Title: Roddis Family Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1844-2007

Creator:

• Roddis family

Call Number: Stevens Point Mss CA

Quantity: 10.6 cubic feet (10 records center cartons, 1 archives box, and 1 card file box)

Repository:

Housed at the Nelis R. Kampenga University Archives & Area Research Center, Learning Resources Center, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

UW-Stevens Point Library / Stevens Point Area Research Ctr. (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers, 1844-2007, of the Roddis family of Marshfield, Wisconsin, beginning with William Henry Roddis, founder of the Roddis Plywood Corporation. The Roddis family collection includes correspondence, diaries, contracts, papers, speeches, tax documents, university activities and commencement materials, postcards, travel itineraries, menus, events schedules, household ledgers, and trusts and will documents.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-stpt00ca

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William Henry “W.H.” Roddis (1844-1920) was born in Troy, New York, on January 5, 1844 and moved as a child to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. W.H. Roddis graduated from the Milwaukee Academy and was active in Milwaukee real estate. W.H. Roddis married Sara Louis Denton (1846-1926), daughter of Reverend and Mrs. Jonas Denton, in Mendham, New Jersey. They had two children, Hamilton (1875-1960) and Frances Mary (1877-1952), who were born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. W.H. Roddis and his family moved to Marshfield in March 1894, and he became active in the lumber business as manager with the Hattenberg Veneer Company. By 1897, W.H. bought majority stock in the Hattenberg Veneer Company and changed the name to Roddis Veneer Company. W.H. served as President until his death on November 6, 1920. Along with the business in Marshfield, W.H. served twenty-six years as senior warden at St. Alban's Church, as alderman of the 4th ward, and mayor of Marshfield. Along with managing a home, Sara L. served in the St. Alban's Guild and the Marshfield Woman's Club. She died in Marshfield on June 23, 1926.

Hamilton Roddis (1875-1960) left school at UW-Madison in 1899, and joined the Roddis Veneer Company as secretary, finishing his law degree by mail. In 1903, the company expanded into lumber products and the name was changed to Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company. On July 7, 1908, Hamilton married Catherine Sarah Prindle (1882-1964) in Kirksville, Missouri. Catherine was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 15, 1882, to Jason R. Prindle and Isabella Arents Hedenberg Prindle. Catherine attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and graduated in June 1906. Catherine taught high school English and German in the Elkhorn, Wisconsin Public Schools from 1906 to 1907. Hamilton and Catherine had six children: Mary Isabella (born 1909), Sara Frances (born 1909), Catherine Prindle (born 1911), Augusta Denton (born 1916), William “Bill” Henry (born 1917), and Ellen Cecilia (born 1923). When W.H. Roddis died in 1920, Hamilton became President of Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company and both he and his sister, Frances M. inherited their father's interest. Hamilton and Catherine P. lived in Marshfield and went to Pompano Beach, Florida some winters. Hamilton was active in the Episcopal Church, severed as alderman of the 4th Ward from 1912-1917 and 1920-1921 and after World War II served on the Water Advisory Board. Catherine was active in the Marshfield chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), past State DAR president and founding member of DAR Officers Club, charter member of St. Alban's Altar Guild, and member of Marshfield Woman's Club.

In 1948, the Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company changed its name to Roddis Plywood Corporation. Hamilton remained President until his death on March 27, 1960 and in August 1960 the Roddis Plywood Corporation was sold to Weyerhaeuser Company. Catherine lived in Marshfield, Wisconsin and traveled to Florida in the winters until her death there on April 15, 1964.

Frances Mary Roddis (1877-1952), attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison graduating from the College of Letters and Science on June 1902. She did post-graduate work at the University of Berlin in Germany and traveled in Europe where she collected postcards of her travels. Frances taught school between 1905 and 1908 in Elkhorn and Mondovi, Wisconsin. Frances inherited a house in New Orleans, Louisiana from her aunt, Mary A. Roddis in May 1925, so spent winters in New Orleans and summers in Marshfield from 1926 until 1945. While in Marshfield Frances was a member of the Marshfield Woman's Club and St. Alban's Altar Guild. Frances retired to Pasadena, California in 1945 and died in her home there on June 13, 1952.

Mary Isabella, Sara Frances, Catherine Prindle, Augusta Denton, William “Bill” Henry, and Ellen Cecilia corresponded with each other and their parents while in school, traveling and after marrying. William “Bill” Henry served in the Navy during World War II, and corresponded with his family during the war. Mary Isabella married Gordon Robert Phelps Connor and Sara Frances married Henry Stewart Jones both on May 14, 1909 in Marshfield. Catherine Prindle married Robert Thomas Beggs on June 20, 1936 in Marshfield. All the Roddis children worked and/or held shares in the Roddis Plywood Corporation, along with Robert T. Beggs.

The following chronology reflects papers found in the collection and is incomplete:

Roddis

• William Henry Roddis married Sara Louis Denton
• Francis Mary Roddis (1877-1952)
• Hamilton Roddis (1875-1960) married Catherine Sarah Prindle (1882-1964)
• Mary Isabella (1909-) married Gordon Robert Phelps Connor
• Sara Frances (1909-) married Henry Steward Jones
• Catherine Prindle (1911-) married Robert Thomas Beggs
• Augusta Denton (1916-)
• William “Bill” Henry (1917-)
• Ellen Cecilia (1923-)

Prindle

• Jason R. Prindle married Isabella Arents Hedenberg
• Catherine Sarah Prindle (1882-1964) married Hamilton Roddis
• Lucy Adelaide
• Miriam E. married Granville B. Waller
• Edith Isabella
• Richard H. married Amy
• Legore married Irma
• James Prindle married Mary
• Dora Baxter

The Roddis Family papers consist of personal records from family members spanning from 1844 to 2007. The three series in the collection are: Roddis Family Members, Prindle and Related Family Members, and Travel Materials.

The RODDIS FAMILY MEMBERS series 1880-2007, is arranged alphabetically by first name and then by subject. The papers include correspondence, diaries, speeches, papers, trust information, contracts, tax information, funeral announcements and sympathy cards, commencement programs, wedding invitations, household materials, and articles. The records provide a complete span of correspondence between W.H. and Hamilton Roddis and their families. However, there are gaps for material from Mary Isabella, Sara Frances, Catherine Prindle and Ellen Cecilia Roddis.

The PRINDLE and RELATED FAMILY MEMBERS series, 1844-1969, is arranged alphabetically by person and includes correspondence between Roddis family members and their Prindle family and other relatives.

The TRAVEL MATERIALS series, 1901-1983, is arranged chronologically by trip including daily schedules, menus, itineraries, and travel materials. The records provide trip information primarily for Hamilton, Catherine and Augusta Roddis; however, there are trips with unidentified travelers.

Roddis Plywood Corporation Records (Stevens Point Mss BY)

Acquisition Information

Presented by Augusta Roddis via Sara Bostock, 2010. Accession Number: M2013-209

Processing Information

Processed by Ann Fuhrman, 2011.

