From “Atchison County Biographical
Sketches”, History of the State of Kansas, William G. Cutler, published
by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois, 1883.
CHARLES E. ROTH, carpenter, came to Kansas October 5, 1878, and
located in Atchison where he has since resided. He is a member of the Lutheran
Church and belongs to Roth Bros.' Cornet Band. He was born September 28, 1856,
at Centre Valley, Lehigh County, Pa., where he lived until his ninth year, when
his parents removed to Lower Saucon, Northampton County, Pa., where he lived
until he came to Kansas. While in Pennsylvania he was engaged in farming and at
the Hellertown Iron Works. Since living in Kansas he has followed his trade,
that of carpenter.
JOEL W. ROTH, carpenter and builder, came to Kansas August 1,
1878, and located in Atchison, where he has since lived. He is a member of
Lodge No. 390 I. O. O. F., of Coppersburg, Pa., and a member of the Lutheran
Church. He was a private in Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and enlisted October 18, 1862, and was
mustered out of the service August 16, 1863, at Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Roth was
born in Colebrookdale Township, Berks Co., Pa., November 16, 1827. His parents
resided but one year in this place. After his birth they removed to Upper
Saucon Township, Lehigh Co., Pa., where the subject of this sketch resided
continuously for thirty-five years, when he removed to Lower Saucon Township,
Northampton Co., Pa., where he lived until he came to Kansas. During all these
years he was engaged sometimes at farming and sometimes working at his trade.
Mr. Roth was married in Upper Saucon, Lehigh Co., Pa., August 26, 1849, to Miss
Catherine Schaefer, a native of Lower Milford, Lehigh Co., Pa. They have had
ten children, of whom nine are living - William Henry, born march 3, 1850;
Wilson Franklin, February 6, 1852; Oscar John, August 24, 1854; Charles Edwin,
September 28, 1856; George Washington, July 24, 1858; Emma Matilda, August 16,
1860; Mary Catherine, August 14, 1862, died October 20, 1864; Robert Winfield,
August 1, 1865; Thomas Jacob, March 3, 1867; Preston James, May 31, 1869.
OSCAR J. ROTH,
carpenter, came to Kansas October 5, 1878, and located in Atchison where he has
since resided and followed his trade. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He
was born August 24, 1854, in Upper Saucon township, Lehigh County, Pa., where
he lived until his eleventh year, when his parents removed to Lower Saucon,
Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he resided until he came to Kansas.
While in Pennsylvania he engaged in farm work a short time, and the rest of the
time was at work in the Bethlehem rolling mills and the iron works at
Hellertown, Pa. Since he has lived in Atchison he has followed his trade of
carpenter. Mr. Roth is a member of Roth Bros.' Cornet band, which is mainly
composed of himself and six of his brothers. A brother- in-law is also one of
the members. The whole band consists of eleven pieces and only three performers
are not members of the Roth family. George W. Roth is the able leader of it.
The whole family are noted for their musical abilities and their band is in
frequent request at parades, picnics, etc. Mr. Roth was married May 1, 1875, at
Hellertown, Pa., to Miss Isadore Orner, a
native of Lower Saucon, Pa. She died October 18, 1879. They had three children,
two of whom are living - Walter Eugene, born October 4, 1875 and Jennie May,
born March 27, 1877.
WILLIAM H. ROTH, carpenter, came to Kansas October 5, 1878, and
located in Atchison, where he lives at present. He is a member of the Lutheran
Church and of the Saucanna Lodge No. 606, I. O. O. F., Hellertown, Pa., and of
Roth Bros.' Cornet Band. Mr. Roth was born in Lehigh County, Pa., March 3,
1850. While he lived in Pennsylvania his first employment was on a farm. At the
age of seventeen he commenced learning the carpenter's trade, at which he
worked for some years. One year before coming to Kansas, he worked for the
Hellertown Iron Company as a furnaceman. Mr. Roth was married December 30,
1869, at Fogelsville, Lehigh County, Pa., to Sovilla Hollenbach, a native of
Lehigh County, Pa. They have six children, four of whom are living - Elenora
C., born February 16, 1870; Peter H., born March 6, 1871, died August 11, 1871;
James S., born September 15, 1872, died June 7, 1875; Irene J., December 25,
1876; Stella M., June 7, 1879; Horace W., November 12, 1881.