2109 S. Prairie

Location: 2109 S. Prairie
Occupants: Robert W. Roloson
Life Span: 1880-1933
Architect:

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Roloson Robert W. com. mer. 14, 153 Washington, home 2109 Prairie av.
Roloson Walter L. cash. 14, 153 Washington, home 2109 Prairie av.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1884
Roloson Robert W. (R. W. Roloson & Co.) 14, 94 Lasalle, house 2109 Prairie av.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1885
Roloson Robert W. (R. W. Roloson & Co.) 8 Sherman, house 2109 Prairie av.

Chicago Tribune, June 7, 1899

Mrs Belle Roloson, wife of Robert W. Roloson of the Board of Trade firm of R. W. Roloson & Co., committed suicide yesterday noon at the family residence, 2109 Prairie avenue, by shooting herself in the head. Death was instantaneous. Mrs. Roloson had been suffering from nervous prostration for two months. The heat of the last few days seemed to affect her unfavorably, and, while she gave no intimation that she intended to end her life, it was thought advisable to keep an attendant with her constantly.

At noon, while the attendant was absent for a few moments, Mrs. Roloson seized the opportunity to secure a revolver which was locked up in an adjoining room. When the servant returned Mrs. Roloson was lying dead upon the floor with a bullet wound in the right temple. The Coroner was notified and an inquest will be held this morning. The funeral arrangements have not been announced.

When in the enjoyment of health Mrs. Roloson figured prominently in the social life of Chicago, and her unfortunate end will prove a shock to many friends and acquaintances. She was a talented and beautiful woman, was active in Woman’s club work, and In various organizations.

Sent to a Sanitarium.
Several years ago her health began to fail, and it was found necessary to send her to a sanitarium for treatment. When seized with the last attack Dr. Arthur E. Thomas of 3200 Indiana avenue was called to attend her. Dr. Thomas advised complete rest. Her condition was the result of a deep-seat ed nervous trouble, and, while she did not seem to progress rapidly toward health, the malady up to the beginning of the warm spell made no advance. Dr. Thomas called upon Mrs. Roloson on Monday night, and found her restless and feverish from the heat. She, however, did not give the slightest indication then that she contemplated ending her life, and the tragedy was as great a surprise to the physician as to the immediate members of the family.

Shortly after noon Mrs. Roloson ordered luncheon brought to a room adjoining her bedroom. The servant brought the luncheon, and as her mistress seemed to be ln ordinary spirits asked permission to go below and get her own meal. Mrs. Roloson dismissed the servant, and was left alone. Mary Hynes, the servant, did not return until shortly be-fore 1 o’clock. When she entered the room Mrs. Roloson was lying on the floor, with a wound in the head and a revolver by her side. Dr. Thomas was summoned to the house, but his services were useless.

Word was sent to Mr. Roloson at the Board of Trade and to Walter Roloson, his brother. The Coroner was notified by Mr. Roloson, and after an undertaker had been summoned word was sent to the police of the Cottage Grove Avenue Station.

Dr. Thomas Greatly Surprised.
It never entered my mind that Mrs. Roloson had any thought of ending her life,” said Dr. Thomas. “While she had been suffering from nervous prostration, I was unable to discover any evidences of melancholia or mental disorder of any kind. She felt the effects of the warm weather keenly, and on Monday night when I called at the house was much weaker. I had no thought, however, that she felt her condition so keenly, for, notwithstanding the depression due to her weakness, she was brave and even cheerful.

“While it may have been true that Mrs. Roloson years ago suffered from nervous troubles complicated with melancholia, to all appearances she had entirely recovered. The former trouble might have caused a tendency toward the nervous prostration with which she was seized last spring, but I am inclined to believe that her breakdown was due to overexertion and had no connection with any previous trouble. She was a splendid woman, even in the greatest suffering, and no one deplores the sad affair more than myself.”

Mary Hynes, who had been attending Mrs. Roloson, told the police that the revolver used by Mrs. Roloson was a house weapon, and was carefully locked up ln a closet in an adjoining room. There were four women and one man servant in the house at the time, but they did not hear the sound of the shot, the servants” dining-room being in the basement, two floors below the apartments of Mrs. Roloson.

Came Here a Bride from Kentucky.
Mrs. Roloson came to Chicago sixteen years ago as a bride from Kentucky. She formerly was Miss Belle Marshall, the daughter of Judge Marshall of Louisville, and was a descendant of one of the famous families of Kentucky. She was noted as one of the beautiful women of the State.

Mrs. Roloson was 40 years of age at the time of her death. She had taken a prominent part in Chicago society and had a large acquaintance both on the North and South Sides. She was one of the promotors of the Woman’s Athletic club of Chicago, of which Mrs. P. D. Armour Sr. is President, and had taken an active interest in its organization.

Her Early Life in Louisville.
Louisville, Ky., June 6.—(Special.)—Belle Marshall Roloson was at the time of her marriage in Louisville in 1883 one of the belles, if not the belle, of Louisville. A member of the famous Marshall family, she moved in and led for several seasons the principal social set. She was born in Louisville in 1859, and was a gifted and talented woman. While yet a girl she became engaged to a young man named Morrison, whose early death proved a great blow to her. Her friends say that each year since then on the anniversary of his death she locked herself in her room and mourned. It was a loss which proved serious ta its results on her nervous system.

Miss Marshall met Mr. Roloson while on a visit in Chicago. After a short courtship they were engaged, and at the age of 24 she was married to him in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Louisville. The wedding was a great society event, and is recalled by many. Mrs. Roloson s mother kept a fashionable boarding-house In Louisville during the younger days of her daughter. Mr. Basil W. Duke of Louisville is a relative, as is of course the family of Marshalls, there being numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Chicago Tribune, January 12, 1925

R. W. ROLOSON IS DEAD; LONG ON BOARD OF TRADE
Robert W. Roloson, 2109 Prairie avenue, one of the older members of the Board of Trade, died yesterday morning in Winter Park, Fla., after an illness of less than a week. He is survived by a son,’ Robert M. Roloson, and a brother, Walter Roloson.

Mr. Roloson was a retired grain commission merchant. He started in the packing industry in the early ’70s. He was formerly a member of R. W. Roloson & Co., and a director of the Diamond Match company. He was a member of the Chicago club, the Onwentsia club, and the Chicago Golf club.

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