JOHN ROUSH

John Roush, farmer, resides on section 26, Madison Township, where he owns 110 acres of good land. He came to this county with his wife December 13, 1851, locating on section 10, Madison Township, where he purchased forty acres of land, which had three acres of clearing, and a small log cabin. He lived there two years, then sold and bought eighty acres where he now lives.

He was born in Gallia County, Ohio, May 6, 1824, and grew to manhood in his native county. He was married November 17, 1850, to Sarah Darst, and about a year later removed to this county.

He lived on his present farm one winter before building his cabin, occupying a log school-house situated opposite his present residence. In the winter of 1855 he built the usual cabin with mud-and-stick chimney, and the following spring added a frame kitchen. He lived in this house until 1860, when he built his present home. He now has a good house and frame barn.

His father, Paul Roush, was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, May 12, 1790. When quite young he moved to Gallia County, Ohio, where he was reared and where he was married. He died in that county in 1871. The mother, Mary (Berry) Roush, was also born in Shenandoah County, March 31, 1792, and removed to Gallia County when quite young, and died in that county, January 15, 1845.

The Roushes and Darsts came to this county together. Mrs. Roush was born in Gallia County August 17, 1829, where she was reared and married. Her parents, Joseph and Eleanor (Slater) Darst, was born in Shenandoah County, the father, October 15, 1792, and the mother, May 25, 1793. The later died July 19, 1882, in Gallia County. They were the parents of ten children - Abraham, William, Mary, James, Charles, Sarah, Catherine and Rebecca, twins, Andrew J. and John. Catherine died at the age of one year.

In the family of Mr. Roush's parents were ten children - George, Moses, Elisha, Elizabeth, Paul, Mary, Barbara M., Gideon, John and Lydia. The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Roush - Joseph W., born October 30, 1852, married Jane R. Simmons; Haskell R., born September 13, 1854, married Louisa Getinger; Mary E., born January 20, 1857, married Simon Vining; Drusilla D., born July 16, 1859, married Joseph Mark; William A., born June 5, 1861; Della L., born May 4, 1863; Lydia E., born January 3, 1867, married Bryant A. Shreeve; Sarah A., born December 25, 1868; John A., born January 3, 1871, died August 5, 1878; James A., born December 20, 1873; Samuel D., born August 23, 1876.

Mr. Roush has been a life-long Democrat, and himself and wife are members of the Disciple church. Mr. Roush's parents were formerly Lutherans, but in later life joined the Disciples church. Mr. Roush's parents were members of the Free-Will Baptist church. Mr. Roush has served as assessor four years and as justice of the peace sixteen years.

His grandparents, Jacob and Barbara (Fox) Roush, were born in Pennsylvania and died in Gallia County, Ohio. His maternal grandfather, Malachi Berry, was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, and is supposed to have been killed by a bear, as his clothes and handkerchief were found in a piece of woods. His grandmother, Barbara (Loudenback) Berry, died in Champaign County, Ohio. Mrs. Roush's grandparents, Abraham and Mary (McCarty) Darst, were born in Virginia, the former April 1, 1778, and the latter the same date; both died in Gallia County, Ohio. Her maternal grandfather, John Slater, was born in Pennsylvania and died in that state. Her maternal grandmother, Susannah (Hook) Slater, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Tennessee.

The Roushes and Darsts are of German ancestry; the Slaters and Berrys are of English-Irish descent.

History of Jay County, Indiana