ROTH, John 1804 - 1889

ROTH, GRABER, LANE

Posted By: A.M.W. (email)
Date: 7/25/2005 at 19:43:04

From Mt. Pleasant Journal, March 14, 1889, p. 2:

--Died March 6, 1889, John Roth, of Trenton township, Henry County,
Iowa, aged 84 years, 2 months, and 18 days.

Mr. Roth was a native of France, being born in that country December
16, 1804, yet he spoke the German language and he was always reckoned
among the Germans in this county. When he first came to this country
in 1825, he stopped for a time in Pennsylvania, but in 1831 he removed
to Ohio where he married Catharine Graber, who was also born in France.
They remained in Ohio til 1849 when they came to Iowa and settled on the
farm where he died. He was an energetic man, of strong frame, and by
the united effort and economy of himself and wife, they acquired and
saved a handsome competence of this world's goods, and in his children
and grandchildren, he left his country a legacy better than silver and gold.

Twelve children.

Two died--Jacob and Daniel in infancy. John died some years after
his marriage to Jane Lane who is still living. The others--Michael,
Nancy, Peter L., Mary, Lydia, Joseph A., David, Catharine, and Eliza all
have families but Lydia and all are living in this county but David who
lived in Packwood, Jefferson County.

They were all present with their father in his last hour, were
recognized by him and their presence seemed to cheer and comfort him as
long as consciousness remained.

Mr. Roth was a man of conscience and convictions and strongly bound
by social ties, so in 1882 when his convictions led him to vote for the
prohibitory constitutional amendment, he was greatly pained by the
denunciations and abuse he received from some of this German friends,
yet he stood firm and immovable for what he believed to be the right. A
good neighbor and fast friend, a patriotic citizen, he will be missed by
his friends and neighbors, but more by his family and most of all by his
aged widow and daughter, Lydia, who remained at home with her parents
and who was the staff on which he leaned in his declining years. The
vacant chair of the affectionate husband and father will be a perpetual
reminder of the loving ministrations and sweet sympathy that existed
between him and those who ministered to his wants, and though such
memories will be tinged with sorrow, they will be sweet reminders of the
services rendered and the gratitude with which they were received.

Mr. Roth had been declining a number of years by reason of age, but
during the last year the decline was more noticeable, and for the last
month or two, he was confined to his chamber, and his bed without
seeming to suffer from disease. His end seemed to come rather from a
wearing out of the vital forces of life. Although he bore his decline
with great patience, he at times expressed a desire for the end to come
soon.

He belonged to the Mennonite Church. Shortly before death, he
requested the Revs. Gerig, Miller, and Eicher to conduct the funeral
ceremonies at his burial, so the former two preached, the latter being
unwell did not attend.

The remains were accompanied to Greenmound by a very large
procession of friends and neighbors, his German friends coming from far
and near in large numbers to pay their last tribute of respect and
affection to his memory. The body was deposited in the grave with the
usual ceremonies and the friends and relatives returned home sorrowing.
But they do not sorrow as those who have no hope. Death and the grave
look cold and cruel, but hope has robbed death of its sting, and faith
looks beyond the grave and finds victory through our lord Jesus Christ
who hath abolished death and hath brought life, and immortality to light
through the gospel.