He was graduated in 1835 at the University of Bonn, where he had devoted himself to the study of law and philology. He came to the United States in the late 1830’s, settling in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he privately taught German and Music. He then went to Harvard and became friends with Henry Longfellow, who was a professor there, as well as with a number of other literary luminaries. He was appointed to a tutorship at Harvard in 1837, was admitted to the bar, and practiced for several years in Boston. In 1856 he removed to the city of New York, and entered the firm of Laur and Roelker. He soon established a large practice among the Germans, and when his partner died he had gained a reputation as an authority on wills and contracts. In 1863 he won the suit of Meyer vs. Roosevelt, the first of the legal tender cases before the U. S. Supreme court, which attracted general attention. He continued to practice until advancing age compelled him to relinquish a large part of his business. His last important argument was made before the New York court of appeals in October, 1887. Mr. Roelker was a personal friend of Samuel J. Tilden, who ran for President in 1876, and was associated with him in the organization of the Prairie du Chien railroad in Wisconsin. He published “Constitutions of France" (Boston, 1848); "Argument in Favor of the Constitutionality of the Legal Tender Clause in the Act of Congress, Feb. 25, 1862" (New York, 1863); and "Manual for the Use of Notaries Public and Bankers" (3d ed., 1853; edited by J. Smith Homans, New York, 1865). He also translated from the Swedish “The Magic Goblet," a novel, and made a German adaptation of Cushing's "Manual of Parliamentary Practice."
He was graduated in 1835 at the University of Bonn, where he had devoted himself to the study of law and philology. He came to the United States in the late 1830’s, settling in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he privately taught German and Music. He then went to Harvard and became friends with Henry Longfellow, who was a professor there, as well as with a number of other literary luminaries. He was appointed to a tutorship at Harvard in 1837, was admitted to the bar, and practiced for several years in Boston. In 1856 he removed to the city of New York, and entered the firm of Laur and Roelker. He soon established a large practice among the Germans, and when his partner died he had gained a reputation as an authority on wills and contracts. In 1863 he won the suit of Meyer vs. Roosevelt, the first of the legal tender cases before the U. S. Supreme court, which attracted general attention. He continued to practice until advancing age compelled him to relinquish a large part of his business. His last important argument was made before the New York court of appeals in October, 1887. Mr. Roelker was a personal friend of Samuel J. Tilden, who ran for President in 1876, and was associated with him in the organization of the Prairie du Chien railroad in Wisconsin. He published “Constitutions of France" (Boston, 1848); "Argument in Favor of the Constitutionality of the Legal Tender Clause in the Act of Congress, Feb. 25, 1862" (New York, 1863); and "Manual for the Use of Notaries Public and Bankers" (3d ed., 1853; edited by J. Smith Homans, New York, 1865). He also translated from the Swedish “The Magic Goblet," a novel, and made a German adaptation of Cushing's "Manual of Parliamentary Practice."
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