Rockstrow Family and Home, 59 Cuba Street

Description

This is the home of the Rockstrow family, located at 59 Cuba Street. Johann Friedrich Rockstroh (1834-1913) was a Prussian born in Erfurt, Germany. As a young man he migrated to New Zealand, where he practiced medicine in the goldfields of Otago and the West Coast. He subsequently anglicised his name to John Frederick Rockstrow.

In 1873, Prime Minister Fox persuaded him to go north and serve as medical officer to the Māori between Horowhenua and the Rangitīkei. John settled in Foxton and worked with both Māori and early European settlers in the Manawatū (it was 1875 before Palmerston North had its first resident doctor). In 1886 he transferred with his family to Palmerston North to this home in Cuba Street. He died on 30 May 1913 of a stroke, aged 78, one of the last early pioneers.

This photograph is believed to show, from left: William Caspari Rockstrow (1881-1909); Walter Leonard Rockstrow (1883-1961); Henrietta Mary Rockstrow, later Arbon (1869-1942); Rosalia Elizabeth Rockstrow, later Waters (1871-1942); Augustus Isador Rockstrow (1878-1917); unknown woman (perhaps a servant); Dr Rockstrow and his wife, Anna Eunice, née Gapper (1839-1914); Ellen Flora Rockstrow, later Meuli (1876-1946); and Frances Amelia Rockstrow, later Brook-Taylor (1873-1950). John Fredrick Rockstrow (1868-1954), the eldest son, is missing.

For additional information on Dr J. F. Rockstrow, see: Cecil & Celia Manson, Pioneer Parade (1966), pp.76-79 and TIna White, 'Memory Lane - Generous Doctor,' Manawatū Evening Standard, 29 August 2009, p.2.

Identification

Relation

Public Photograph Collection Pi 549

Date

circa 1889

Digitisation id

2013N_Pi549_006855

Held in

Coolstore