Biography - JOHN ROACH

John Roach, deceased, formerly president of the Bank of Girard and a director of the People's Bank of Girard, was one of the prominent citizens of Macoupin County, a leading farmer and an extensive stock raiser. He was born August 16, 1829, in Carroll County, Tennessee, being one of 12 children born to William and Anna (Smith) Roach.

William Roach, our subject's father, was born in Tennessee and was engaged throughout his life in the pursuits of an agriculturist. The 12 children born to him and his good wife were: William, Joseph, Rachel (Wright), Angeline (McGinnis), Ellen (Davenport), Elizabeth (Chandler), Celia (Smith), Susan (Waters), John, our subject, and three whose names are not given.

The late John Roach, who was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Tennessee, had only the advantages of a district school education. He followed farming in his native State until 1854, when he came to Macoupin County, and was one of the little band that first broke the soil on the site of the present city of Girard. Throughout the remainder of his life he took a generous pride in her growth and development, and was identified with many of her most successful business enterprises. He was a successful farmer and a man who used good taste, as well as good judgment, in raising stock, and the breeding of Shorthorn cattle gained for him a reputation that was general in Macoupin County and this section of the State. Until he retired from business activity, he continued to be an extensive raiser of Shorthorn cattle and a large shipper to the St. Louis and Chicago markets. During the Civil War he secured a number, of important contracts, and in the shipping of stock and cattle laid the foundation of an ample fortune. By taking advantage of opportunities, as well as by the sweat of his brow, he accumulated considerable land of a choice nature. He was very active in the establishment of Girard's financial institutions and was associated with those other substantial citizens, S. Owen Smith and T. H. Cherry, whose sketches appear, elsewhere in this volume. Several years previous to his decease, he resigned from the presidency and disposed of his entire interest in the Bank of Girard; but was a director and stockholder of the People's Bank, at the time he was called to the great beyond, June 16, 1903.

On November 12, 1852, Mr. Roach was married to Martha H. Cherry, a daughter of Harvey Cherry, of Girard. Four children were born to them, of whom two now survive — Mary E. and James Coy. Mary E. married Henry Lemon, of Girard township, and they have eight children, as follows: Ethel (Riffey), John R., Henry McCoy, Calvin C., Roscoe H., Martha K, Emma A. and Fae. James Coy Roach, who is one of the prominent citizens of Girard, a director in the People's Bank, married Olive Bird. Mrs. Roach still occupies the beautiful family home in Girard, where her husband had lived so many happy years, and is spending the sunset years of her life in comfort and ease. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church lost in Mr. Roach one of its faithful members and liberal supporters. He had been a member for many years and ever stood ready to advance its cause. He was notably a man of sterling honesty and unswerving in his convictions of the right. In almost every public movement affecting Girard, he was a prominent factor, encouraging its commercial development and advancing its moral and educational interests.

His burial took place on June 18, his funeral being attended by so many friends that before all had assembled even standing room was not to be had. The officiating ministers were Rev. R. D. Miller, of Petersburg, and Rev. Berryhill, of Girard. The pall-bearers were Joseph Liston, of Carlinville, and C. C. Armstrong, John Beeby, H. S. Webb, Henry Stewart and W. S. Garretson, of Girard. His death was sincerely mourned by an exceedingly large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 393-395.