Obituary from Princeton, Indiana newspaper July 26, 1922

DEATH SUMMONS IS ANSWERED BY CIVIL WAR VETERAN

Sylvester A. Rollin, veteran of the Civil war and all his life a leader in furthering patriotism and reverence for the flag, died at his home, 324 West State Street, at 11:30 o’clock Tuesday evening. Death was due to a compilation of diseases.

The funeral will be held at the residence at 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon and will be in charge of the Grand Army. The funeral services will be preached by the Rev. C. E. Flynn, pastor of the First M. E. church, of which the deceased was a member.

Burial will be in Warnock Cemetery.

The widow, Mrs. Eliza A. Maxam Rollin, survives. A son, Carroll Maxam Rollin, died several years ago. E. R. Maxam of this city is a brother-in-law.

Mr. Rollin would have been 81 years of age on Aug. 25 next. Last August Mr. and Mrs. Rollin celebrated the 56^th anniversary of their marriage and Mr. Rollin’s 80^th birthday, choosing the date Aug. 25, for the joint celebration.

Mr. Rollin was proud of a war record of himself and his family as far back as the line could be traced. All his male ancestors served in the Revolutionary and the war of 1812. In the Civil war, Mr. Rollin and four brothers served in the Union Army, going from Troy, Ohio, in which city Mr. Rollin was born.

He served in the Civil war in Co. F. 71^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Co. K. 147^th O. V. I.

During one of the battles of that war he was shot through the body, a wound from which he never fully recovered.

The family record shows that immediately after his discharge form service he came to Princeton as superintendent of the Princeton public schools. Later he resided in Indianapolis, being engaged in newspaper work in that city for many years. From Indianapolis he came to Princeton again and lived here until his death.

Readers of the old Princeton Clarion recall Mr. Rollin’s letters from Indianapolis always signed by his pen name, “Nillor,” a reverted spelling of his name.

Mr. Rollin was very methodical in habit. After his death papers and records found in his desk were all marked and briefed with explicit directions as to their disposal “In case of death.” On his wartime discharge papers he had written: “These are and always will be honorable and should be preserved.” He had underlined the word “honorable” in a way typically his own.

Mr. Rollin devoted much of his later years instructing the oncoming generation in patriotism and reverence for the flag. It was his belief that the times needed such instruction more than anything else and that there could be no better foundation for good citizenship. He held the office of Officer of the Day in the Archer post, G.A.R., and was a patriotic instructor of the post.

His timely articles on Memorial and Flag Day observance will be missed but the spirit they breathed should and will live on, fulfilling his earnest desire.