My Genealogy Hound

R. F. Roys is the junior member of the well-known and highly honored hardware firm of Love & Roys Hardware Company, of Russellville, Ark. He was born in Kinmundy, Marion County, Ill., January 29, 1867, and when a small lad came with his parents to this State. His father, N. B. Roys, was a hardware merchant and reared his son to a thorough knowledge of this business, although he gave him very meager educational advantages. At the age of twelve years he was obliged to leave school and take charge of the business left by his father, who had died, and he, at that early age, not only assumed charge of the business but also the care of the family fell upon his boyish shoulders, and manfully did he endeavor to heartily discharge every duty that fell upon him. He continued to conduct the business in his mother’s name until about four years since, when the business was closed out, the following year being devoted to bringing affairs to a satisfactory termination, and in closing out the milling and lumber business which he had taken up in connection with hardware some three years before. During the following year he was traveling salesman for Bridge & Beach Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Mo., but during that time was intent on finding a location where he might once more resume the hardware business, this time for himself, and finally settled at Russellville, purchasing out the firm to whom he had sold his former stock, and at the same time formed a partnership with Mr. Love. In the spring of 1890 they formed a joint stock company, and are now doing business under the firm name mentioned above. Their annual sales amount to some $40,000, and they are accounted among the most successful firms of the city. Mr. Roys is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and also belongs to the K. of P. of this place. He is liberal in his support of churches, schools and all worthy public enterprises, and he and his wife, whom he married in October, 1889, are noted for their hospitality and liberality. She was a Miss Slocum, of Wisconsin, who was one of the teachers in the schools of this place. Mr. Roy’s mother and his younger sister live with him, and his home, which is a pleasant and comfortable one, is in the west part of the city. His most worthy wife was born in the State of New York, January 11, 1870, a daughter of B. F. Slocum.