Biographical Sketch of L. I. Roach, Camden County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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L. I. Roach (deceased) was born on the farm where his widow now resides
near Linn Creek, December 30, 1837, and was one of a family of six 
children, whose parents removed from Tennessee and settled in the then
new and almost unexplored state of Missouri in the year 1831.  At the
time of Mr. Roach's birth Missouri was a Territory and a wilderness,
Camden county containing only about 100 inhabitants.  It comprised a
portion of Pulaski county, and was afterward organized as Kinderhook
county.  During the year 1841 he was deprived by death of both parents,
and the family was left penniless, the means of his father having been
exhausted (at his direction) in the payment of debts.  In conformity
with a then existing statute, "Little Jack," as he was then called, was
apprenticed to one Hiram Bagley, a tailor, whom he left in 1847 because
of harsh treatment.  He was re-apprenticed to one James A. Crain, a
farmer, with whom he remained until the latter died, in 1851.  He was
then employed by various farmers until 1854, and during that time he
attended school four months and a half, this scanty draught of the 
fountain of knowledge representing the full extent of his educational
advantages.  He then turned his attention to navigation, beginning his
career in the humble capacity of night watchman on one of the Osage
steamers.  At the commencement of the Rebellion he possessed pilot 
papers authorizing him to run from St. Louis to the head waters of the
Osage River, but rapid as had been his advancement in his chosen occu-
pation, he responded to his country's call, and left the deck for the
battle field, enlisting in the Osage Regiment of the Missouri Home
Guards, with which he remained until its disbandment in December, 1861.
He then elisted in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and served three years
and three months.  His regiment was in active service, and Sergeant
Roach was in nearly all the principal engagements that occurred on
Missouri soil.  He rendered valuable service as a scout and bearer of 
dispatches, and afterward retained a lively recollection of several
narrow escapes and thrilling adventures.  When peace was declared Mr. 
Roach returned to the river, and followed the vocation of pilot until
December, 1866, when on the tenth of that month he was united in 
marriage to Miss Frances M. Crain, only daughter of his late master.
To their union was born six children: Rebecca J., Susan E., James L.,
Sidney C., Martha A. (deceased) and William M.  In 1868 Mr. Roach was
elected sheriff and collector, which position he held two years.  In
1870 he was elected clerk of the county and circuit courts, and in 1874
he was re-elected to this office, and also to the position of probate
judge.  For the ensuing four years he discharged the duties of four
county offices, and gave such general satisfaction that in 1878 he was
urged by the most influential men of both parties to become a candidate
for re-election to all the offices which he had so acceptably filled.
The work was too onerous, however, for even his methodical habits, but
he was retained in two clerkships by a handsome majority.  In 1883 he
was elected for the fourth time to the position of county clerk.  He
was admitted to the bar as a prosecuting attorney in February, 1883, 
and soon became an ornament to the profession.  Among other business
ventures he was engaged in the mercantile business at Gunter, Mo.  He
owned a large tract of land adjoining Linn Creek, and had, but a few
years previous to his death, completed his handsome and well construc-
ted residence, in which the widow and family now reside.  Mr. Roach 
was a self made man in every respect, and none had more friends than
he.  He was liberal and always ready to help any public enterprise for
the benefit of his community.  He died January 29, 1886.

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