Macoupin County IL Archives Obituaries.....Roach, John F. June 16, 1903
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Matthew Ferricks Rlferricks2@aol.com March 28, 2006, 6:53 pm

Girard Gazette, June 18, 1903
John F. Roach Dead.  Dies Suddenly While Seated in Chair.  Our citizens were 
sadly shocked Tuesday afternoon, June 16th 1903, when the report was phoned 
over the city that one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens John F. 
Roach, a director in the Peoples bank had died suddenly from heart failure 
while seated in a chair in the bank.  His death occurred at 4 o'clock.  He a 
few moments before death spoke to Mr. Edward Littlepage, who was at the tellers 
window settling the days business with the two banks.  Mr. Roach asked the 
question:  where did you do business at today?  The old bank had moved their 
safe to their new building was the reason for the question.  Mr. Littlepage 
ruined his head to make reply to the question when he saw Mr. Roach's head fall 
back on the chair in which he was seated.  Littlepage called Mr. Wells, they 
laid him down on the floor, holding his head in their arms.  He made a feeble 
attempt to throw up, falling, laid back and died in the arms of the two 
gentlemen.  Death came easy to him.  Lifes light went out with the setting 
sun.  He died as he had lived, gentle, peaceful, without a murmer his spirit 
took its flight to its haven of rest.  The sad news of his death was carried to 
his bereft wife by Mr. S. Owen Smith, president of the bank.  It was truly a 
sad mission and heart rendering to inform her of the sudden death of her 
companion in life.  It seemed untrue for it had not been but a short time since 
he had left his home.  His body was tenderly born to his home by kind friends 
and neighbors.  He had been complaining of his heart and during the day had 
called on Dr. R.S. Cowan, who made an examination and found his heart to be in 
bad condition.  His death was no surprise to the doctor as he had informed Mr. 
Roach of his ailment.  John F. Roach was born in Carroll county, Tennessee, 
August 16th, 1829.  At the time of his death he was 73 years and 10 months 
old.  His boyhood days were spent in his native state, Tennessee, where he 
received a common school education obtaining the same in winter months, as he 
was busy in the summer months helping to cultivate tobacco.  In 1849, at the 
age of twentyone years he bought a team of oxen and commenced to brake prairies 
of Illinois.  He broke the ground which the city of Girard is situated upon.  
The summer he followed plowing, in the winter teamed.  He was united in 
marriage to Miss Martha H. Cherry, November 12, 1852.  To this union there were 
born four children, two of which preceded the father to the spirit land.  Those 
living to mourn his death are Mary Etna, wife of Henry Lemon, and James Coy 
Roach, both living near Girard.  March 1854 he moved from near Carlinville to 
Girard, where he followed farming and stock raising.  He was a successful 
breeder of short horn and other noted breeds of cattle.  He was one of the 
largest stock dealers of southern Illinois.  During the war he filled large 
governmental contracts, and was a noted shipper to St. Louis and Chicago 
markets.  He had accumulated much land and was prominently connected with the 
banking interests of Girard.  He had been at one time president of the Girard 
bank.  At the organization of the Peoples bank he was made president, which 
position he kept until he asked to be relieved on account of old age.  At the 
time of his death he was director of the Peoples bank, and made the bank his 
headquarters when in town.  He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
church, and loved its teachings.  He was a loyal member active in his church, 
ever ready to advance its cause.  In his death Girard loses one of its oldest 
citizens, his wife a true, faithful husband, and the family a loving father.  
His funeral occurred today at 2 p.m. from the Cumberland Presbyterian church.  
Rev. R.D. Miller of Petersburg, Ill., and Rev. B. Berryhill, pastor, conducted 
the funeral services.  The church failed to hold even his friends from abroad, 
many stood in the church yard.  The remains was followed to Girard cemetery by 
a large procession of friends.  The pall bearers were John Beeby, W.S. 
Garretson, Joseph Liston, G.W. Thompson, and C. Armstrong.

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