Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Roach, Horace March 22, 1820 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 7, 2009, 6:40 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

HORACE ROACH, farmer and lumberman, on sec. 19, Deerfield Tp., was born March 
22, 1820, in Argyle, 

Washinton Co., N.Y.  He is a son of Edward S. and Betsey (Reed) Roach, natives 
of Vermont, who settled in 

New York in pioneer days.  They afterward came to Michigan and located in 
Monroe County, and later, in 

Calhoun County, going thence to Barry County, where after a residence of 12 
years the father died.  His 

death occurred in the spring of 1871; the mother is still living, with a son 
in Barry County.

Mr. Roach remained under the care of his parents until he was 16 years of age, 
when he came to Michigan, 

and resided in Whiteford five years, then returned to the State of New York, 
coming back to Michigan five 

years later when he purchased 80 acres of land in St. Joseph County, for which 
he paid $3 an acre.  He 

built thereon a small frame house and proceeded to improve his property.  He 
was enabled two years later 

to purchase an additional 80 acres adjoining, which he increased in five years 
to 240 acres of farming 

land of a high grade.  This was his home nearly 13 years.  In 1857 he 
exchanged this property for 500 

acres of timber land in Cass County, on which there was a steam saw-mill, 
having a capacity of 12,000 feet 

per diem.  The mill was destroyed by fire a year later, and was without delay 
replaced by a more valuable 

structure, with a capacity of 15,000 feet daily.  This mill Mr. Roach managed 
two years, employing 10 men. 

 He made a second exchange of property in 1860, for 200 acres of improved land 
with good buildings, and 

situated adjacent to his old farm in St. Joseph County.  This he operated six 
years, and sold for $13,000. 

 He then removed to Ionia County, and passed six years in limbering.  He made 
a purchase of 180 acres of 

land in Ionia County, under partial cultivation, and also 640 acres of pine 
land in Montcalm County.  He 

combined the business of a clothier in Ionia with his other interests, hiring 
laborers to perform the farm 

duties.

In 1872 he disposed of his entire property by sale, and bought 400 acres of 
pine land in the township of 

Aetna, Mecosta Co., and also a shingle mill in Morley, which he operated until 
1879.  He again sold out 

all his interests and bought 200 acres in Deerfield Tp., with limited 
improvements.  Of this latter 

purchase 120 acres are under a good state of cultivation.

Mr. Roach was married in Detroit, Oct. 20, 1845, to Caroline E., daughter of 
Charles and Polly (Burt) 

Macomber, natives of the State of New York, who came to Michigan in 1844, 
locating in St. Joseph County, 

where her father died in 1875.  Her mother resides at Three Rivers, Mich.

Mr. Roach saw the first train of cars that passed from Albany to Schenectady, 
and was also an observer of 

the first train which ran i the Peninsular State, going from Toledo to 
Adrian.  The latter was rendered a 

conspicuous event by the fact that hundreds of Indians were present on that 
occasion.  Mr. R. is an 

outspoken, zealous Republican, has often been proffered offices of trust in 
the various localities where 

he has resided, but always declines.  The family attend the M.E. Church.

Additional Comments:
8813 Portrait & Bio Alumbum of Mecosta Co., MI.

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