Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 491-493.

ARTHUR F. ROE.

The world bows to the young and enthusiastic; humanity is swayed by their dictations. It is the young man who moves the world forward and places each succeeding decade of her history on a higher pedestal than she has ever before occupied; it is the young man who causes the older generation to wonder at the present and the present to stand in awe of the more glorious future. His environments make this possible, for as each generation nears the meridian, and then the close of life, the burden of the world's destiny is shifted, almost unconsciously, from their shoulders to those of the succeeding generation, which takes up the march and steadily proceeds to a higher goal. Of the present progressive generation, Jefferson township can boast no better than Arthur F. Roe, who is the son of Ezekiel and Catharine (Puderbaugh) Roe. He was born in Jefferson township, April 9, 1862, and was reared on the old Roe farm, one half mile north of Ossian. His early education was received in the graded schools of Ossian, after leaving which he began to teach. He taught his first term at Lancaster Center, and at the same time studying the Latin course of the Ossian high school, from which he graduated with the class of 1882. In 1884 he entered the Methodist Episcopal College at Fort Wayne, after having taught two more terms at Lancaster Center. He graduated in the literary course from that institution in 1886. After spending one year in the West on account of health he returned to Wells county in 1887 and learned telegraphy at Ossian during the fall and winter of that year. He was given charge of the office of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, at Hamilton, Indiana, for one year, when he was transferred to Ossian. After retaining this position three years he accepted the office of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad at Decatur, Indiana, and after nearly a year there was transferred to Wayland, Michigan, at which place he was stationed three years. He resigned this position in April, 1893, and, in company with John S. Krewson and N. W. Newman, opened a general stock of merchandise at Ossian. H. O. Stine then became a partner, Krewson and Newman retiring after the first year, and two years later he sold his interest to E. H. Roe, the firm becoming Roe Brothers, whose department store is justly considered the leading mercantile establishment of this thriving little city. Roe Brothers carry a stock valued at about four thousand dollars, in departments devoted to dry goods, notions, boots and shoes and groceries, and do an annual business of fifteen thousand dollars. In the fall of 1897, owing to a delicate state of health, Mr. Roe bought the old William Somer's farm, one-half mile south and one half mile east of Ossian, where he finds congenial employment in the attention demanded by the many details of a successfully conducted farm.

Mr. Roe was married April 28, 1886, to Miss May Stine, the daughter of William and Nancy (Spence) Stine. She was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, April 21, 1863, receiving her education in the Ossian high schools, from which she graduated in 1882. She then taught in the district and high schools for three years. Both husband and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder for several years. He is also superintendent of the Sunday school, of which he has had charge for nearly thirteen years, and takes commendable pride in the schools, ranking with any in the county. To this couple five children were born, namely: Opal, a student in the freshman class of the Ossian high school; Harold, Orin, Mary and Helen. In politics, although reared a Democrat, he has given his own support to the Republicans, being one of the most active and enthusiastic workers of the party in Jefferson township, being one of the precinct committeemen of the township. He also served one term as councilman of Ossian just after its incorporation, in which position he earnestly advocated such public improvements as would benefit the community. He is a man of intelligence, is an excellent citizen, a good neighbor and enjoys the highest esteem of his acquaintances.