SERAPHINE ROTT FAMILY

Seraphine Rott came to America in 1849 from Thannenkirch, Haut Rhein, Alsace, France. He left his parents, Anton and Genevieve, two brothers and a sister in France and never saw them again. As a young man of nineteen, he took a sail boat by way of New Orleans up the Mississippi River to northern Illinois. Malaria fever was raging in the South so he was informed that this was the safest route. He spent sixty-two days on the water. After arriving in Lisle Township, he went ot work as a farm hand for the Dieter family with only change in his pocket. It was while working for the Dieter’s that he met Theresa Statler, also from France, and later married her on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1855 at what is now SS. Peter and Paul Church in Naperville. At that time it was a mission parish and the priest came at regular intervals for religious services. Several other couples were married the same day. Together they pruchased a farm in the Maple Avenue and College Road area and farmed until their late seventies. They then sold the farm to the Benedictine Fathers. The first building on the property was St. Joseph’s Orphanage. St Procopius College still stands on the former Rott property.

Our grandfather was also named Seraphine Rott and married Anna Lotter. He farmed his entire life in the area. This brings us to our dad, Harold Rott, who married Anna Diehl in 1914 at SS Peter and Paul Church, Naperville. Anna was the daughter of George Diehl and Mary Gartner, married in 1888 and farmed the area off Rt. 59 and Diehl Road.

(Submitted by Rita Rott Lisson)