Stevens Point Mss CA	Series: Roddis Family
	Augusta
Box   1 Folder   1	1880-1899
	Augusta Denton
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   2-13	Incoming, 1930-1950
Box   2 Folder   1-3	Incoming, 1951-1959
Box   2 Folder   6-8	Incoming, 1960-1969
Box   2 Folder   10-13	Incoming, 1970-1989
Box   2 Folder   15-16	Incoming, 1923-1977, 1980-2000
Box   2 Folder   4-5	Outgoing, 1950-1959
Box   2 Folder   9	Outgoing, 1960-1969
Box   2 Folder   14	Outgoing, 1967-1989
Box   2 Folder   17-18	Outgoing, 1980-1990s
Box   3 Folder   1	Diaries, articles, driver's license and membership card, 1928-1930, 1947, 1962, 1977, 1998
Box   3 Folder   2	Notes on history of Marshfield and history of the Roddis Corporation for Marshfield Historical Society, 1990s
Box   3 Folder   3-4	Papers, assignments, notes, and speeches, undated
Box   3 Folder   5	Playbills/programs sponsored and attended
Box   3 Folder   6	School and university materials, 1930s
Box   3 Folder   7	Trust for Augusta Denton Roddis, 1951
	Ellen
Box   3 Folder   8	1930-1934, 1939-1940
	Frances Mary
	Correspondence
Box   3 Folder   11-14	Incoming, 1881-1929
Box   4 Folder   1-7	Incoming, 1936-1952
Box   3 Folder   15-19	Outgoing, 1920-1921
Box   4 Folder   8-9	Outgoing and undated, 1925, 1946-1952
Box   3 Folder   9	Bond/stock records, membership cards, 1920s-1940s
Box   3 Folder   10	Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE), 1950s
Box   10 Folder   4-5	Estate of Frances: correspondence, legal documents, will, distribution documents, 1943-1955
	Mr. and Mrs. Francis Denton
Box   10 Folder   3	Estates of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Denton, 1873-1880
	Hamilton
	Correspondence
Box   4 Folder   19-20	Incoming, 1896-1908
Box   5 Folder   1-7	Incoming, 1909-1959
Box   5 Folder   8	Incoming and outgoing, 1920-1927, 1938-1960
Box   10 Folder   1	Contract with Hamilton regarding W.H. Roddis estate finances, 1920s-1931
Box   10 Folder   15	Correspondence and financial statements from Roddis Lumber, 1920s-1930s
Box   4 Folder   10	Dart & Dart, 1930-1937
Box   4 Folder   11	Denton Farm, 1920-1937
Box   4 Folder   12	Finance and receipts, 1926-1933, 1944
Box   4 Folder   13	Fire at 213 S. Vine Street house, 1930
Box   4 Folder   14	Funeral announcement, sympathy cards and notes, 1952
Box   4 Folder   15	Health, 1934-1946
Box   10 Folder   11	Law school notes and tests
Box   4 Folder   16	Nola (New Orleans) house, 1920-1930
Box   7 Folder   15	Reunion 1910 Milwaukee University-W.H. Roddis, Arbor Day speech, poem, undated
Box   4 Folder   17	Speeches and papers, undated
Box   10 Folder   19	Statements from National Bank of Commerce in New Orleans, 1938, 1942-1943
Box   10 Folder   20	Tax returns, 1920-1934
Box   4 Folder   18	UW-Madison commencement programs and memorabilia, 1902, 1905, 1922
Box   4 Folder   18	Northwestern University commencement programs and memorabilia, 1906, 1937, 1940, 1955
Box   10 Folder   22	Wisconsin National Guard, Company A, 2nd Infantry, W.N.G., 1902-1905
	Mrs. Hamilton Roddis (Catherine Prindle)
	Correspondence
Box   5 Folder   9-16	1878-1923
Box   6 Folder   1-14	1924-1969
Box   7 Folder   9	Calendar, Saints and Sinners, I.A.H.P. to Catherine P., 1901
Box   10 Folder   13	Linen lawsuit, Catherine, 1954-1955
Box   7 Folder   14	Northwestern University and teaching materials, Catherine P., 1906, 1908
Box   7 Folder   16	School papers and notes, 1896-1900s
Box   10 Folder   17	School papers and notes, undated
Box   7 Folder   1	Sympathy cards for Hamilton Roddis's death, correspondence, 1960s
Box   7 Folder   2	Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Roddis letters and calling cards, 1908-1929
Box   7 Folder   3-8	Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Roddis, 1930-1960, undated
Box   10 Folder   6	Estates of Hamilton and Catherine, 1959-1964
Box   7 Folder   11	Dedication of Grafton Hall Memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Roddis, 1964 Note: Also includes membership cards, driver's license.
