rockholdj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JERRY ROCKHOLD, who was a dweller
in the territory of Lincoln county before that political division was in
existence, now resides about nine miles north from Reardan on a good estate
and has been a well known character in the upbuilding and improvement of
this county for about twenty-five years. In political matters, he
has ever been active and energetic, always laboring for those measures
which he believes to be for the good of the community.
Jerry Rockhold was born in Ross county, Ohio,
on January 3, 1834. His father, Samuel Rockhold, was born in Pennsylvania,
serving in the War of 1812 and in various Indian wars, then came to Ohio,
where he remained until the day of his death. The mother, Anna (Glascock)
Rockhold, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer to Ohio. Our subject
was the second of ten children. He was well educated, finishing his
training in the Bainbridge institute at Bainbridge, Ohio. When twenty-two
years of age, he journeyed west to Lincoln county, Kansas, being one of
the pioneers there and arriving during the time when border ruffianism
was filling the land with terror. At that time, farmers were always
in arms, and those were days never to be forgotten. On September
2, 1861, he joined the Sixth Kansas Cavalry and participated in the battles
of Mine Creek, Prairie Grove and innumerable others during the long service.
He was captured at Mazzard Prairie, in August, 1864, and was sent to Tyler
prison in Texas where he languished for ten months or until the war ended
in 1865. After that conflict, he came back to Linn county, Kansas,
and settled on a farm. His fellow citizens selected him by vote to
be surveyor of his county and for years he served in that capacity, making
an excellent record. About 1876, he resigned the position, sold his
farm land and came west. He was occupied for a year in freighting
in Colorado then was on the Northern railway in Utah. He finally
came to his present place in 1878 and settled on a homestead in 1879.
Since that time he has devoted his entire attention to his interests in
this county in addition to which, he has served as surveyor in the county
and was the first elected surveyor in Spokane county. His record
in this capacity has been excellent and he has done much in his labors,
both in public capacity and in private life to bring this country to the
front.
In Ross county, Ohio, Mr. Rockhold married
Miss Rebecca Ann Eperson and to them were born four children; Alberta M.,
deceased; Kate W., wife of W. T. Warren of Wilbur, Washington; Edgar at
Republic, Washington; and Blanche, dwelling in Wilbur. Mrs. Rockhold
died in Spokane. On September 8, 1892, Mr. Rockhold married Mrs.
Nanna Webster of Sprague, Washington. She has two children by her
former marriage. Mr. Rockhold is a member of the G. A. R. at Reardan
and is at present serving as adjutant of the post. He and his wife
are members of the Methodist church and are very prosperous and highly
respected citizens. It is interesting to note that Mr. Rockhold was
a personal friend of the famous John Brown in Kansas.
BACK