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 524 ROO'J. ROWE. ROOT, JOSEPH HUBBARD, the son of Erastus and Caroline (Hubbard) Root, was born at Montague, Franklin county, February 19, 1823, being a descendant from the early settlers of the town, where he has always lived. After attending the public schools, at the age of fourteen he was employed as clerk in the store of Edward L. Delano, in Montague, where he remained about six years, when he formed a partnership with Hollis Chenery, continuing in the mercan- tile business until 1861, when he sold his interest and retired from mercantile life. Mr. Root has been twice married, his first wife being Sarah A., daughter of Isaac Chenery, of Gill, whom he married in 1853, and who died in 1878. In 1882 he married Mrs. Julia M. Giles, the daugh- ter of Dr. George Wright of Montague. Mr. Root has held various town offices. He was elected clerk and treasurer of the town in 1867, holding the position for eighteen years. In i860 he was commis- sioned a justice of the peace by Governor Banks, which office he still holds. He is a director of the First National Hank of Greenfield, and president of the Turner's Falls Savings Institution. In 1872 and '76 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and in i88o-'8i a senator from the Franklin district. ROTCH, William J., son of Joseph and Anna Ridgway (Smith) Rotch, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 2, 1819. His early training was in the private schools of New Bedford, Mass., where he fitted for Harvard College, entering in 1834. He was graduated from Harvard in the class of 1838. His first connection in business was with his brother, Benjamin S. Rotch, in the New Bedford Cordage Company. This busi- ness has been continued to the present time. Mr. Rotch has, in the meantime, enlarged his area of business enterprise, including many ventures in manufacturing and railway investments. His career has been eminently successful as a manufac- turer and merchant. Mr. Rotch was married in New Bedford, May 26, 1842, by Rev. Ephraim Peabody, to Emily, daughter of Charles W. and Sarah (Rodman) Morgan. He was married again, January n, 1866, to Clara Morgan, sister of his first wife, deceased. His chil- dren are : William (engineer of the Fall River Water Works), Morgan (mayor of New Bedford in 1885, '86, '87 and '88), Helen, Isabel, Sarah, Emily, Anna, and Mary Russell Rotch. Mr. Rotch is a trustee of the Arnold fund for the poor of New Bedford, and of St. Luke's hospital ; president and treasurer of the Friends' Academy of New Bedford ; and was aide-de-camp to Governor Clifford. He was a representative in the Legislature in 1842, and mayor of New Bedford in 1852. He is president of the New Bed- ford Cordage Company ; president of the WILLIAM J. ROTCH, Howland Vain Mills ; a director of the Wamsutta and Potomska Cotton Mills; president and director ol tin- Ml. Washing- ton Glass Company ; a director of the Pairpoint Silver Plating Manufacturing Company ; director of the New Bedford Gas Company ; president of the Rotch Wharf Company ; director of the Old Colon)' Railroad ; director of the Cleve- land & Canton Railroad ; director of the National Bank of Commerce, and vice- president and trustee of the New Bedford Institution for Savings. ROWE, George Howard Malcolm, son of Jonathan Philbrook and Maria Louisa (Morrison) Rowe, was born in Lowell, Middlesex county, February 1, 1841, and lived in Rollinsford, N. H., from 1850 to '60. His early education was received at the Berwick Academy, Berwick, Maine. He fitted for college at Phillips Academy,