	Mary and Sara Frances
Box   7 Folder   18	1921-1930, 1942-1949
	William “Bill”
Box   8 Folder   4-6	Correspondence and Navy materials, 1933-1959, undated
	William H. Hamilton
Box   7 Folder   19-21	1889-1920
Box   7 Folder   22	Death condolence letters, 1920
Box   10 Folder   7	Estate of William H., 1918-1927, 1939
Box   8 Folder   1-3	Mrs. William Hamilton (Sara L.), 1871-1925, undated
Box   10 Folder   14	Paint specifications for a house, undated
	Miscellaneous Roddis family papers
Box   7 Folder   10	Death mass programs, 1960, 1964 Note: Also includes wedding invitation for Catherine Prindle (daughter), undated, and Christmas cards.
Box   10 Folder   2	Diocese of Fond du Lac, Grafton Hall commencement and newsletter with Grafton Hall dedicated article, 1925, 1964
Box   10 Folder   9	Family tree, Denton, Prindle and Roddis
Box   7 Folder   12	Household checkbooks and savings closed, circa 1920s-1970s
Box   7 Folder   13	Household receipts, household notebooks, recipes, circa 1870s, 1930s
Box   10 Folder   10	Land deeds, 1882-1957
Box   10 Folder   12	Letter from John Stauber and option from William Upham for a Wood County Historical Society, 1976
Box   10 Folder   18	Speeches: copies / by Senator Joe McCarthy, with anti-communist materials and correspondence, undated
Box   7 Folder   17	Wedding invitation and napkin, 1908
Box   7 Folder   17	Anniversary book and invitation list, 1958
Box   10 Folder   15	Roddis family articles, 1908-2007
	Series: Prindle and Related Families	⇧
	Prindle
Box   8 Folder   7	Edith Isabella, 1900-1942
Box   8 Folder   8	Irma and Legore, 1939, 1941-1948, 1958
Box   8 Folder   9-10	Isabella A.H., 1900-1933
Box   8 Folder   11	Jason R. Prindle, 1844, 1891-1893
Box   8 Folder   12-13	Miriam E. Prindle (Mrs. Granville B. Waller), 1895-1909, 1920-1934
Box   8 Folder   14	Amy and Richard, 1902-1941
Box   8 Folder   15	Misses Prindle, circa 1860s-1909
	Other Relatives
Box   8 Folder   16-17	Blackburn, Jeanie, 1880-1927
Box   8 Folder   18	Blackburn, Josie, circa 1879, 1880
Box   8 Folder   19	Blackburn, Mimmie, 1875, 1976, 1880
Box   8 Folder   20	Coke, Elizabeth Henry Blackburn, 1890, 1909
Box   8 Folder   21-22	Coke, J. Guthrie (Queenie), Mrs., 1868-1900
Box   8 Folder   23	Denton, Sara L., Miss, and Francis, Miss, 1874-1898
Box   8 Folder   24	Gammon, Jane C., Mrs., 1882, 1901
Box   8 Folder   25	Hedenberg, Cecelia, 1872, 1892, 1895 Note: Includes letter from Susan B. Anthony, 1892.
Box   8 Folder   26	McMillan, Mary, 1935
Box   9 Folder   1	Waller, D.B. 1963, 1967
Box   9 Folder   2	Waller, Granville C. (Kate), Mrs., 1876-1886, 1927-1929
Box   9 Folder   3-5	Waller, Miriam E., Miss, 1935-1969
	Miscellaneous (multiple correspondents)
Box   9 Folder   6	C.P. Roddis, J.H. Holloway, Rev. Paul Sanders, Aunt Millie and Alice, Mrs. Sabota, Mrs. Marner Mills, Paul Sanders, Robert Beggs, T. Sinclair Moore, Cecilia Wells, Tim, Henry, and unidentified, 1915-1957, undated
Box   9 Folder   7-15	circa 1860s-1950s
	Series: Travel Materials	⇧
Box   9 Folder   16	International Rotary Convention trip, Hamilton, Catherine and Augusta, 1948
Box   9 Folder   17	Cruises on R.M.S. Queen Mary, Hamilton, Catherine and Augusta, 1949, 1950
Box   9 Folder   18	European trip, Hamilton and Catherine, 1950
Box   9 Folder   19-20	African trip, Hamilton, Catherine and Augusta, 1954
Box   9 Folder   21	Bahamas trip via Miami, Florida, 1954
Box   10 Folder   8	Europe trip via R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, Hamilton and Catherine, 1963
Box   9 Folder   22	Trips to western United States, Jamaica, Japan with slides, Europe by air, New York, Augusta, 1949, 1953, 1968, 1981, 1983
Box   10 Folder   21	Various travel materials, Hamilton, Catherine and Augusta, 1947, 1954, undated
Box   11 Folder   1	Various trips, unknown Roddis family members, 1901-1960
Box   11 Folder   2	Map, 1938
Box   12	Travel postcards, Germany, France, Italy, Gibraltar, and New York, 1905-1906