Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-08-16
Death of Former Resident of Thi


Death of q Former Resident of This
County.
Mr.. and Mrs. II. e. Cary were again
called to Aurora, Ind, last week, to be
present at the dying bedside of Mr.. 8. G.
Roach, Mrs. Cary's father. On Saturday
word was received here that Mr.. Roach
had died the day before, and that his bur-
isl would occur on Sabbath at that place.
Mr.. Roach had been a resident OF this
county and neighborhood, previous to his
settling in Indiana, for about forty years,
having assisted in the building of the ca
nal, and may be considered as one of the
pioneers of this section. At the time OF
his death he was in the Goth year OF his
age. Most OF our citizens are familiar with
his family troubles during the latter years
correspondence which appeared in the
Cincinnati Enquirer of Tuesday may be of
general interest:
Aurora is considerably stirred up over recent de-
velopments affecting the marital relations of one Of
their late citizens Mr.. Samuel e. Roach, who came
here some time in the year 1873, accompanied by
lady whom he introduced as his wife. Both were
elderly people, and bringing with them letters were
admitted to membership of the Methodist Church
and permitted TO enter the first circles Of society,"
Mr.. X. was elected Steward In the church, and the
conduct aud demeanOr of the pair during their en-
tire residence here has been respectable and proper.
Mr. Roach engaged in mercantile business here, had
| good run of custom, and possessed to large de-
gree the confidence OF the public. Several weeks ago
he took sick, and his physicians assured him he
could not long survive Then 1t was that visitors to
| the bedside OF the sick man saw that some unre-
vealed trouble burd ned his mind, but no explana.
ton given rs to the nature Of his uneasiness.
AS the shadows Of death gathered closer around his
feeble form 1t became apparent that his secret grief
daughter Mrs. Amelia Cary, residing at his former
home in Napoleon, Ohio, should be telegraphed for
to come atonce. As the hours rolled by nearing
the time when the expected daughter was to arrive
old lady that employed aboutthe house he direct
| ed her where to 60 and get him 4 sack of money.
The old woman obeyed, and the poor man seized the
money when brought, placed it in his arm pit and
rested upon it. The time new by, and the daughter
did not arrive when expected. Again the dying man
called the old woman, and giving her the money
made her sacrediy promise to give 1t to his daughter
as soon as she should arrive should he be too far
gone to attend to it himself. The old woman hid
the money In the Of the stove, the amount be.
| ing $500, all in gold. The daughter came. The
father died. The old woman fulfilled her trust. The
child received her dying father's bequest The fu.
neral took place last Sunday After the grave had
closed over all that remained Of Samuel Il. Roach
the daughter sought the Office of Hon. Il. D. McMul
len and made the astounding assertion in the pres
ence Of numerous parties that the woman who had
! for the past five years moved In society as Mrs
Samuel Roach was not his lawful wife, and, there.
FORE not entitled to inherit his property The story
|
Juror here, is briefly this: Her father engaged
in mercantile business In Napoleon, Ohio where she
and her mother resided. The woman who now
claims to be wife No. was single LADY, living in
room over the store occupied by her father. They
consequently daily met, and 1t soon became appar
ent that her father was infatuated with his female
neighbor Gossip created little family unpleasant
ness and day. after drawing over s6 from the
bank, Mr.. r and the woman left for parts unknown
Family pride prevented any steps toward obtaining
divorce, and the daughter asserts no divorce wal
ever procured. About one year ago wife No. and
the girls mother died, &nd now the daughter, betne
the only child and surviving heir she claims viii
make vigorous fight in the Courts for her fathers
property, having retained Messrs. McMullen & Dow
ney and g. s. Jelly. Wife No. has retained Hon
o. F. Roberts to fight her legal battles, and claims tc
have been married to Mr.. Roach in 1878 and also
about year ago in Cincinnati, the last marriage
taking place after the death Of wife No. l. She also
claims the property to be her own and points to th,
fact that the sign the store is in the name o.
Mrs. s. @. Roach. An administrator will ct once b.
appointed to settle the estate, and then the Who'll,
matter will be publicly aired in the Courts. Boti
| sides are defiant and full OF fight.