A Narrative History of The People of Iowa with SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY, BUSINESS, ETC. by EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M. Curator of the Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa Volume IV THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc. Chicago and New York 1931 WILLIAM LEROY ROACH. Many of the important facts of Muscatine's industrial and commercial history revolve around the name Roach. The Roach family has been in Muscatine since 1862. The founder of the family there was William Martin Roach, who was born in Canada, his father being a Canadian, of Irish descent, and hi smother of French parentage. William Martin Roach was born in Canada, learned the trade of tanner and furrier, and on moving to Muscatine, in 1862, 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 was an active figure in Muscatine's commercial circles until his death in 1898, at the age of seventy-seven. William Martin Roach married Sarah Mary Davidson, whose father, Andrew Davidson, came to Iowa from Ohio. Her mother was Elizabeth (Meek) Davidson. William Martin Roach reared a family of six children, Elizabeth D., William LeRoy, Lillian M., Ada, Ellen V. and Grace E. William LeRoy Roach, of the second generation of the family at Muscatine, became conspicuous in the lumber industry, one of the men who made Muscatine of the leading centers of lumber manufacture in the Middle West. He was born at Muscatine, October 10, 1862, was educated in grade and high schools in his native city, and form an early age established his habits at thrift and industry by working on holidays and in vacations. When he was eighteen years old he was bookkeeper and clerk for the Davidson & Roach Boot & Shoe Store. After two and a half years he became bookkeeper for M. S. Ritchey, with whom he remained two years. Out of his earnings he saved $600 which he gave to his father, and then started to accumulate for himself, working steadily until he had an initial capital of $1000. It was in June, 1881, that he left Muscatine and became bookkeeper and clerk for the Muscatine Coal Company at What Cheer in Keokuk County, but the real opening of the doors of opportunity began in January, 1883, when he went to work for the Huttig Sash & Door Company at Kansas City. After he had accumulated $1000 he invested in stock in the Huttig Company. In 1885 he established the Roach & Wilker Manufacturing Company, manufacturing sash, doors and mill work, at Kansas City. Still later he concentrated his interests in teh Western Sash & Door Company. He was also a stockholder in and was made vice president of the Huttig Sash & Door Company of St. Louis. Selling out his interests in these two organizations, in June, 1888, he organized the Roach & River Manufacturing Company of Kansas City. Mr. Roach in June, 1889, returning to Muscatine, organized the Muscatine Sash & Door Company, and for several years shipped finished products all over the United States from the plants at Muscatine and Kansas City. Later he concentrated his interests in Muscatine, in the industry known as the Roach & Musser Sash & Door Company, of which he was president and general manager until his death on December 18, 1916. This business at that time was one of the largest of its kind in the United States and was instrumental in bringing a large share of substantial prosperity to the city. Mr. Roach also had large holdings in timber lands in different parts of the country. He is recalled as a man of not only superior business judgment but always generous in the spirit of helpfulness to his fellow men and public spirited wherever any cause for general benefit was concerned. He married, February 21, 1887, Miss Margaret E. McCarthy, of Kansas City, daughter of Michael McCarthy. She died in 1909, leaving four children: John William, James, Edward Andrew and Robert Leonard. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa History Project _http://iagenweb.org/history/_ (http://iagenweb.org/history/) Scott County, Iowa _http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm_ (http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De cemailfooterNO62)