Yavapai County AZ Archives Biographies.....Roach, Thomas 1845 - living in 1896
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/az/azfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 5, 2005, 3:44 pm

Author: McFarland & Poole

p. 473

  THOMAS ROACH. This intelligent and thoroughly wide-awake man of affairs has
held many prominent positions of trust in Yavapai County, Arizona, and is now an
active member of the Board of Supervisors. He first saw the light in Saratoga
County, New York, April 11, 1845, and remained in that county until twenty years
old, there receiving his education. He was early trained to the duties of the
farm, and on the same learned habits of industry and perseverance which have
remained with him through life. In the year 1865 he came West and located at
Denver, where he engaged in teaming and freighting for about two years. The two
years following this he wandered around through various Territories engaged in
prospecting, mining and freighting, but he subsequently went to Kansas, where he
was engaged in the cattle business for about two years. The winters were very
severe there and killed off all his cattle. He then went to Indian Territory,
was engaged in freighting for one year, and from there made his way to New
Mexico in 1872. There mining occupied his attention for three years, and he was
successful in this enterprise. In the year 1875 he entered Arizona Territory and
located in Turkey Creek, twenty miles south of Prescott, where he has made his
home ever since. He entered the claim where he now lives very soon after coming
here, and he is now interested in the Cumberland group of mines, as well as a
number of other gold mines. Mr. Roach was also engaged in silver mining until
there was nothing in it, owing to the decline in the price of silver, operating
a claim on Goodwin Lode. He has been very successful in mining in Arizona, but
in connection is engaged in ranching, owning a small ranch, on which he has some
cattle and horses. In the year 1893 he was elected a member of the Board of
Supervisors and filled that position so capably and efficiently that he was
re-elected in 1895. He is a well known man of the Territory. Since first
locating in Arizona Mr. Roach has witnessed many changes and has contributed his
share toward subduing the wilderness. Since living in the West he has been
attacked by Indians a number of times, and was once in an ox train on the Platte
River that was corralled for three days by the Sioux Indians, but has always
escaped uninjured. When he first settled on Turkey Creek he put up a little
cabin and a small smelter, which turned out the first silver bullion in the
county. He employed a large number of men and made money. At that early date
there were no roads, just a few trails, and everything had to be carried on pack
mules. There was a time when a pound of flour could not be obtained in the
country, and they were obliged to go to the Post and get "hard tack." Many a
time has Mr. Roach gone hungry. At the present time there are good wagon roads
and the country is in a prosperous condition.


Additional Comments:
From:

A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona
Published by
McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/yavapai/bios/gbs37roach.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/azfiles/

File size: 3.6 Kb