. The funeral will
be held on Saturday afternoon. interment
10 he at Forest Home.
SO sudden was the death Of Mr.. RohI-
fling that no member Of his family had
the least intimation Of an approaching
end until within an hour before he passed
away. His son George and daughter
were summoned to his room about i
o'clock and found their father apparent
Iy rapidly sinking. His only words -
them were Il am dying, and within d
few moments the end cam" quietly and
peacefully. Heart trouble WAS the d.
rect cause Of death.
Kept in Touch with Business
Mr.. Rohlfng. who was at the head Of
the Rohlting Piano company, visited the
store ut 1870 Oneida street. during the
day on Tuesday, where he made particu-
lar inquiries Of the manager, his SON
the business. In the evening. as had
long been his daily practice. he visited
cafe in the Seventh ward, where he
always met old associates and warm
friends With several of these he
passed Il pleasant hour, returning home
early. apparently as we'll as he had been
for months past, although he remarked
TO Il friend during the evening that he
had not been feeling as well as usual.
but that he thought he was much better
and remarked that he cid not intend to
miss meeting his friends each evening liz
the future.
Native Of Germany
William G.. Rohlhng was a native OF
OsnabrUeck. Germany where he was,
born December Il. 1890. He was al
WAYS proud of the fact that the great
composer and musician, Beethoven. and
himself were born upon the same day
of the same Month. His father Chris
tan Rohlting. was 4 leading piano manu-.
factUrer Of his native town and the son
learned the trade in his fathers factory.
He received liberal school education in
his native town, and III January. 1882.
took passage ut Bremen for the United
States. making the journey to Baltimore
in q sailing vessel i'll SiXty-tive days. In
that city he entered the employ of Weiss
brothers. piano makers. and i'll 1853 he
was made foreman of the piano factory
of Louis Stirn i'll the same city. Later
he moved to Norfolk. Va. where, with
two brotherS-in-raw, Daniel and August
Stirn. he started a piano manufacturing
business. This was discontinued when
the war between the states broke out.
at which time Mr.. Rohlfing returned to
Baltimore and accepted responsible
position with William Knabe & Co, re
naming there until 1873, when he came
to Milwaukee.
Comes to Milwaukee,
Arriving III Milwaukee he engaged at
once in the piano trade on his own ac-
count, opening Il large music store here
and continuing in the business at various
nIaceS in the city, until his death. Dur
inc those years Mr.. Rohl6ng was Mil
waukee agent for some of the leading
pianos in the United States. In later
wears his sons were connected i'll the
business with their father under several
firm names, the latest firm being the
Rohlfng Piano company. For more than
ten years the senior Rohling was treas
urer and an active member of the Mil
waukee Musical society, and i'll 1856 he
was chairman of the financial committee
which managed the great Saengerfest in
this city. He was life member of the
Musical society. He was also a director
of the DeutScher GeSellSchaft, Il member
of the Deutscher club. and active in sew
eral other societies. He was Il man Cf
most genial traits, Il remarkably happy
disposition, and was Il warm friend and
companion of many men conSldera bly,
younger than himself. who enjoyed his
society and kindly nature.
On September -, 1855, Mr.. RohIfng
was united i'll marriage to Miss Emma
Stirn. sister of his early employer in
Baltimore. His wife and seven chill
dTen survive him. The sons are Charles.
William. .Ir.. Herman and George Roll
fling, associated at various times in bust
ness with the father. There are also two
daughters.