Roling family history

The business timeline

Dated newspaper milestones, organized by decade; announced plans remain distinct from completed events.

Shop milestones in the newspapers

Small events belong in the family record too. Dates below identify the newspaper issue, not necessarily the day of the event. Exact event dates are stated when the report gives them; plans and candidacies remain plans and candidacies.

1890s milestones
  • Reported April 5, 1895: A burglary report described a window entry and a broken-open tool chest at Roling's machine shop. Mr. Roling reported no tools missing. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1895-04-05, p. 5.
  • Reported April 26, 1895: An emery wheel broke while J. F. was grinding; a fragment injured his neck. The report said he was recovering after treatment. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1895-04-26, p. 7.
  • Reported September 13, 1895: An advertisement placed Salisbury Machine Shops, J. F. Roling proprietor, on West Second Street. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1895-09-13, p. 7.
  • Reported March 6, 1896: J. F. was preparing an addition to the machine shop, with lumber already on the grounds. The notice does not confirm its completion date. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1896-03-06, p. 5.
  • Reported September 18, 1896: A physician removed steel from J. F.'s left eye after a shop injury. The notice also recalled the loss of his right eye about four years earlier. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1896-09-18, p. 3.
1900s milestones
  • Reported May 19, 1905: John Poschl bought an electric pump and tubing from J. F.; a separate notice advertised state-made binder twine for the season. Source: Salisbury Democrat, 1905-05-19, p. 4; Salisbury Democrat, 1905-05-19, p. 4.
  • Reported November 29, 1907: A notice credited Frank Roling with installing a Broomel vapor-heating system at Father Lubeley's residence. Source: Salisbury Democrat, 1907-11-29, p. 1.
  • Reported October 2, 1908: Paul Derks injured his hand in machinery at the shop the preceding Saturday; the report said he was able to work again. Source: Salisbury Democrat, 1908-10-02, p. 5.
1910s milestones
  • Reported July 11, 1913: J. F. advertised Olds gasoline engines for pumping, with demonstrations or a free catalog offered. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1913-07-11, p. 6.
  • Reported January 9, 1914: A revolver and a shotgun were reported stolen after a window entry at the machine shop. Source: Salisbury Democrat, 1914-01-09, p. 1.
  • Reported August 21, 1914: Ben returned from Philadelphia after an honorable Navy discharge on August 13 and was reported working in the Roling shop. Source: Salisbury Democrat, 1914-08-21, p. 1.
  • Reported July 23, 1915: The Salisbury Machine Shop added acetylene-welding equipment. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1915-07-23, p. 1.
  • Reported June 16, 1916: A short illness notice called Ben one of the junior members of Roling and Sons, machinists. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1916-06-16, p. 1.
  • Reported March 28, 1919; October 24, 1919: Advertisements continued to identify J. F. as proprietor of Salisbury Machine Shop and offered machinery repair and plumbing work. A separate legal notice on the October page is retained in the source collection. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1919-03-28, p. 6; Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1919-10-24, p. 6.
1920s milestones
  • Reported June 18, 1920: J. F. Roling & Sons advertised several makes of cultivators and Rock Island corn planters. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1920-06-18, p. 8.
  • Reported October 29, 1920; November 26, 1920: Autumn notices offered tires and tubes at cost and distinguished Roling's Oldsmobile truck agency from Cady and Lyons' car agency. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1920-10-29, p. 2; Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1920-10-29, p. 2; Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1920-11-26, p. 3.
  • Reported December 10, 1920: A December advertisement listed plumbing and heating, engine work, implements, tractors, tires and automobile supplies. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1920-12-10, p. 7.
  • Reported January 7, 1921: A visiting Quincy mechanic, R. J. Nauser, was said to have learned his trade under J. F. Roling. A lost-dog notice directed telephone calls to Chas. Cady at Roling's Shop. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1921-01-07, p. 5; Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1921-01-07, p. 5.
