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F Clara Isabella Roach

Parents

Spouses and children

Siblings

Notes

Individual Note

History of the Wigle Family and Their Descendants, The Wigle Family, Kingsville, Ontario, 1931.

1881 personal census, Mersea Twp, Essex Co., ON, LDS 1881 census household record:
Roach John, M, Married, 32, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist, Farmer;
Ann, F, Marrried, 31, born Ont, origin: English, C Methodist;
Adolphus, M, 12, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Sylvestor, M, 11, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Clara, F, 9, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Augusta, F, 8, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Corah, F, 6, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Gordon, M, 4, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist.

1901 Mersea census.

Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1905, p. 571-572:
John Roach, a well-known farmer and stock-raiser of Talbot Street, Mersea township, was born April 19, 1847, on the Roach homestead, in Mersea township.
     The Roach family is of Irish origins, but for several generations its representatives have made their home in Canada. Morris Roach was the first of the name in County Essex, and was a British soldier in the War of 1812. He took part in the battles of Lundy's Lane and Long Point. In 1818 he came to Mersea township, and drew lot 235, on Talbot Street, out of the grant of Col. Talbot. Here he settled in a log cabin, and spent the remainder of his life, engaged in improving his property. After his life was over, he was buried in the Roach cemetery. For a number of years he was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. In politics he was a Conservative. Morris Roach married Mary Pardo, widow of John Story, a woman of Christian character and a member of the Methodist Church. She died on the homestead, and was also buried in the Roach cemetery. Mr. Roach was a man of note in his township, and served for a long time as a justice of the peace. His children were: Samuel, who died in Toledo, Ohio; Morris; Mary Ann, who married (first) Thomas Marcott and (second) Edwin Scofield; William; Francis; James; and Nancy.
     Morris Roach (2), son of Morris and father of John Roach, was only six weeks old when the family came to Mersea township. Like other sparsely settled localities, that portion of Mersea was slow in providing sufficient school facilities, and the youth of the time were unfortunately unable to study or have the advantages which, at present, are considered part of a child's birthright. When he grew up he spent two years in Leamington, but then decided to return to farming. After purchasing 100 acres of the homestead farm, he settled upon it, and there passed the remainder of his life. He was a pioneer tobacco grower, and was extensively engaged in stock raising, keeping up his interest until near the close of his life, at the age of seventy-two years. He was interred in the family cemetery. In politics he was a Conservative on National questions, but locally voted independently. He served as school trustee, and was always interested in affording advantages for the younger generation which had not been possible for him to enjoy. Both he and his wife were consistent and worthy members of the Methodist Church. He married Ann Lamarsh, born in Mersea township, who died in February, 1876, aged fifty-seven years. Their children were: Mary, wife of Henry Setterington, of Leamington; Elizabeth, wife of Cornelius Wiper, of Michigan; William, farmer on a part of the old homestead; John; Robert, a resident of Monroe County, Michigan; and Morris W., a resident of Walkerville. The second marriage of Morris Roach, Sr., was to Mrs. Margaret Courtney, who died in Leamington.
     John Roach, the subject proper of this sketch, was educated in the District schools of his township, and remained till young manhood assisting his father on the home farm. He then settled on Concession 5, Lot 14, on a tract of fifty acres of woodland. Here he built a log house, cleared up a good portion of his property, and occupied it for ten years, selling then and buying one-half of the old homestead, where he has been ever since successfully engaged in farming and stock raising.
     Mr. Roach has made a success of the growing of tobacco, his land apparently possessing the right constituents for its culture. He has taken pride and pleasure in his surroundings, has erected a fine home and made many substantial improvements, possessing a home of comfort as well as of attractiveness and large value.
     In politics Mr. Roach is a Liberal and he has taken a very active part in public affairs. In 1896 he was elected a member of the township council, and served in that capacity for six years. In addition he has capably filled other offices, being a school trustee, for nine years tax collector, and for seven years assessor. He is equally active in church affairs, being a member of Wesley Methodist Church of Talbot Street, a class leader, and Sunday School superintendent.
     On June 15, 1868, Mr. Roach married Ann Jones, who was born in Gosfield township, in Dec. 18, 1850, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Noble) Jones, both residents of Leamington. The children born to this union are the following: Adolphus Edwin, a blacksmith at Leamington, married Flora Malott; Sylvestor Wellington, a farmer of Mersea township, married Rebecca Malotte, and they have five children; Clara Isabella married Frederick White, of Mersea township, and has four children; Laura Augusta is at home; Cora Ann married Oliver Setterington, of Mersea township, and has one daughter; Lewis Gordon, a blacksmith at Leamington, married Ella Nash, and has two daughters; Carl B. is at home.
     Mr. Roach is a member of the Loyal Orange Association and takes a very active interest in its work. He is one of the substantial and representative men of his locality, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

Preview Family Tree

Morris Roach 1819-1891   Ann Lamarsh 1820-1876   Benjamin Jones ca 1824-   Sarah Noble
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John Roach 1847-   Ann Jones 1849-
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Clara Isabella Roach 1871-