Roach, John

AINSWORTH, WANAMAKER, WIRE

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/13/2010 at 09:16:24

Among the men who took an active part in promoting the business development of Plainfield and of Bremer county was numbered John Roach, who in 1870 established the elevator business now conducted by the firm of Roach Brothers. Through his energy, enterprise and capable management John Roach laid the foundation of the present large concern and he developed the business along progressive and modern lines until his death. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and was a son of Peter Roach, also a native of the Emerald Isle. The father came to America in 1853 and settled first in New York, whence he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he had some brothers engaged in building steamboats for the lake trade. Peter Roach invested in this business, which, however, eventually failed causing an estrangement between the partners.

John Roach lost his mother when he was still a child and was adopted by an English family named Ainsworth, under whose care he acquired a limited education. He remained with them until he was fifteen years of age and then enlisted in Company B, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and after participating in many of the most important engagements of the Civil war was wounded in a skirmish at Rector, Virginia. He served faithfully until the close of hostilities and was honorable discharged June 5, 1865. After the war he went to Illinois and settled in McHenry county, where he remained until 1866, when he removed to Waverly, Iowa, residing there for four years. At the end of that time he moved to Plainfield and engaged in the grain and general produce business, beginning with a small warehouse. He later bought an elevator and with the passing years extended his business and his trade relations to meet the demands of modern conditions. After his sons, Lewis P. and Edwin, grew to manhood they were taken into the business, the firm of John Roach & Sons being formed. John Roach continued active in the conduct of this enterprise until his death, conducting the business upon a policy of fair and honorable dealings. He was a representative, resourceful and progressive business man and was recognized as such in business circles of the county. He died March 4, 1905, and his passing was widely and deeply regretted, as he had won recognition as a progressive and practical business man and a public-spirited and useful citizen.

On the 27th of November, 1873, Mr. Roach was united in marriage to Miss May Wanamaker, a native of Wisconsin, who died January 30, 1880, leaving two children, Lewis P. and Edwin A. After the death of his first wife John Roach married Miss Dora Wire, also a native of Wisconsin, and they became the parents of two children.

Since the death of John Roach the elevator business has been conducted by his two sons, Lewis P. and Edwin, under the name of J. Roach Sons. In 1912 they added to their plant by building a new elevator with a capacity of twenty-five thousand bushels of grain and they still retain the old one, the combined capacity being forty thousand bushels. In 1910 they bought an elevator at Irma and they conduct the same at present. The elevators at Plainfield are well located along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad and the business draws from a large territory, so that Plainfield has now the reputation of being a central grain market. Roach Brothers own in addition to their plant five farms in Bremer county, all of which are well improved and highly cultivated.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914