John Roach was born in County Cork, Ireland, Jan. 1, 1835, and came to America in 1849, landing at New York, where he remained three months, then went to Boston. He was married in Manchester, N.H., on Oct. 25, 1860, to Mary Fitzgerald, who was born in Ireland about 1844, and came to America in 1853. Of this union three children have been born, viz.: Patrick, born June 5, 1863; Mary E., March 27, 1867; and Johanna, Aug. 3, 1871. In 1863 Mr. Roach went to California via the Isthmus of Panama, stopping at Aspinwall and Acapulca a short time. From California he went to Virginia City, Nev., where he worked in the mines one year, then returned to San Francisco, Cal. From there he went to Portland, Oregon, thence to the Rocky Mountains and Idaho City, returning to California about two years later. He left California and went to Boston, where he worked in a manufacturing establishment until 1869, when he came to Iowa, arriving in Volga City in April of that year. He bought 160 acres of land on section 15, Sperry Township, where he now resides with his family. He worked on the Illinois Central Railroad at Fort Dodge until 1870, and since that time has been engaged in managing his farm. He is a member of the Catholic church, and in politics is a Republican. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1106 |