Roos Memorabilia and Papers

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Roos

• WikiTree Profiles that reference this page.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 About Ferdinand's Portrait 3 "Father's Violin" 4 Pictures on This Page

Introduction

Ferdinand Roos was Born 1 Jan 1850 in Germany. Came to America in 1865. Traveled to San Francisco. Received US Citizenship about1869. Traveled to Idaho.

About Ferdinand's Portrait

The portrait of my Great Grandfather Ferdinand Roos has been in the family for many years. It is an oil painting with an ornate frame and quite large, and had a place of honor in my Aunt Marge's (Marjorie Roos Krier) living room. We heard many stories about Great Grandpa Ferd traveling miles on horse back in the snow with his Violin to play at some Gig. One amusing story was about Grandpa Roos ((John P Roos Jr)). He was about relocate, and declared: "Nobody touches Grandpa Ferds Portrait!" When it came time to move the portrait, Grandpa Roos packed and moved it himself. When it was unpacked, he found a hole in it from the move. He fixed it with boot polish and another piece of picture canvas. It was fixed but it also was quite noticeable.

Written by John P. Roos Jr, in his exact words, without the all caps format:

"Father's Violin"

((By John P Roos Jr))
While my father, Ferdinand Roos, was born in Germany, due to his Father, John P. Roos being an Emigrant Agent for the German Government, the family moved to and lived in various countries. The last being England, residing in Liverpool.
It was from Liverpool that Father, at the age of about fifteen or sixteen years, came to the United States bringing a Violin with him, as he was quite a gifted boy violin player at the time.
Father landed in San Francisco and after a time he followed the rush north to Oregon and thence to Idaho, the violin being his source of livelihood and where in Idaho, he decided to cast his lot and make his home.
About the year of 1870, or there abouts, his father, John Peter Roos, of Liverpool sent him the violin that he, (John Peter Roos) had been useing for many years, as he too was a Violin player of considerable ability.
The age and make of the violin is not known, as it bears no name of the maker or date it was made, but a used instrument at the time acquired by my Grandfather, with the appearance and tone of age.
The violin for many years had constant use of several hours each day adding to the tones that only age and use can produce, together with the Master to bring them forth. The Violin has been carried in many manners, Ocean Liners, Transcontinental Trains, Early Day Stage Coaches, and by Horse Back and in later years Automobile. On Horse Back it was carried in a waterproof bag hung across Father's back. If the violin could speak it could relate many experiences of it's travels, such as getting stuck in snow drifts when riding on horses, crossing rivers in row boats, when rivers were frozen and ferries unable to operate, meeting Indians, during times they were not friendly with the white settlers in the area.
To my knowledge, the violin has been repaired twice, both times by Henrici, a maker of violins and repairing them, of Portland, Oregon, and bears his inscription and record of repair on the inside of its back. The repairs were various, including a new neck at one time, finger board and the top or belly.
At the time Father gave me the Violin he had the finger board dressed down as his constant playing it with such finger force had made depressions in it, which, no doubt to any other player would be quite annoying and affect the tone. While the violin has been carried in various ways, it has always had the very best of care under the existing circumstances.
Father has been approached numerous times for the purchase of it and was offered quite substantial amounts, one of which that I know of was $1,000.-- Which offer was renewed after I became the owner in about 1928.
It was Father's hope and desire that one of his children would follow in his foot steps and master the Violin as did he, but in this he was disappointed as none of them did. While Father was not afforded the pleasure of hearing the violin played by one of his children, it is now my turn to look forward to and hope that some other member of the family will develop into as fine a musician as was Father.

Signed,
John P. Roos Jr
Guernewood Park
California
November 23, 1958

Pictures on This Page

1. Ferdinand Roos Portrait
2. Great Grandpa Ferd, Grandpa Roos with the Karl Roos Family
3. Roos Sisters & Brother
4. Roos, DeKay, Krier's on Vacation