Hawthorne, Julian, Ed. "The History of Washington: The Evergreen State 
from Early Dawn to Daylight." New York: American Historical Publishing
 Co., 1893. p. 702.

ROEDER, HENRY, a pioneer resident of New Whatcom, Wash., was born in 
Germany, July 4th, 1894, and came to America with his parents at the age 
of six years.  His father was a veteran of the battle of Waterloo.  The 
family settled in Erie County, Ohio., where our subject was reared on a 
farm.  In those early days they had to do battle with the Indians to protect 
their homes and stock.  At the age of sixteen he became a sailor on the 
lakes, and so continued until 1849, after which he was employed by Cobb, 
Bradley & Co. for one year.  In 1850 he made the journey across the plains 
with six mule teams.  Stopping at Salt Lake City, he heard Brigham Young 
deliver his first oration.  Continuing his journey, he reached Sacramento at 
the time of the failure of the banking house of Barton Lee & Co.  Going to 
Ophair, Cal., he engaged in mining for a season, and while there was taken 
ill with typhoid fever.  After his recovery he opened a general mining supply 
store on Poor Man's Creek.  This venture did not prove successful, and he 
was obliged to suspend.  His next enterprise was in connection with a 
fishery on Sacramento River.  In this business he made money very rapidly, 
but hearing of the great fisheries on the Columbia River, he started for 
Oregon with his partner, R. V. Peabody, arriving at Portland on the steamer 
Columbia in December, 1852.  Hearing that San Francisco was in ashes, they 
immediately determined to start a lumber mill, but it took so long to find 
a suitable location they abandoned the idea.  Mr. Roeder located at Whatcom in
December, 1852, being the first settler and founder, and giving name to the 
town.  He was elected a member of the second Territorial Legislature of 
Washington, and served in that body eight successive terms.  During his long 
residence in Whatcom he has been engaged in many different business pursuits - 
was a sailor on the Pacific, followed farming, milling, and fishing.  His mind 
is still bright and active, and he has a remarkable memory.  He has been a 
valuable factor in the prosperity of New Whatcom and is universally respected 
and esteemed.

Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.