Silas C. Roll

Silas C. Roll is one of the partners in the Palace Market Company, conducting the [largest] retail meat business in Seattle, and his success in that undertaking has enabled him to become a large investor in city real estate. He is a native of Allamakee county, [??], born March 29, 1870, and is a son of James and Lucy (Post) Roll. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, was of German descent. In early life he learned the blacksmith’s trade and at the time of the Civil war he responded to the call for troops to preserve the Union and in an engagement sustained wounds from which he died in later years. His wife, a native of Iowa, represents an old New England family of English descent living in Seattle.

The removal of the family to Denver, Colorado, in 1880 gave Silas C. Roll the privilege of attending the common and high schools of that city. He was first connected with the [meat] business at Idaho Springs, Colorado, remaining there for nine years, after which he [came] to Seattle in 1891. Here he opened a meat market in partnership with Charles Schoening whom he had been thus connected in Colorado, and for eighteen years they [conducted] their business at the corner of Second and Yesler streets. When L. C. Smith erected [his] forty-two story building, the firm, under the name of the Palace Market Company, [owned] the corner of the new building, where they have been serving the public for many years, and today they are conducting the largest retail meat business in the city. They were active meat merchants during the pioneer days of the Queen City and kept their horses at the corner of Second and Spring streets, now in the very heart of the business district. With the growth of Seattle their trade has extended and their success finds visible expression in their ownership of a large amount of property, represented by realty within the city and [acreage] without.

In May, 1900, Mr. Roll was united in marriage to Miss Sadie A. Bates, a daughter of [Julius] Bates, a California pioneer. They have become parents of three children: Dorothy, a high school pupil; and John and Gladys, also attending school.

Mr. Roll is a life member of Elks Lodge, No. 92, and also belongs to the Knights of [Pytheus] lodge. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican and he is equally zealous in his support of Seattle, believing that there is no city more favorably situated as to [geological] conditions, climate and marine interests. He has witnessed the marked growth and development of the city during the quarter of a century of his residence here and at all times has stood for those things which are of municipal benefit.