TENNESSEE STATE RECORDS - BIOGRAPHIES - David Chandler Roach ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Diane Drogich ddrogich@viaduct.custom.net ==================================================================== David Chandler Roach Surnames: Waller, Messenger, Acton, Boaz, Ruth, Clark, Cullison Locations: Pennsylvania; Maryland; Coshocton Co., OH; North Carolina; Tennessee; Jasper Co., IL; Johnson Co., IN There were only three houses in Indianapolis and Indians and wild animals infested the dense forests where the present city stands when Sarah (Waller) Messenger, the grandmother of the subject of this sketch, came to Indiana with her parents from Pennsylvania, and others of his ancestors located in the state while it was yet inhabited principally by the red men and denizens of the uncut forests. Our subject's maternal grandfather, David C. Messenger, a native of Maryland, went to Pennsylvania when a young man and there married Sarah Waller. They first went to Coshocton county, Ohio, and to Greene county, Indiana, in 1829, where he took up unimproved land and worked at farming, also following his trade as carpenter and cooper. Both he and his wife lived there until their death. He was a Republican. They were members of the separate Baptist church. They had nine children, namely: Henry, David, Eli, John, Elisha, Hannah, Rachael, Mary and Mariah. The subject's paternal grandfather was Joshua Roach, a native of North Carolina, who married Margaret Goad, a native of Tennessee. In 1829 they came to Greene county, Indiana, and settled in Richland township, where they bought wild land, cleared it and made such a pleasant home that they spent the remainder of their lives there. He was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They had three sons and five daughters. The subject's father was Henry Roach. He was born in Tennessee, August 10, 1828. Although he received a very limited education in the pioneer schools of those days, he studied at home and was able to teach school. He had an excellent war record, having enlisted in the United States army when he was seventeen years old for the purpose of taking part in the Mexican war. He served during part of the campaign in Mexico, but was taken sick and came home. He had a Mexican land grant and in 1852 secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jasper county, Illinois. In 1857 he came back to his old home in Indiana, where he worked on a farm until August, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Forty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was commissioned first lieutenant, and was in several hard battles. He was badly hurt by a fall and was discharged for disability in 1865. After the war he lived in Taylor township, Greene county, Indiana, where he farmed until his death, February 1, 1897. He was a Democrat and later a Republican. Both he and his wife were members of the Church of God. They were highly esteemed in their neighborhood. She died July 4, 1899. To them were born the following children: David C., the subject of this sketch; Joshua died in boyhood; Margaret J., who married Thomas Acton, of Jasonville, Indiana; John Lincoln, a farmer in Jackson township, Greene county, Indiana, who married America Boaz; Samuel S., who was one of the best school teachers in Greene county, died in 1906; Mary Frances married William Ruth, a farmer of Taylor township, Greene county; Alma married Edgar Clark and died in Taylor township; Henry Hayes attended the State University and is a teacher. David Chandler Roach was born in Center township, Greene county, Indiana, May 29, 1858. He was educated in the common and normal schools and was a teacher for several years in his native county. He was admitted to the Greene county bar in 1884 and has since practiced law there and in Illinois. He has one hundred and sixteen acres of land in Taylor township, Greene county, and seventeen acres where he now lives in Richland township. He has been justice of the peace eighteen years and a notary public for six years. He has always been active in Democratic politics. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. Of the latter he is deputy head council in the Bloomfield lodge. He was ordained a minister in the Christian church in 1884. He has worked on public works a great deal and he is well known throughout his native county. Mr. Roach has been twice married. His first wife was Isadore Acton, of Johnson county, Indiana, daughter of Dr. William G. Acton, of Worthington. She died in 1888. A few years later he married Frances Cullison, the daughter of Jacob and Mary Cullison, of Center township, Greene county. Her father was a native of Ohio and died in 1881. Her mother is living in Taylor township. The subject had one son by his first wife, Daniel C., now in the State University at Bloomington. He is preparing for a lawyer's career and has won recognition as an orator. Mr. Roach had eight children by his second wife, namely: Vernie, Samuel, Ivan, Lexie, Edna, Olive, Leslie and Violet. Source: "Biographical Memoirs of Greene County, Ind. with Reminiscences of Pioneer Days", B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1908.