For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 770
WILLIAM LE ROY ROACH....Among the successful manufacturers of Muscatine who have won an honorable position on account of the success of enterprises to which they have devoted their best energies is William Le Roy Roach, president and general manager of the Roach & Musser Sash & Door Company. He was born in Muscatine, October 10, 1862, and is a son of William Martin and Sarah Mary ( Davidson ) Roach, the former of whom was born in Canada and the latter in Ohio. The father was by trade a tanner and currier. He came to Muscatine in 1862 and engaged in the boot and shoe and wholesale leather business with Andrew Davidson, his father-in-law. Later he became connected with the hide and fur business and so continued until his death, which occurred in 1898 when he was seventy-seven years of age. His wife still survives him at the age of seventy-five years. She is a member of the Methodist church, as was her husband. Mr. Roach was an industrious man of high character and worthily performed his part in frowarding the best interests of the community and adding to the comfort and happiness of those with whom he was associated. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Canadian of Irish descent. His wife was of French parentage. The maternal grandfather was Andrew Davidson, who was twice married, his first wife, the grandmother of our subject, being, Elizabeth Meek. To William Martin and Sarah Mary Roach seven children were born : Elizabeth D., the widow of Hanry Schafnit, of Muscatine ; William Le Roy, our subject ; Lilliam M., of Muscatine ; Ada, now Mrs. Robert Emmett King, of Kansas City, Missouri ; Ellen V., the wife of A. L. Porter, of Spokane, Washington ; Grace E.; and one who died in infancy.William L. Roach received his education in the public and high schools of this city, making himself useful by such jobs as he could find on Saturdays and vacations. He thus acquired habits of industry which have been of inestimable value to him through life. At eighteen years of age he began his business career as bookkeeper and clerk in Davidson & Roach's boot and shoe store, continuing for two and one-half years. He then became bookkeeper for M. S. Richey and continued with him for two years, until June, 1881, when he went to What Cheer, Keokuk county, Iowa, as bookkeeper and clerk for the Muscatine Coal Company. In January, 1883, he accepted a position with the Huttig Sash & Door Company at Kansas City and two years later established the Roach & Wilker Manufacturing Company, manufactures of sash, doors and mill work in the same city, soon afterward becoming active in the Western Sash & Door Company. Shortly after going to Kansas City he became interested in the Huttig Sash & Door Company of St. Louis and was made its vice president. However, in June, 1888, he disposed of his interest in the Western Sash & Door Company and the Huttig Sash & Door Company and organized the Roach & Musser & Riner Manufacturing Company of Kansas City. In June, 1889, He came to Muscatine and organized the Muscatine Sash & Door Company, of which he has ever since continued the head. He has also retained his connection with the business in Kansas City and ships finished products from both plants to the principal cities in the United States. The volume of business now controlled by the establishments over which he presides is about sixteen times what it was originally, the plants giving employment to about five hundred and fifty persons. In the management of these large enterprises Mr. Roach has shown a judgment that places him among the leading manufacturers of the west. He has built up a large and lucrative business by strictly honorable methods and is in competition with many of the keenest manufacturers of the country. As a large employer, he has been eminently successful, reflecting credit upon his native city and reaping the rewards which are the result of wisely applied energy. In addition to the enterprises named above Mr. Roach is interested in various other manufacturing concerns and also has made large investments in timber lands.
On the 21st of February, 1887, Mr. Roach was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. McCarthy, of Kansas City, a daughter of Michael McCarthy. Four children have blessed this union, John William, James, Edward Andrew and Robert Leonard, but James died at the age of seven months.
Mr. Roach is a self-made man. At an early age he started out in life on his own account and carved his own way to fortune. His first earnings of six hundred dollars he gave to his father. He then started again to accumulate until he had one thousand dollars, with which he purchased stock in the Huttig Sash & Door Company---his first business venture. During his career he has met with no serious reverses but by his clear foresight and unusual business ability he came to the front and gained recognition, which he has held for years, as one of the leaders in a field that has attracted many of the brightest minds of the country.
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