Public service across generations

Three generations of aldermen

The Rolings’ public service involved the practical details of a small town: water, sidewalks, wells and street lights. J. F. Roling appears among the aldermen at the May 1, 1899 council meeting. A February 1903 notice announced his candidacy for re-election in the Third Ward and said he had already represented it for several terms.

The council reports show what that work looked like. In April 1906, J. F. and G. H. Winslow were assigned to extend a water main from Second Street one block north toward St. Joseph Church. He also served on the Sidewalk Committee. That June, he joined a committee to arrange filling a well at Third and Broadway as cheaply as possible. In October, he and W. D. Murphy disagreed about where new incandescent street lights were needed, and the committee was given more time.

Joe Roling followed him into city government. The April 6, 1928 newspaper reported that Joe won the Third Ward contest, 52 votes to George Prescott’s 33. A separate report in the same issue described the council meeting at which he was sworn in.

A third generation appears in the 1972 election reports. Bob Roling ran in Salisbury’s Second Ward and defeated Bill Hollis, 166 votes to 59. In March 1974, the paper reported that he would not seek re-election as his term came to an end. Together, these records follow J. F., Joe and Bob through three generations of service to the same town.

Sources: Salisbury Press-Spectator, May 5, 1899, p. 6; June 8, 1906, p. 1; April 6, 1928, p. 1, election and council reports. Salisbury Democrat, February 27, 1903, p. 5; April 20, 1906, p. 4; October 5, 1906, p. 1. Original clippings preserved in the family collection. Bob’s election and decision not to run again: Salisbury Press-Spectator, April 6, 1972, p. 1, and March 28, 1974, p. 1, already cited in his family story.