  • Reported April 8, 1921; April 22, 1921: Spring advertisements offered Fairbanks-Morse Z engines and New Perfection kerosene water heaters, alongside the shop's repair work and supplies. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1921-04-08, p. 2; Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1921-04-22, p. 2.
  • Reported December 23, 1921: The newspaper reported Joe firing five pistol shots during a nighttime garage intrusion. No hit was reported. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1921-12-23, p. 1.
  • Reported March 10, 1922: Advertisements offered two Heider tractor-and-plow combinations and a broad range of machine, automobile, plumbing and heating services. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1922-03-10, p. 3; Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1922-03-10, p. 3.
  • Reported November 24, 1922: The Farmers Elevator Company announced rebuilding plans while continuing trade; its notice placed the company's office in Roling's Garage. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1922-11-24, p. 8.
  • Reported May 16, 1924: A 'While They Last' advertisement listed corn graders, planters, a disc and cultivators at stated sale prices. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1924-05-16, p. 2.
  • Reported August 8, 1924: The business advertised Columbian Red Top grain bins; an adjacent Red Crown gasoline advertisement listed Roling & Sons among local dealers. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1924-08-08, p. 2.
  • Reported July 3, 1925: The business advertised the Fairbanks-Morse B feed grinder and related equipment as an authorized dealer. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1925-07-03, p. 6.
  • Reported July 17, 1925: A. A. Hart & Son advertised automobile and truck repair, supplies and batteries at the Roling Machine Shop. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1925-07-17, p. 5.
  • Reported December 4, 1925: A. A. Hart & Son advertised Inside Tyres at Roling's Machine Shop, making tire-mileage claims in the sales notices. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1925-12-04, p. 5.
1930s milestones
  • Reported August 17, 1934: A report said a son of J. F. returning from Beloit would join the machine shop and live in the Shannon property on West Fourth Street. The article does not supply a secure first-name identification. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, 1934-08-17, p. 4.
1950s milestones
  • September 1952: Edgar E. Linneman joined J. F. Roling & Son after five years of similar work in Glasgow, according to his 1967 staff profile. Read about Edgar. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, July 14, 1967, p. 12.
  • Reported August 29, 1958: A separate business, Frank’s Sheet Metal Shop, advertised ornamental iron and named Frank Roling as owner. The proprietor’s family identity remains unconfirmed. Read the advertisement story. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, August 29, 1958, p. 6.
  • Reported September 19, 1958: Edgar Linneman’s miniature steam engine, built at the Roling Machine Shop over roughly six hundred spare-time hours, was featured in a local newspaper story that also reported its appearance in Popular Mechanics. Read about Edgar’s engine. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, September 19, 1958, p. 1.
1960s milestones
  • July 1961: Kenneth G. Linneman joined the shop, according to his June 1967 staff profile. Read Kenneth’s profile. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, June 23, 1967, p. 5.
  • August 1965: Raymond Morrison joined J. F. Roling & Son, according to his June 1967 staff profile. Read Raymond’s profile. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, June 9, 1967, p. 9.
  • September 1966: Leroy D. Brown joined J. F. Roling & Son, according to his May 26, 1967 newspaper staff profile. Meet Leroy. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, May 26, 1967, p. 5.
  • January 1967: Norman McFadden joined J. F. Roling & Son; a May staff advertisement introduced him as the newest employee. Read Norman’s profile. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, May 19, 1967, p. 9.
  • August 22, 1967: Advertised date of J. F. Roling & Son’s seventy-fifth-anniversary open house, with a cutaway John Deere tractor and Edgar Linneman’s miniature sawmill and steam engine. Read the anniversary invitation. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, August 18, 1967, p. 15.
1970s milestones
  • Reported October 16, 1975: Flora Anna Iman’s executor was authorized to sell her shares in J. F. Roling and Son, Inc., to Bobby Roling. Read the estate-notice story. Source: Salisbury Press-Spectator, October 16, 1975, p. 4.