My Genealogy Hound

L. I. Roach (deceased) was born on the farm where his widow now resides, near Linn Creek, December 30, 1837, and was one of a family of six children, whose parents removed from Tennessee and settled in the then new and almost unexplored State of Missouri in the year 1831. At the time of Mr. Roach’s birth Missouri was a Territory and a wilderness, Camden County containing only about 100 inhabitants. It comprised a portion of Pulaski County, and was afterward organized as Kinderhook County. During the year 1841 he was deprived by death of both parents, and the family was left penniless, the means of his father having been exhausted (at his direction) in the payment of debts. In conformity with a then existing statute, “Little Jack” as he was then called, was apprenticed to one Hiram Bagley, a tailor, whom he left in 1847 because of harsh treatment. He was re-apprenticed to one James A. Crain, a farmer, with whom he remained until the latter died, in 1851. He was then employed by various farmers until 1854, and during that time he attended school four months and a half, this scanty draught of the fountain of knowledge representing the full extent of his educational advantages. He then turned his attention to navigation, beginning his career in the humble capacity of night watchman on one of the Osage steamers. At the commencement of the Rebellion he possessed pilot papers authorizing him to run from St. Louis to the head-waters of the Osage River, but rapid as had been his advancement in his chosen occupation, he responded to his country’s call, and left the deck for the battle-field, enlisting in the Osage Regiment of the Missouri Home Guards, with which he remained until its disbandment in December, 1861. He then enlisted in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and served three years and three months. His regiment was in active service, and Sergeant Roach was in nearly all the principal engagements that occurred on Missouri soil. He rendered valuable service as a scout and bearer of dispatches, and afterward retained a lively recollection of several narrow escapes and thrilling adventures. When peace was declared Mr. Roach returned to the river, and followed the vocation of pilot until December, 1866, when on the tenth of that month he was united in marriage to Miss Frances M. Crain, only daughter of his late master. To their union were born six children, Rebecca J., Susan E., James L., Sidney C., Martha A. (deceased) and William M. In 1868 Mr. Roach was elected sheriff and collector, which position he held two years. In 1870 he was elected clerk of the county and circuit courts, and in 1874 he was re-elected to this office, and also to the position of probate judge. For the ensuing four years he discharged the duties of four county offices, and gave such general satisfaction that in 1878 he was urged by the most influential men of both parties to become a candidate for re-election to all the offices which he had so acceptably filled. The work was too onerous, however, for even his methodical habits, but he was retained in two clerkships by a handsome majority. In 1883 he was elected for the fourth time to the position of county clerk. He was admitted to the bar as a prosecuting attorney in February, 1883, and soon became an ornament to the profession. Among other business ventures he was engaged in the mercantile business at Gunter, Mo. He owned a large tract of land adjoining Linn Creek, and had, but a few years previous to his death, completed his handsome and well-constructed residence, in which the widow and family now reside. Mr. Roach was a self-made man in every respect, and none had more friends than he. He was liberal and always ready to help any public enterprise for the benefit of his county. He died January 29, 1886.