Roger E. Zombro is one of the live and enterprising business men of Champaign, and after a number of years of practical experience as an employee graduated into the ranks of independent merchants and now conducts one of the most popular men’s furnishing goods stores of the city, drawing his trade from the best classes of people.
Mr. Zombro was born at Midland City, Illinois, October 16, 1880, a son of Jacob W. and Mary M. (Cheney) Zombro. His parents were both born at Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Jacob Zombro spent the last twenty years of his life in the insurance business, and he died at Weldon, Illinois. The mother died at Champaign in July, 1916. They were the parents of five children: Minnie, wife of B. F. Peltz, of Clinton, Illinois; James B., of Logan, Utah; Janette, wife of J: H. Alsbury, of Maroa, Illinois; Edna, wife of George Reddick, of Clinton, Illinois; and Roger E.
Mr. Roger E. Zombro began life with a fair equipment of education. He attended the common schools and lacked only three months of graduating from the high school at Weldon, Illinois. On account of poor eyesight he had to give up his studies, and soon afterward at the age of fifteen, he began acquiring a mercantile experience as an employee of William Gushard & Company at Decatur, Illinois. He was in that company’s dry goods establishment four years and then transferred his employment to McPherson, Edwards & Company in their dry goods store at Springfield, Illinois. After about two years at Springfield Mr. Zombro came to Champaign in 1901 and was successively connected with the dry goods stores of E. C. Willis, F. S. Robson and W. Lewis & Company. With a wealth of experience, with credit acquired by his knowledge ‘and ability, and with some capital Mr. Zombro in 1909 opened his men’s furnishing store at 604 East Green Street, and has been continuously in that location with a rapidly growing trade.
On August 11, 1916, he married Miss J. Ethel Lediendecker, who was born in Champaign. Mr. Zombro is now precinct commissioner, is a member of the Country Club, the Civic Club, the Rotary Club, is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
