Saint Joseph County MI Archives Biographies.....Root, Henry C. December 5, 1813 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 18, 2007, 9:01 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers 

HENRY C. ROOT, a welathy resident of Constantine Village, where he is living 
in retirement, iw ell known throughout southern Michigan, not only as one of 
St. Joseph County's most honored citizens, but as a fine representative of the 
noble pioneers who have played such an active part in her development.  Coming 
here in all the strength and pride of early manhood, he has not only witnessed 
the gradual giving way before the ax of the pioneer of the grand old primeval 
forest that for centuries had covered so much of this region, and seen large 
towns and busy villages take the place of the humble log cabin of the white 
settlers, or th wigwam of the red man, but he has been an important factor in 
bringing about this change, making St. Joseph and adjoining counties a 
fruitful and prosperous farming country, where commerce and manufactures also 
flourish.  To the energy, foresight and enterprise of such men as our subkect, 
St. Joseph County is indeed greatly indebted for its material prosperity and 
high standing.  Mr. Root experienced all the privations and hardships 
incidental to pioneer life; but difficulties fast disappeared before his 
indomitable will and steadfast purpose to make life a success, and old age 
drawing nigh finds hil well fortified against material misfortune.

Our subject is a worthy descendant of a fine old Massachussetts family on his 
father's side, and of sober Connecticut ancestry on his mother's, and in the 
ancient town of Pittsfield, in the fomer State, he first opened his eyes to 
this world Dec. 5, 1813.  He is a grandson of the gallant Colonel, Oliver 
Root, famous in the military annals of the colonial history of Massachussetts, 
who bore so honorable a part in both the Fench and Indian Wars, and in the 
Revolution.  The Colonel was a son of Samuel Root, and losing his father when 
he was quite young, at the age of eight years he was bond out to Mr. King, of 
Westfield, Mass., to learn the trade of a shoemaker.  When he was a lad of 
nearly eighteen years his bold and ardent spirit led him to enlist in the 
second French war that was then raging.  He had an eventful experience in his 
army life, as is recorded in the "Root Genealogical Records."  Arriving at the 
seat of war the sturdy youth was assigned to the famous corps of rangers 
organized by Maj. Robert Rogers, which had amongst its officers those men of 
immortal fame, Gen. John Stark, Isreal Putnam, and others of like character, 
who altogether made one of the most splendid military companies known in 
history.  When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Colonel, then in the prime 
and vigor of a stalwart, athletic manhood, immediately offered his services to 
the Continental Army, and they were gladly accepted, and he served with 
distinction among the many noted Colonial officers.  He was present at the 
Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, in October 1777.  He was major of his 
company under Col. Brown when that officer fell at Stoen Arabaia, in the 
Valley of the Mohawk, and succeeded to the command.  He was a man of fine 
physique, six feet and one inch in height, of a robust constitution, and was 
never sick in his life until five days before his death.  With rare 
disinterestedness he refused to apply for a pension, to which he was justly 
entitled for the valor and patriotism that he had displayed in his country's 
defense while an officer of the Continental Army, on the ground that the act 
of Congress could only have been intended for the benefit of those veterans 
who had no other means of support, while he was well off.  The old warrior is 
now peacefully sleeping his last sleep under the sod of the old State he loved 
so well, and on his tombstone is inscribed:  "He fought the enemies of his 
country in two wars, and his only enemies were the enemies of his country."

His son Henry, the father of our subject, was born in Pittsfield, Mass., Oct. 
21, 1783.  He was married to Thankful Johnson in 1810.  She was born in 
Haddam, Conn., Oct. 16, 1785.  They located in Pittsfield, where he was 
actively engaged in farming for many years, and there his venerable life was 
brought to a close May 3, 1863, at the age of nearly ninety years.  His wife 
survived him two years, dying Nov. 30, 1865.  During their pleasant wedded 
life of over fifty years nine children were born to them, of whom our subject 
was the third in order of birth, and is now the only survivor.

