Johann Roth, 1899 Biography

ROTH, ALBERS

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/19/2007 at 00:52:01

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Words in quotations are original. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Johann Roth

This man, of whom the Anniversary Edition presents a fine picture, is a prominent citizen of Carroll County, and he and his family enjoy a fine reputation and are very popular. And since the family of Johann Roth has been settled in Roselle Township since 1873, Mr. Roth must also be considered among the old German pioneers of Carroll County.

Mr. Johann Roth was born on 3 December 1849 on a farm in Guttenberg, Clayton County, Iowa, to honest and Christian people. His parents took care to provide little “John” with a good religious upbringing. He attended the schools there and received First Holy Communion in the Catholic church in Guttenberg. When he was released from school, he also became a farmer, and he worked on his parents’ farm under the supervision of his good father until he was 23 years old.

On 8 July 1872, Mr. John Roth married the well-brought-up Miss Franziska Albers, who was born on 25 March 1856 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Miss Roth’s parents moved in June 1856 to Guttenberg, Iowa, where her mother passed away on 14 August 1873, and the good “Vater Albers,” well prepared with the Last Rights, followed her in death on 29 July 1878. “Mutter Albers” was born in the county seat of Melle, in the Prussian District of Osnabrück, Province of Hanover. The father, however, was born in Bückelte, District of Meppen, in the above-named province. “Vater Albers” was a virtuous and hard-working man. He immigrated to America on 4 September 1838, and he reached the age of 62 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

But now we turn again to our young couple. At first they rented a farm, but they only remained on it for one year. Their intentions were toward the west, where the land was still significantly cheaper than in the heavily settled Clayton County. And so in 1873 they came to Roselle Township, Carroll County, where they lived yet another two years as renters, but then they purchased 200 acres of land in Roselle Township. They cultivated the farm, built a large and fine barn, as well as stables, grain bins, corncribs, and a fine, comfortable residence. And then in 1895 they purchased an additional 80 acres, so that the farm is now one of the finest in the township. But since 1892, Mr. Roth and his wife have also owned yet another 160-acre farm in Cedar County, Nebraska, and so their entire real estate amounts to 440 acres.

Mr. John Roth and his friendly wife are very hospitable and courteous citizens, and anyone who has had the pleasure to visit the family of John Roth on the farm will certainly have a fond recollection of the experience for a long time afterwards.

Twelve children were the fruits of this happy and cheerful marriage, four of whom, however, died at a tender age in childhood. The names of the children still living are: Johann, Edward, Maria, Joseph, Wilhelm, Franz, Sylvester, and Emilie.