| Notes |
- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Central Pennsylvania, INCLUDING THE COUNTIES OF Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder, CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES. CHICAGO: J. H. BEERS & CO, 1898
514 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
BENJAMIN ROUSH, of Madisonburg, Centre county, is one of those wholesome, generous, sociable individuals to whom old age brings a strength of spirit and breadth of view which make youth, however beautiful and charming, seem crude and incomplete. Born July 19, 1820, in Washington township, Snyder (now Union) county, he has spent his entire life in the section to which this volume is devoted.
Frederick Roush, his father, was born in Sny- der county, and made his home there until 1832, when with his wife, Dorothy Nogle, and their little family, he moved to Brush Valley, Centre county. He was a shoemaker by trade, and, after living for a time in a rented house in an- other part of Miles township, he settled in Madisonburg, where he continued his business until a few years before his death, which occurred when he was sixty-two years old; his wife lived to be ninety-three years old, and both are buried at Madisonburg. The father was a man of in- fluence among his associates, and was elected on the Democratic ticket to various township offices. Although a hard worker, he never accumulated much, his earnings sufficing only to give the family a comfortable living. He was a good-sized man, and enjoyed e.xcellent health previous to his last illness. In religious faith he and his wife were Lutherans, and for many years he held office in the Church, as deacon and elder. Their children were: (1) Catherine, now Mrs. Abraham Snyder, of Nittany Valley; (2) Benjamin, our subject; (3) Daniel, of Madisonburg; (4) Mary, who married John Smith, and died at Reedsville, Penn. ; (5) Louisa (Mrs. Noah Musser), who died in Half Moon Valley; (6) Elizabeth, widow of John Rachua, of Gregg township. Centre county; (7) Susannah, widow of Israel Vonada, of the same township; and (8) Henry, who died in Stephenson county, Illinois.
Benjamin Roush spent his early years in the vicinity of Freeburg, Snyder county, and received such educational advantages as the schools of that locality then afforded. Under his father's instructions he became familiar with the details of the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until he was about twenty-five years old, saving from his wages $600. On March 13, 1849, he was married in Gregg township, Centre county, to Miss Margaret Hoy, the only child of John and Margaret Hoy. As his wife and her parents desired the family life to continue unbroken, Mr. Roush gave up his trade and be- came a farmer on the Hoy homestead, remaining there until 1880, when he moved to Madisonburg. He purchased a large stone house opposite the "Miller Hotel," and made his home there until after the death of his wife, which occurred May 30, 1889. She was a lady of fine Christian character, a devout member of the Reformed Church, and her death was deeply mourned by all who knew her. Five children survive her: John H. is a farmer in Gregg township. Centre county; Sarah J. married A. H. Vonada, of Miles township, Centre county; Mary A. married D. D. Royer, of the same township; Jeremiah L., a minister of the Reformed Church, resides in Pennsburg, Montgomery Co., Penn.; Emma J. married Jacob Deitrich, of Miles township, Centre county, and for some years Mr. Roush has lived at their pleasant home near Madisonburg. His sons and daughters have without exception taken honorable positions in life, and make a family of whom any parent would be proud. Few, if any, fathers in this section have contributed so liberally to start their children in life as has Mr. Roush, no less than $7,000 having been given to each as the time came to leave the home nest. Each has received a farm, and he has thus disposed of the five which he formerly owned. He believes that help should be given to the children while they are young and can benefit by it; and certainly the results justify the theory. Fortunately he still has plenty to keep "the wolf from the door," as he is yet rated among the wealthy men of the county.
Mr. Roush has been an industrious worker and shrewd manager, and well deserves his suc- cess in life. His time has been given mainly to the care of the estates, but for three and one- half years he conducted a mercantile business in Madisonburg, having been obliged at one time to secure certain bail money for which he was liable by buying a stock of goods. Politically, he is a steadfast Democrat, and his fellow citizens have called him to the service of the community at different times as supervisor and school director. He has always been a cheerful giver to religious movements, and especially to the Reformed Church, in which he is at present a trustee. He was one of the building committee of two at the time the society built their church edifice at Madisonburg, and he gave liberally of both time and money to insure the success of the undertaking.
[3]
- John was a son of Benjamin and Margaret.
JOHN H. ROUSH, a prominent agriculturist,
residing near Madisonburg, Centre county, is
one of the progressive, wide-awake men who
naturally take the lead in any calling which they
may undertake. He was born March 22, 1850,
on the same farm which he now owns and occu-
pies, and was the eldest child of Benjamin and
Margaret (Hoy) Roush. The estate was formerly
known as the "John Hoy homestead," and the
Hoy family were from early times identified with
that locality. The neighboring district school
was called Hoy's school, and there Mr. Roush re-
ceived his education, one of his first teachers be-
ing John Houtz.
Farm life presents many advantages to a
youth, healthful work, relieved by pleasant out-
door recreation, forming wholesome habits and
developing and strengthening the physique.
There was always plenty to do at home, and
Mr. Roush's parents being well-to-do, he never
" worked out " for other farmers. As he became
familiar with the management of the farm he as-
sumed much of the responsibility, and as a young
man he gave evidence of the qualities which have
contributed to his later success. In January,
1873, he was married at Rebersburg to Miss
Margaret J. Shaffer, daughter of John and Fran-
ces (Schmeltzer) Shaffer. She was a native of
Sugar Valley, Clinton county, born in December,
1850, but her early life was mainly spent in
Brush Valley. After his marriage Mr. Roush lo-
cated in Sugar Valley, renting the farm upon
which Mrs. Roush was born. He remained
there until the spring of 1876, when he removed
to a farm in Spring township, Centre county,
near Axeinann. In the spring of 1888, he left
this place to take his permanent residence in
Gregg township, at the old homestead, which he
has greatly improved in various ways. The es-
tate contains 1 82 acres of choice land, and is con-
sidered one of the best farms in the locality.
Mr. and Mrs. Roush have three daughters:
(i) Carrie E. married A. J. Hazel, of Madison-
burg, and has two children; (2) Minnie E. and
(3) Frances E., are at home. The family holds
a leading place in the social life of the com-
munity. Mr. Roush is a member of the Re-
formed Church, in which he has served as dea-
con, and Mrs. Roush is a Lutheran in faith.
Politically he is a stanch and steadfast Democrat,
and has much influence in the local organization.
While living in Spring township he held office as
school director and assistant assessor, and at
present he is the director of the " Hoy district
school," which he attended in boyhood. He is
a member of the Grange, and of the I. O. O. F.
Lodge No. 955, at Millheim, and is a charter
member of Madison Castle No. 360, K. G. E.,.
at Madisonburg.
[3]
|
1820 - 1901 (80 years)
[2] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set