My Genealogy Hound

JOHN R. ROUGH, an extensive general agriculturist, owning many valuable farms in Berrien County, Mich., has been a leading resident of Bertrand Township for over a quarter of a century. He was born June 5, 1828, in Union, now Snyder, County, Pa., and was a son of John Rough, a native of Juniata County, a weaver, but who passed most of his early life tilling the soil of the Quaker State. In 1844, the father emigrated to Michigan and located on the same farm in Bertrand Township where he later died, at the venerable age of ninety-five years.

The paternal grandfather, John Rough, was an industrious agriculturist of his native State, and died in Pennsylvania, his life-time home, at the completion of seventy-five years of usefulness. He was of immediate German descent. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (Swartz) Rough, was born in Pennsylvania, of which State her father was also a native, having been born in Union County, where John Swartz was numbered among the prominent settlers and highly respected citizens. The home of John and Elizabeth Rough was blessed by the birth of nine sturdy children, seven of whom survived to years of maturity. Mary is deceased; Samuel resides in Indiana; Eliza is deceased; Peggie and Barbara are twins; Katie died at nine years of age; John R. is our subject; William comes next; and Leo is the wife of Henry Swartz, of Indiana.

John R. is the sixth child and the second son of the family. Until twenty-one years old he remained upon the farm of his father, and in boyhood attended the district school of the neighborhood. In 1849 he began life for himself, and in 1850 was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Hoffman, a native of Pennsylvania. Immediately following his wedding he settled in Dauphin County, in which part of the Quaker State he remained the succeeding fourteen years, diligently engaged in the daily round of agricultural cares. In 1864 he determined to seek his fortune in Michigan, and, arrived within the State, at once settled in Buchanan Township, Berrien County. After farming for a time in that locality, he, in 1866, bought his present valuable homestead of four hundred and six acres in Bertrand Township, one of the finest pieces of agricultural property in the county and nearly all under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Rough came to Michigan with a capital of $3,100, which, wisely invested and judiciously managed, has yielded him handsome returns and given him a place among the moneyed men and excellent financiers of Berrien County.

The estimable wife of our subject passed away in 1892, sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives. She was the devoted mother of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are deceased, leaving the husband and father entirely alone. Mr. Rough has profitably divided his old homestead into three farms. He has upon the property five dwellings and four barns, and rents all with the exception of one house. His capital he uses mostly in loaning upon gilt-edged securities, and after a life of unceasing care and toil now enjoys the fruits of success. He is in political affiliation a Republican and is intelligently posted upon all matters of National welfare, and is known and respected as an upright citizen of superior business ability.