My Genealogy Hound

HON. JEREMIAH ROTH, who is now living in Allentown, is a prominent farmer of Lehigh County, and a breeder of registered Holstein and Jersey cattle. The Allentown Stock Farm, which he owns and carries on, is widely known. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Roth was born in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, on the 20th of May, 1833, and is a son of Jesse Roth, who was one of the prosperous agriculturists of that community. He was also a leading and influential citizen, and held various responsible positions. In his political views he was a Democrat, and his religious belief was that of the Reformed Church. All who knew him esteemed him highly for his sterling worth and strict integrity, and his friends were many. His father, Jacob Roth, was also a native of Northampton County, Pa., and was of German descent. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Catherine Roth, was a daughter of Joseph Gauff. She died in Northampton County in 1892, and Mr. Roth, who was born in 1807, passed away in 1876.

The subject of this sketch is the eldest in a family of four children, three sons and a daughter. He was educated in the district schools and in the high school of Bethlehem. He then turned his attention to teaching, which profession he followed for three years. About this time he was first connected with public office, being chosen Justice of the Peace in 1864.

In the mean time Mr. Roth was married. On the 24th of August, 1858, he wedded Miss Angeline Mink, of Lehigh County, daughter of Nathan Mink. Their union was blessed with three children: Ida S., who was born in 1864, and died in 1885; Oliver J., born May 18, 1873; and Clinton S., born May 6, 1876.

In 1866 Mr. Roth came to Allentown, where he has since lived though he is still engaged in farming and stock-dealing, being, as stated above, the owner of the noted Allentown Stock Farm, which comprises two hundred acres of valuable land, under a high state of cultivation. It is supplied with fine buildings, well adapted to stock-raising, and in the pastures and barns are many horses and cattle. He is now making a specialty of the breeding of registered Jersey and Holstein cattle and draft horses, and has one of the finest herds of Jerseys in the state. He made a trip to Europe for the purpose of purchasing fine stock, returning with some excellent blooded cattle. One of his Jersey bulls, “Black Prince of Linden,” which is perhaps the finest animal of his kind in the United States, he purchased at Madison Square Garden, New York, from the estate of S. M. Shumaker, who had bought him for $15,000. His large barn, which is 50x207 feet, will accommodate one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle and many horses.

Outside of his business interests, Mr. Roth has taken a prominent part in public affairs, being especially active in county, state and national politics. In 1874 he was elected a member of the City Council of Allentown, and in 1887 and 1888 represented his district in the State Legislature, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He served on several important committees, including the Committees on Agriculture, Public Institutions Coal and Iron. He was a worthy member of the House, and did all in his power for the interest of the community in which he lives. He was re-elected in 1890, and served in the sessions of 1891-92. In 1884 he was elected President of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, and at each election since that time has been chosen his own successor. Worth and ability have won him prominence along these various lines, and have gained for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact. In connection with his other interests, Mr. Roth is now a stockholder and Director in the Second National Bank of Allentown. He also owns a fine residence, situated in the midst of a beautiful lawn, and his home is an ornament to the city. Through the legitimate channels of business he has won success, becoming one of the solid and substantial men of the community. He is conservative, in that he is never hasty, though he has a progressive spirit, tempered, however, by good judgment and careful consideration.

In March, 1894, Mr. Roth introduced electricity to operate his farm machinery on his stock farm. The power used on the place is taken from the circuit of the Allentown & Lehigh Traction Company. He has erected poles and wires for a distance of thirty-three hundred feet, installed a fifteen-horse-power motor, and is running all his farm machinery around the barn by electricity. The motor is placed in a building back of the barn, and is belted to a shaft, which is supplied with pulleys for transmitting the power to various kinds of machinery. Threshing, cutting feed, grinding grain, shelling corn, pumping water and sawing wood are all done in this way. He also has electric lights in his large barn, which is 50x208 feet in dimensions. The current is sold by meter, at eight cents per one thousand, Watt hours. After having tried electric power, Mr. Roth would by no means go back to steam or horse power. He says that it is cheaper than either, and has the advantage over steam in that there is less danger from fire. He recommends it to other farmers as being the best system in existence.