Our subject passed his early life in Pittsfield on the old homestead where he 
was born until he was sixteen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the 
tailor's trade.  He served nearly five years, and then went to Hartford, 
Conn., where he worked as a journeyman for two years.  In 1835 he went to 
Medina, Medina Co., Ohio, and stopped there until the spring of 1836.  Then, 
in company with William G. Bagg, he walked through the forests and swamps of 
the intervening country to Constantine, arriving here some time in April.  He 
at once began to work at his trade, and continued at it until the spring of 
1838.  When he forst came here he entered 200 acres of land in Constantine and 
eighty acres in Cass County, and in the spring of 1838 began to make 
improvements, and in the following spring settled on his land in Constantine.  
He continued to live there, and actively engaged in the development of a farm 
until about 1852, when he returned to the village where he has lived since, 
with the exception of one season on his farm.  For six years he was engaged in 
the butchering business here, but in the spring of 1858 he bought the hotel 
then known as the Wells House, but now called the Romaine House, and for 
twenty-two years was successfully engaged in its management.  In his cpacity 
as "mine host" he was a great favorite with the traveling publc, as he was 
ever frank, genial and obliging in his manners, and his wife, with her 
cheerful, motherly presence, added to the popularity of thier hotel, and vied 
with him in making their guests comfortable.  Mr. Root leased his hotel in 
1880, and has since lived in retirement, although he still looks after his 
farm and other property.   Besides the Romaine House he owns 436 acres of very 
valuable land, all in Constantine Township.  In all his career as a business 
man Mr. Root has displayed unusual tact, foresight and ability, and all his 
transactions have been conducted with fairness adn generosity.  He, of course, 
takes a keen interest in the affairs of the county and township, with which he 
has identified for so many years, now numbering over half a century, and in 
whose upbuilding he has borne an honorable part, and does all that he can to 
promote the various schemes for their advancement.  Politically, he stands by 
the Democratic party as one of its staunchest adherents.

More than fifty years ago our subject was united in marriage in Constantine to 
Miss Lucinda Beckwith, April 14, 1837, being the date of their wedding.  Mrs. 
Root was born in Saybrook, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1816, and was the 
sixth child in the family of ten children of the late Levi and Lucinda 
(Starkweather) Beckwith, who were born respectively in Pittsfield, Mass., in 
1777, and in Connecticut in 1782.  Her parents first settled in Vermont, and 
thence removed to Ashtabula County, of which they were early pioneers.  They 
subsequently settled in the township of Saybrook, that county, where Mr. 
Beckwith bought a farm, whereon he and his family lived until August, 1828, 
when they came to St. Joseph County, this State, arrving at a point on the 
White Pigeon Prairie, aug. 6, 1828, and there they settled near the 
wilderness, they being the fifth family to locate on that prairie, and Mr. 
Beckwith sowed the first wheat that was ever sown on the prairie, on the farm 
which is now owned by Rodney Beckwith.  They settled in the southern part of 
Constantine Township, whee they continued to live until death called them 
hence, the father dying in September 1839, and the mother Aug. 10, 1846.  The 
paternal grandparents of Mrs. Root lived to an advanced age.  The marriage of 
Mr. and Mrs. Root has been blessed to them by the birth of a family of five 
children:  Henry L.; Charles O. and Mary L., deceased; Clarissa A. and Aaron 
C.   Clarissa is the wife of Dr. William E. Jewett, of Adrian, Mich.  Aaron 
who is a farmer in Constantine Township, married Anna McGill, and they have 
one child, Henry E. Jr.  Henry L., the eldest, is unmarried and lives with his 
parents, helping his father in the care of his business interests.  He was a 
soldier in Company A, 49th Massachusetts Infantry (Col. Bartlett and Capt. I. 
C. Weller), was severely wounded in front of Port Hudson, I.a., and will carry 
its effects to his grave.  He was serving in the store of his uncle at the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, and was one of the noted "Allen Guards" of 
Pittsfield, Mass., who enlisted in a body and did gallant service on many a 
hard-fought field.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co. Chapman 
Brothers 1889

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