Peter L. Roth 1842 - 1923

ROTH, LYONS

Posted By: Ann Miller White (email)
Date: 1/29/2006 at 10:56:53

Wayland News - July 19, 1923

In the death of Mr. P. L. Roth, who died at the home of his son, Mr. Ed L. Roth at Ottumwa, early Wednesday morning in his eighty first year, we lose an old friend whom we have known for thirty years and we think that he has taken the News all that time. Mr. Roth was born in Wayne County, Ohio in 1842, the year that Iowa Wesleyan was established. With his father, John Roth and family, he left Ohio in 1849, the year of the California gold rush, and headed for the new country. The family boarded an Ohio river steamer above Cincinnati and came down the Ohio to Cairo and then upstream to Burlington. It was a slow trip, changing steamers three times. They landed in Burlington and the goods of the Roth's were unloaded from the steamer on a sand bar where the Union station now stands. At that date there were no railroads west of Chicago. From Burlington, the family drove to Henry County and Mr. John Roth settled on government land two miles west of Trenton on the farm known today as the Johnnie Roth place and now occupied and owned by John Lyons who married one of the daughters of Mr. Roth. Title to the farm has never changed but once. At one time, Mr. Roth owned over a thousand acres about him.

It was here that Mr. P. L. Roth grew to manhood, married, and raised his own family. His good wife passed away some years ago and he is survived by two sons, Ed Roth and Homer Roth, both of Ottumwa. Funeral services were held at the home in Ottumwa Friday forenoon and then the remains of Mr. Roth were brought here by auto and short services were held at the grave, Dr. Myers offering prayer. Mr. Roth was laid to rest by the side of his wife. Up in Trenton township are many of the relatives of Mr. Roth and he will be remembered by many of the older people for his good qualities.