Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-12-17

- "1iiam Horlck, his father, was of
German parentage, as a young man
OF twenty-five he made the trip from
New Jersey to the vicinity of Ell
mira, New York on foot and six
years later he was a member of the
westward Ho" which peopled this
section of the country with those i
Pioneers of indomitable spirit and
Will who conquered the wildernessI
and gave it as a heritage to their
successors in the generation that
followed. William Rorick made the
trip from New York to Lenaweej
County, Michigan, with his little
family in covered wagon in 1886.
ne died at the age of SO. The mother
who shared the adventure and task
OF her pioneer husband, was Phoebe
Ann Breese, from the same family
came such men as Judge Sidney
Brees of Illinois, once nominated for
the presidency and Samuel Finley
Breese Morse, the inventor of the
telegraph.
The characteristic traits of his an
cestry are evident throughout the
life history of Mr.. Rorick.
In the days of his boyhood, society
made but meagre provision for the
school ira ming; but his undaunted
determination led him to work out
his own training and education by
suplementing the meagre school ad-
vantages with his own persistent ef-
forts to acquire for himself the
knowledge essential to successful
and useful living: One and one-half
terms at Medina Seminary in Tena-
wee County and a rather meagre
course in Commerce in Gregory's
Commercial College of Detroit FORM
| ed the framework upon which Mr..
Rorick by his own study at home and
constant search for information
wrought out for himself what was
recognized by those who knew him
as a liberal education. To the last
days of his activity he was constant
in effort to add to his fund of infor-
nation, SO that it was indeed true
that with him education was the
process of lifetime.
The pioneer spirit and versatility
4 of his character is exemplified in an
outline of his life's activities.
II At the age of eighteen he began
teaching school; in 1854 he was in
4 the Lake Superior Copper country as
Boss of the Kilns" at the Ridge
Mine Ontonogan; returning to the
States in company with two other
young men on snow shoes $50 miles
through unbroken wilderness with
only chart and compass to guide
them; he again took up the oecupa-
tion of teaching, giving instruction
in writing, drawing and book keep
ing in Madison, Wisconsin and towns
in that vicinity. In 1856 he in com.
pany with Dan Howard, noted per
artist, charactered the first Com
mercial College jim the State of Wis.
consin, located in the city of Nil.
waukee; Mr.. Rorick's position in this
school being the professor of the
science of accounts and Commercial
Law. He became proficient in per
drawing and his work in this lint
was awarded first premiums in ar
exhibits in Chicago and elsewhere
Selling out his interest in the Com
mercial College in Milwaukee, h
retired to Aurora, Illinois and il
1860 returned to Michigan. In 1856:
December 18th, he was united il
marriage to Miss Emma j. Whiting
at Elmira. N. Y. returning to hi
home, in Michigan with his bride
In 1864 he became the proprietor O
the Sherman House in Wauseon, Il
1866 he purchased the Morenei Hote
Morenei, Michigan, In 1867 he be
came the owner and operator of
| Spoke Factory at Canandaigus
| Michigan. In 1872 he moved t
Wauseon where he resided to tn
date of his decease: In addition t
the enterprises already alluded to h
has been actively interested in agri
culture, having owned II farms i
Ohio, besides numerous others in tn
States OF. Michigan, Indiana, low
and Kansas. He was engaged
Commerce in Wauseon for a numbs
of years as a member of the grocer
firm of White and Rorick; he wa
also president of the Grayson Tele
phone Company of Sherman an
| Dennison, Texas with headquartel
at Lima, Ohio.
II Mr.. Rorick has also distinguishe
himself as an inventor, having to h
credit the following practical an
useful inventions: The Rorick Systel
of re-working butter, which went il
to use among shippers in 1873. tt
Quadrant Beyel Square; an impro'
ed Air Pad Truss and several oths
practical devices. He was also
frequent contributor to the press c
| political and social subjects.
| In the field of public service M
Rorick has made a remarkable r
cord. In Lenawee county Michigs
he was called to serve as member
the School Board and as Justice
the Peace; in Wauseon he has serv'
as councilman, Mayor, President
the Board of Education and tow
ship trustee. He has served t
State of Ohio as member of t
State Board of Equalization, in 18
and again on the same Board in 19(
He was elected State Senator fro
the 33rd Senatorial District in 18
and was reelected to this same ?
sition in 1898, serving two full teri
as State Senator; for two years
served as a member of the Board
managers of the Ohio State Pei
tentiary. HIS last important pub
service was as a member of the Oh
State Constitutional Convention
which body he helped to frame t
present Constitution of our Sta
To all of these positions whetf
great or small he brought a thorou
knowledge of practical economies,
we'll balanced judgment, an unfa
ing energy, true public spirit a
answering fidelity to every tr,
reposed in him, by which he merit
the confidence and esteem which
fellow citizens gave him.
In private life he was a loyal a
faithful husband, a friend WIKI