Roth, Geo. N.

ROTH, BACKER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/24/2012 at 10:43:37

1880 History of Poweshiek County Iowa

CHESTER TOWNSHIP

Page 936

ROTH, GEO. N.--Farmer and stock-raiser, section 1, P.O. Panora*. Born on the 26th day of October, 1818, in Memmelsdorf, in Bavaria, Germany. He was brought up in his native city and acquired a most thorough education, having attended school for the full period of thirteen years. He remained in his native country until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to America, settling in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, where he became engaged as a home missionary for the American Tract Society. For a period of eight or ten years he continued to labor in Pennsylvania, and for eight years following this period he labored as blacksmith and conducted his farm, besides preaching every sabbath. He came to Iowa in the year 1857, landing at Davenport on the 16th day of September. Here he engaged in the missionary work in Scott county for a period of eighteen months and removed to this county in the fall of 1857, his son having preceded him six months. The township at that time was very new and but little improvement to be seen anywhere. He had many hardships to undergo such as are incident to the settlement of all new countries. The lumber of his house had to be brought from Davenport. Mr. Roth proved a very valuable acquisition to the infant settlement as he was the only minister within its bounds. He organized the first sabbath school and labored with the people for their good. He drew the first load of stone for the M.E. Church in the township, which is such a fine monument of the energy and enterprise of this people. Mr. Roth has always been first in all good works and is highly esteemed in his neighborhood. He was married, on the 15th of August, 1841, to Miss Sophia Backer, of Union county, Pennsylvania, who is still living, and who has ever since shared the hardships of life with him. By this union they have six children: Joseph B., John, Catharine B., Maria M., Pauline H. and Martin F.

CC Note: The "Panora" Post Office is accurately transcribed from the 1880 Poweshiek Co. History. It is otherwise unknown, and assumed to be a typographic mangling of "Sonora", which was a post office in section 1 of Chester Twp at the time.