Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/125

 ROACH

ROANE

ROACH, John, sliip builder, was born in Mitchellstovvn, county Cork, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1813 ; son of a small dealer in cloths, wlio failed in business tlirough endorsing notes for his friends, in 1827. John landed in New York city penniless in 1827, and finally obtained work from James P. Allaire in the Howell Iron works in New Jersey, where he remained for three j'ears. He removed to Illinois, where with $500 of his savings he purchased some land which became the site of the city of Peoria, but owing to the failure of Mr. Allaire he lost the $1000 still due him, and also lost possession of his land. He re- turned to New York, worked on marine engines and shipwork till he had saved $1000, when with three fellow-workmen he established an inde- pendent foundry in New York city, shortly after- ward becoming sole owner, and in four years he had accumulated $30,000. He was married in New Jersey in 1837 to Emeline Johnson. In 1856 an explosion of a boiler destroyed his works, and failing to recover insurance he was ruined. He borrowed a small sum of money and rebuilt the JEtna Iron Works, added to it by purchasing the Morgan Iron Works in 1868, for which he paid $400,000, the Neptune Works in 1868. the Franklin Forge and the Allaire Works in 1870, and the ship yards at Chester, Pa., owned by Rainer and Sons, in 1871. He constructed the largest en- gines built in the United States, up to the time of his death, also the first compound engines, and after 1871 devoted himself almost exclusively to shipbuilding, his plant at Chester, Pa., valued at $2,000,000, being known as the Delaware River Iron Ship-building and Engine Works, of which he was the principal owner. He built sixty-three iron vessels in twelve years, either for the U. S. government or for private transportation com- panies. His government contracts included six monitors ordered during President Grant's ad- ministration. The last vessels that he built for the U.S. navy were the three cruisers Chicago, Atlanta and Boston, and the despatch boat Dol- phin. The government refused to accept the Dolphin in 1885, which act, together with the financial crisis, forced him to make an assign- ment for the protection of his creditors and bonds- men, July 18, 1885. He constructed about 114 iron vessels for private concerns and foreign governments, and also built the sectional dock at Pensacola, Fla., and the iron bridge over the Harlem river at Third Avenue, New York city. His son, John Baker Roach, succeeded to the man- agement of the Chester works, which were re- opened when the government accepted the Dolphin. John Roach died in New York city, Jan. 10, 1887.

ROACH, William Nathaniel, senator, was born in Loudoun county, Va., Sept. 25, 1840.

He was a student at Georgetown college, Wash- ington, D.C. ; served as a clerk in the quarter- master's department in Washington, 1861-65, and as cashier of the Citizens' National bank in Washington, 1878-79, when he removed to Dako- ta Territory. There he took up a northwestein mail contract between Grand Forks and Fort Totten, and subsequently established a number of overland mail routes. He settled on a farm near Larimore, Grand Forks county. He was mayor of Larimore, 1883-87 ; a member of the territorial legislature in 1885, being the only Democrat in the assembly, and the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of North Dakota in 1889 and 1890. He was elected to the U.S. senate by the joint votes of the Democrats and Indepen- dents assisted by ten Republican members, Feb. 20, 1893, after a protracted session of over one month, and served, 1893-99. He was married first to Mary Lieberman of A\^ashington, D.C; sec- ondly, Feb. 8, 1899, to Mrs. V. E. Pollock of Ne- braska. He died in New York city, Sept. 7, 1902.

ROANE, Archibald, governor of Tennessee, was born in Derry, Pa., in 1755; son of Andrew and Margaret (Walker) Roane. Andrew Roane was born in Grenshow, Ireland, of Scotch par- ents, immigrated to America with his brother, the Rev. John Roane, in 1739, and settled in Derry, Pa. Archibald w^as educated by his uncle, the Rev. John Roane, 1768 ; studied law ; re- moved to Tennessee ; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1788 ; and shortly afterward became ter- ritorial attorney-general for the district of Hamil- ton, and was elected a judge of the supreme court in 1796. He was married to Ann. daughter of David and Mary (Hamilton) Campbell of Washing- ton county, Va. He was a delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1796, and was elected governor of Tennessee, succeeding John Sevier, and serving, 1801-04. He resumed practice in Jonesboro in 1804 ; was judge of the second cir- cuit court, 1811-14, and a judge of the supreme coux't of errors and appeals, 1815-18. He was married to a Miss Campbell of Virginia. He died at Jonesboro, Tenn., in 1818.

ROANE, John, representative, was born in Virginia in 1754. He received a liberal educa- tion ; was a member of the state legislature for several years ; a delegate to the state constitu- tional convention, Jan. 25, 1788. and a presiden- tial elector from the eighth Virginia district in 1789. He was a Democratic representative from Virginia in the 11th. 13th, 20th, 21st and 24th congresses, 1809-15, 1827-81 and 1835-37. He died at his home in Runiford Academy, King William county. Va., Nov. 15, 1838.