Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/274

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ROBOT
ROGERS


$1,000,000 for ministerial relief in 1887, and was also appointed American secretary of the alliance of the Reformed churches holding the Presbyterian system at the general council in London, July, 1888. Dr. Roberts received the degree of D. I). from the Western university of Pennsylvania and of LL. D. from Miami university, lie prepared the valuable catalogue of the library of Prince- ton theological seminary (188(1).

ROBOT, Isidore, first R. C. prefect apostolic of Indian Territory, b. at Tharoiseau, diocese of Sens, France, 18 July, 1837; d. at Dallas, Tex., 15 Keb.. 1887. He entered the order of St. Bene- dict in 1859 at the monastery of Pierre-qui-Vire ; made "simple vows," 1 May, 1863, and was or- dained at Sens, 20 Dec, 1863. On 13 Aug., 1871, he made "solemn vows," and professed at the monastery of Ste. Marie. Dr. Robot was created prefect apostolic by Pope Pius IX. on 9 July, 1876. On 1 Sept., 1878, he was blessed abbott of Sacred Heart abbev in Indian Territory.

ROCA, Julio A. (ro-cali), Argentine president, b. in Tucuman, 17 July, 1843. He was a pupil of the School of Concepcion del Uruguay, and in 1858 was a lieutenant of artillery. In 1871 was ap- pointed colonel for bravery on the field, and briga- dier-general in 1883. The law of promotions placed him as lieutenant-general in 1882. Among his numerous campaigns, the most remarkable one was that of Rio Negro, by which he opened to civilization more than 15,000 leagues of territory, greatly changing the economic conditions of his country. His political record is as brilliant as the military one. He was secretary of the army and navy under President Avellaneda. From 1880 to 1886 was president of the Argentine Re- public. This period was one of peace, industry, and iirogress for the republic. After this Gen. Roca was elected senator, secretary of domestic affairs under President Pellegrini, and senator for his native province. He has also been president of the senate and vice-president of the republic. This distinguished statesman and soldier was re- elected president of the republic in 1898, and is among the most prominent men of South America.

ROCKEFELLER, John Davison, capitalist, b. in Richford, Tioga CO., N. Y., 8 July, 1839. His family removed to Cleveland wlien he was about twelve years of age, and he was educated there in the public schools. When sixteen years old he entered a mercantile house as clerk, and snbse- quently was cashier and book-keeper. He became a member of the firm of Clark & Rockefeller at nineteen, and in 1860. under the name of An- drews. Clark & Co., the copartnership engaged in the oil business. In 1865 the firm, now changed to William Rockefeller & Co., built the Standard oil-works in Cleveland, and in 1867 the several firms with which he and his brother William were connected consolidated their interests and became a single corporation. By 1870 the Stand- ard oil company was incorporated, with Jolin D. as president and William as vice-president. The increased volume of business led to the fornuition of the Standard oil trust in 1881, but this was dissolved in 1893, and since then the Rockefellers have continued the control of the various separate companies in which they are large stockholders. John D. Rockefeller, although greatly occupied with his various directorates and the supervision of his large monetary interests, has found time to devote himself to the cause of religion and philan- thropy. His gifts to Chicago university, conditional and unconditional, aggregate about $0,425.(100. In 1895 he gave |.")(J,000 to the village of Tarry- town, where his summer home is situated, for a high-service water-tower. He presented cash and real estate to the city of Cleveland in 1896 which were valued at $600,000. The same year he gave to Vassar college a $100,000 building, and to Barnard college $25,000. In 1897 Vassar college received from him, besides more money, 3,000 vol- umes on Greek art and literature, and the Ameri- can Baptist missionary union and llie Home mis- sionary society were given jointly $250,0(X). — His brother, Villiani,capitalist, b. in Uich ford, Tioga CO., N. Y., 31 May, 1841. He began his education in an academy at Ovvego, N. Y.. and continued it in the common schools of Cleveland. He was a book-keeper in the latter place in 1858, and later filled a similar position with Hughes & Lester. In 1862, upon Mr. Lester's retirement, he became the junior of the firm of Hughes & Rockefeller, carrying on a produce commission business. But he soon co-operated with his brother in the oil busi- ness, and their interests have ever since been mu- tual. He has resided in New York more than thirty years ; is a director of the Consolidated gas company, the United States trust company. Na- tional city bank, Hanover national bank. Leather mainifacturers' national bank, the New York Cen- tral railroad, New York, New Haven and Hart- ford railroad, Delaware. Lackawanna and Western railroad, Cliicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul rail- road, and many other corporations.

ROCKWOOD, George Gardiner, photographer, b. in Troy, N. Y., 13 Ajiril. 1832. He was educated at the Ballston Spa institute, became a reporter on the Troy daily " Times." aiul at twenty years of age was managing editor of the Troy daily " Post." He became interested in f>hotography in 1855, was the first to make the carle de visife photograph in this country, introduced many of the chief inven- tions in the art, and constantly contributed to the press both upon scientific and technical subjects. Mr. Rockwood, who carries on his photographic business in New York city, is the author of the amusing scientific hoax, " Brain Pictures," which appeared in a New York paper in 1887.

ROE, Charles Francis, soldier, b. in New York city, 1 May, 1848. He entered the U. S. military academy in 1864. and was graduated and appointed 2d lieutenant in the 1st cavalry in June, 1868 ; was transferred to the 2d cavalry in 1870, and was mustered out 28 Dec. following. He re-entered the service as 3d lieutenant in the 3d cavalry in 1871, and from November, 1876, to March, 1878, he served as adjutant. In 1880 he was promoted 1st lieutenant, and served also as adjutant again from the latter date until 1886. He resigned two years later and engaged in real estate business in New York city. In 1889 he joined the Nation.il guard as captain of Troop A of the 1st brigade when it was first organized, and when a squadron was formed in 1895 he was unanimously elected major. Troop A served under him during the switchmen's strike in Buffalo in 1892, and during the trolleymen's strike in Brooklyn in 1895. In 1898 Gov." Black made him major-general of the state National guard; in June he was appointed brigadier-general in the volunteer army in the war against Spain, and resigned in September. Gen. Roe was in command of the Dewey parade in New York city, consisting of about thirty thousand troops from fourteen different states.

ROGERS, Moses, pioneer steam navigator, b. in New London, Conn., in September. 1780; d. in Cheraw, S. C, 15 Sept.. 1822. He was associated with Robert Fulton in his experiments, in 1808 commanded the " Clermont," and in June, 1809,