Romeis, a German-American, served as Toledo mayor from 1879-1884, Toledo depot master, Toledo councilman, and US Congressman (1885-1889).

​

Romeis arrived in the U.S. from Germany and settled first in Buffalo, N.Y. As a teenager he became a cabin boy on a steamer running between Buffalo and Toledo.  In 1871, he became a train baggage man and later was made general baggage agent, then depot master in Toledo.