In the roll of German immigrants who became community pillars of Pekin in the latter decades of the 19th century, one name that stands out is Jacob Arends Roelfs (1847-1912), who made his fortune in the retail hardware and lumber firm of Velde, Roelfs & Co.
Jacob came to America from Emden in Ostfriesland, Germany, in October of 1864, when he was only 16 years old. His parents were Luitjen J. Roelfs (1815-1900), a grocer in Emden, and Trentje Van Der Velde (1825-1892), both of whom followed Jacob to America in 1867 and together settled in Pekin, where Luitjen’s son-in-law Henry Velde, patriarch of the Velde family of Pekin, had established himself. After completing his schooling, Jacob worked for three years as a traveling salesman for the H. Velde & Co. grocery business. He then became a retail clerk in the Smith, Velde hardware store, becoming a partner in the firm in 1878. Seven years later, the firm’s name was changed to Velde, Roelfs & Co., which specialized in retail hardware and lumber, supplying material and hardware not only to Pekin but also shipping their merchandise up to 100 miles away. That business was located in what was formerly known as the Empire Block, along the north side of the lower 300 block of Court Street. After several years with that company, Jacob became vice president of the renowned Hinners Organ Co. of Pekin.
On 4 Oct. 1871 in Pekin, Jacob married Adeline Frances Feltman (1851-1927), daughter of Henry Feltman, founding president of German-American National Bank (later known as First National Bank and Trust Co. of Pekin), and Catherine (Van Der Velde) Feltman. Jacob and Adeline had a son, Lucien (Luitjen) Jacob Roelfs, who died in infancy 12 Oct. 1872, and a daughter, Josephine Catherine Roelfs (1874-1957), who married Heilo John Rust (1869-1958). Jacob, Adeline, and Josephine lived in a mansion that was built in 1875 at 703 N. Fourth Street, near the church of which they were members, and where Jacob served as Trustree — Grace United Methodist Church (formerly the German Methodist Episcopal Church).
A biographical sketch of Jacob A. Roelf’s life and career was published in Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties (1895), pages 257-258. The sketch is transcribed here below:
JACOB A. ROELFS, of the wholesale and retail hardware firm of Velde, Roelfs & Co., of Pekin, was born in Ostfriesland, Germany, December 11, 1847. His grandfather, Jacob A., and his father, L. J. Roelfs, were both natives of that place, and both were grocers. The latter was born October 28, 1815, was educated in the common schools and learned both the Dutch and German languages. In 1831 he began clerking in a grocery store at Emden, where he remained for three years, and then entered his father’s store. In 1841 he became proprietor and did a large business along that line until 1867, when he emigrated to America. He sailed from Bremen and landed in New York, where he was met by his son-in-law, Henry Velde, and soon reached Pekin. In 1870 he embarked in the grocery business and continued operations along that line until 1880, since which time he has lived retired. He has been twice married. His first wife died in December, 1842, and in 1845 he wedded Catherine Vandervelde, who died November 14, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven. Of her seven children five are yet living. The father is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Republican in politics.
The subject of this sketch, who was the second of the family, spent his early youth in Germany, but at the age of sixteen bade adieu to friends and Fatherland and sailed from Bremen to New York City, where he arrived in the month of October. He then attended the public schools for several years, after which he became traveling salesman for the grocery house of H. Velde & Co., in which capacity he was employed for about three years. He then became clerk in the retail department of the hardware store of Smith, Velde Co., and in 1878 was admitted to partnership. The firm name continued the same until 1885, when it was changed to Velde, Roelfs & Co. Their store is now located in the Empire Block, and is 50×95 feet, two stories in height with a basement. The first floor is occupied as a retail store, the second floor is used as a tin shop, and there is manufactured roofing, cornice, etc. The jobbing trade covers a radius of one hundred miles; two men are always employed upon the road and twelve men are employed in the store. They make a specialty of heavy hardware and hardwood lumber, for in connection with their store they own a hardwood lumber yard. They also carry a line of furnaces.
On the 4th of October, 1871, Mr. Roelfs was united in marriage with Miss Adeline Frances Feltman, a native of Kenosha, Wis., and daughter of Henry and Catharsena (Velde) Feltman. They have one child living, Josephine, who was graduated from the Pekin High School, and who is now the wife of H. J. Rust, of this city. Lucien Jacob, the eldest child, died October 12, 1872. Mr. Roelfs is a stalwart Republican in politics and is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is now serving as Trustee. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, in whom the best interests of the community find a friend, and is a practical and enterprising business man, possessed of a resolute will to carry forward to a successful completion whatever he undertakes. This is the secret of his prosperity.
Jacob’s health worsened in his latter years, and in the last six months of his life he was bedridden in his hom.e He died there Saturday night, 11 May 1912. Jacob, his wife Adeline, and his daughter Josephine are buried in Lakeside Cemetery. Jacob’s obituary, published in the Bloomington Pantagraph on Friday, 17 May 1912, page 8, reads as follows:
JACOB A. ROLFS DIES.
Prominent Pekin Man Passed Away Saturday Night . . . .
Pekin, May 12. (Special.) Jacob A. Rolfs, one of Peoria’s [sic- Pekin’s] most prominent business men and citizens, died Saturday night about 7:30 o’clock at his home, 703 North Fourth street. He had been in feeble health for the past several years, and for the past six months had been confined to his room.
The deceased was a native of Germany, having been born in Ostfriesland, December 11, 1847. At the age of sixteen he sailed from Bremen, landing in New York City, and shortly after came to Pekin. When he had completed his studies in the public schools here he took a position as a traveling salesman for the H. Velde grocery firm. In 1878 he was admitted to partnership in the hardware firm of Velde, Roelfs and continued to when he became a member of the Hinners Organ company, being selected vice president of this company.
His marriage was with Miss Adeline Frances Feltman of Kenosha, October 4, 1871. Their first child died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are the widow, and one daughter, Mrs. Heilo J. Rust of Pekin.
