Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-John E. Roach
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
JOHN E. ROACH, a representative farmer
living on section 32, Sherman Township,
Dickinson County, is one of the early settlers
of this section, having removed here
about twenty-two years ago. He first opened his
eyes to the light of day on the 19th day of April,
1838, in Clarke County, Ohio. His early life up
to the age of fifteen years was spent in that county
on his father's farm. At that time his parents removed
to Kendall County, Ill., and with them he
lived until the breaking out of the late war. Responding
to the call of his country, he enlisted
August 8, 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and
Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served with
fidelity until April 16, 1863, when, on account of
disability and ill health, he was obliged to be discharged
from service. Broken in health, he returned
to his father's farm in Kendall County,
and for the succeeding eighteen months was unable
to perform any labor and was constantly under
the care of the physician. When he had recovered
he worked for a year on his father's farm and then
rented land, which he cultivated for four years.
In the fall of 1870, Mr. Roach came to Dickinson
County, where he took up a homestead of one
hundred and sixty acres on section 32, Sherman
Township. Of this unbroken and uncultivated
tract he has made a fertile and arable farm, and
has here erected good and comfortable dwelling
and farm buildings and made other general improvements.
He has always devoted his attention
to agricultural pursuits, and as the result of his
industry and perseverance in this direction has
achieved a good measure of success.
Miss Ellen Bell became his wife in Kane County,
Ill., January 25, 1866. She was taken by her
uncle, Alexander McArthur, when young and grew
to womanhood as a member of his family, being
known as Ellen McArthur. She is a native of
Paisley, Scotland, having been born on the 16th
of January, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Roach have had a
family numbering five children: Newton; Jessie;
James E., who died when but seven months old;
Lillie; and Frankie, who died at three and a-half
years of age.
Politically, our subject is an ardent supporter
of the Republican party, and in local and political
affairs he takes quite an active interest.
Mr. and Mrs. Roach are members of the United
Brethren Church. In the defense of his country,
where he showed great bravery and courage,
and in all the later years of his life, by
steady industry and strict attention to his
chosen occupation, he has ever shown the best
qualities of manly character, and throughout this
section has thereby won the confidence and goodwill
of a large number of friends and acquaintances.
He is one of the progressive and influential
farmers of this section, and to him in common
with many others of the industrious early settlers
Kansas owes much of her rapid growth and unexampled
development.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP