Roach, Edwin Clay

ROACH, RAMSEY

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 12:25:25

ROACH, EDWIN CLAY

Edwin Clay Roach, lawyer, or Rock Rapids, Iowa, is the son of Rev. James Porter Roach and Jane Cassell. His paternal ancestors emigrated originally from Ireland to France and thence to America, while those on his mother's side came direct from Germany. His father was a prominent minister of the Gospel.

Mr. Roach was born in Abington, Knox county, Illinois, December 31, 1850, but moved to Iowa when he was a boy, and has since resided in that state.

He was educated at Oskaloosa College and the Iowa State University, graduating from the law department of the latter institution in 1875 with the degree of LL.B. In June of the same years he was admitted to the bar at Iowa City. He practiced his profession in Jasper county from the time of his admission until 1882, when he moved to Lyon county, where he formed a partnership with J.W. Ramsey.

In 1898 in connection with Mr. Ramsey and F.L. Sutter, he organized the Iowa Savings Bank at Rock Rapids, now one of the substantial savings institutions of the state.

As a Republican Mr. Roach has been active in politics for many years. He has been a delegate to every Republican state convention since 1885, and in 1896 was a delegate to the National Republican convention at St. Louis. He was a member of the Iowa house of Representatives in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second General Assemblies, and was chairman of the judiciary committee in the House of the Twenty-second General Assembly. He is a member of the Lodge, Chapter, and Commander of the Masonic Fraternity, a public spirited citizen, and thoroughly identified with every important object which has the welfare of the community at heart. Mr. Roach was married December 31, 1875 to Mary A. Ramsey of Jasper county, and they have four children: Lorin J., Lena, Rollin E. and Paul.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson