5. Theodore ROACH was
born on 22 Jan 1864 in Hatfield, Harrison Co, Missouri. He died in Jul 1915
in Higgins, Lipscomb Co, Texas (Circle Z Ranch). 9) The fourth son and eighth
child of Eli and Elizabeth Jane GABLE-ROACH was Theodore ROACH, born 22 January
1864 at Hatfield, Harrison County, Missouri. Theodore ROACH found the love of
his heart in Miss Nancy Olive GREGG. Theodore and "Olive" had planned
to marry; but before they could do so, tragedy in the form of influenza took
"Olive" at the tender age of 16 years. Theodore chose to marry Barbara
Elizabeth "Lizzie" GREGG, older sister of "Olive." They were
married 26 March 1886 in Worth County, Missouri. Theodore is reported to have
treated his wife and children roughly. One wonders if marrying his second choice
a partners was a factor.
10) Theodore and "Lizzie" GREGG-ROACH had eight children at Allendale,
Worth County, Missouri. Three Weeks after their last child was born on 7 February
1903, the family traveled by train to the Oklahoma territory to file a claim
on government land. They left with a number of relative families from Allendale,
Missouri. They all filed claims on land near the town of Arnett, Oklahoma.
Theodore ROACH's sister, Mary Olive ROACH-WEDDLE, named the town of Arnett, Oklahoma.
Theodore ROACH was the supervisor in the construction of the County Courthouse
at Arnett, which still stands today.
11) He returned home to Allendale, Worth County, Missouri for a short time before
1912, and the children attended the "Nation School." The family was
doing really well in Oklahoma; but Theodore suffered from itchy feet, and he
woke up one morning, sold everything, and went back to Missouri. The family
later returned to Arnett, Oklahoma and bought a relinquishment from someone that
wished to sell their claim of land. Theodore was a "Locator," helping
settlers find water on their claims and digging the wells. He would accept payment
in the form of livestock and food stuffs. Cash money was a scarce commodity.
12) A sizable herd of cattle was obtained for the family from the well digging
services of Theodore ROACH.
14) Tom ROACH began traveling to find work after he healed somewhat from the
wounds Joker inflicted, and went to Colorado and did some ranch work until he
wasn't able to work. He then returned home. Lizzie wasn't doing well either
from the her wounds from the same bull, and it was decided that the family would
travel with hopes that it would help her and Tom. They left their home at Arnett,
Oklahoma and went to pick cotton in the fall. They were near Strong City, Oklahoma
when Tom ROACH died 6 October 1911. He was buried in the Strong City Cemetery,
now known as the Pioneer Cemetery, in an unmarked grave.
15) The family continued to follow the cotton harvest at Indiahoma, Oklahoma.
While working for "Pink" Ellis, Lizzie took to her bed early one night.
When her daughter, Gloxinia, went to check on her, she found Lizzie in an odd
state of repose. Screaming, "Momma, Momma" and shaking her mother's
body, Gloxinia temporarily revived her. Her mother's last words were, "Oh
no! Now I have to go through that again." She closed her eyes and was gone.
Barbara Elizabeth "Lizzie" GREGG-ROACH died 13 December 1912.
16) Theodore ROACH's health was failing, so he took his remaining five children
back to their home near Arnett, Oklahoma. He encouraged his daughters Gloxinia
and Purney to marry. They, therefore, married two brothers Riley Earl and Oscar
Lee NOBLITT from Durham, Oklahoma. Purney ROACH married Oscar Lee NOBLITT 4
October 1914.
17) Oscar, Purney, Theodore, and Donahue, went to New Mexico to file a claim
on land. Not long after Oscar and Purney were married. Theodore and Purney
were running a restaurant. Gloxinia came for a time to help, but returned to
Oklahoma with her husband Riley Earl NOBLITT. Oscar Lee NOBLITT filed on a claim
and was shepherding for a sheep rancher near Vaughn, New Mexico. Donahue was
helping Oscar with the sheep. Ermson ROACH stayed around Arnett/Durham, Oklahoma
until his death in 1920.
18) Roy ROACH went to California with his wife Dora SPARKS about that time....
19) In Vaughn, New Mexico, 22 July 1915, Purney ROACH-NOBLITT gave birth to a
baby girl at the age of 15 years. The birth was extremely difficult, and Purney
became very ill afterwards. The Family took her by train to Higgins, Texas where
a friend was able to take her in while she recuperated. Theodore ROACH was on
his way to pick up his granddaughter, Georgia Mae NOBLITT, from a neighbor's
home when he collapsed on the streets of Higgins, Texas. He died of a lung hemorrhage
July of 1915. He is buried at the city cemetery in Higgins, Texas next to his
uncle Ezra ROACH.
He was married to Barbara Elizabeth GREGG (daughter of
Milton Howard GREGG and Susannah DAY) on 26 Mar 1886 in Allendale,
Worth Co., Missouri. Barbara Elizabeth GREGG was born
on 30 Dec 1864 in Meigs Co, OH. She died on 13 Dec 1912 in Indiahoma, Comanche
Co, Ok (Pink Ellis's Lot, Deep Red Cem. Tillman Co.). 9) ...Theodore and "Olive"
GREGG had planned to marry; but before they could do so, tragedy in the form
of influenza took "Olive" at the tender age of 16 years. Theodore
chose to marry Barbara Elizabeth "Lizzie" GREGG, older sister of "Olive."
They were married 26 March 1886 in Worth County, Missouri. Theodore is reported
to have treated his wife and children roughly. One wonders if marrying his
second choice a partners was a factor.
13) Lizzie, was hanging clothes when Joker, the same bull that injured Tom, attacked
her, knocking her down and butting her around. The family was able to get the
bull off her; but Lizzie was not well ever again.
15 ) The family continued to follow the cotton harvest at Indiahoma, Oklahoma.
While working for "Pink" Ellis, Lizzie took to her bed early one night.
When her daughter, Gloxinia, went to check on her, she found Lizzie in an odd
state of repose. Screaming, "Momma, Momma" and shaking her mother's
body, Gloxinia temporarily revived her. Her mother's last words were, "Oh
no! Now I have to go through that again." She closed her eyes and was gone.
Barbara Elizabeth "Lizzie" GREGG-ROACH died 13 December 1912.
Theodore ROACH and Barbara Elizabeth GREGG had the following children:
6 i. Ermson
Rasho ROACH was born in Dec 1884 in Allendale, Worth Co., Missouri. He died
in Oct 1920.
7 ii.
Maud ROACH died Infant in Allendale, Worth Co., Missouri. She was born in
Allendale, Worth Co., Missouri.
8 iii.
Ulmor ROACH died Infant.
+9 iv.
Roy Otto ROACH.
10 v.
Clarance Thompson (Tom) ROACH was born on 6 Dec 1892 in Allendale, Worth
Co., Missouri. He died on 6 Oct 1911. 12) A sizable herd of cattle was obtained
for the family from the well digging services of Theodore ROACH. Since the family
had no fences to pasture the cattle, the job of herding the cattle to forage
fell to the children. Tom and Purney ROACH were the ones put in charge of herding.
For entertainment, they rode the calves and became quite good. They even had
dreams of becoming rodeo riders. Heartache came to the family in the form of
a bull named Joker. He had a disagreeable nature, actually a mean nature. Tom
ROACH, when he was about 14 years old, was riding Joker one day did not get away
soon enough when he dismounted -- and Joker stomped him, causing severe injuries
to Tom's groin and testicles. A doctor was called, and some surgery was performed;
but Tom was never really well again. From that fateful day, He Tom was never
the same.
14) Tom ROACH began traveling to find work after he healed somewhat, and went
to Colorado and did some ranch work until he wasn't able to work. He then returned
home. Lizzie wasn't doing well, and it was decided that the family would travel
with hopes that it would help her and Tom. They left their home at Arnett, Oklahoma
and went to pick cotton in the fall. They were near Strong City, Oklahoma when
Tom ROACH died 6 October 1911. He was buried in the Strong City Cemetery, now
known as the Pioneer Cemetery, in an unmarked grave.
+11 vi.
Gloxinia ROACH.
+12 vii.
Purney ROACH.
13 viii.
Donahue ROACH was born on 7 Feb 1903 in Allendale, Worth Co., Missouri.
23) Donahue ROACH left Durham, Oklahoma around 1917 after witnessing a murder.
He was 14 years old at the time. He hoboed the country -- went to California,
did farm and dairy work, and for additional money he worked as an extra in movies.
He showed up periodically to check on Roy and Purney. Donahue introduced Roy
to the commercial warehouse to sell the farms produce in the 1930s. Prior to
this, Roy sold his harvest house to house. Selling the harvest to warehouses
in Alamogordo, El Paso, and San Angelo increased the profits of the truck farm.
Donahue's wandering lifestyle never set well with his older brother, Roy, and
was a bone of contention between the two.
24) Donahue ROACH made his way in the world. After the death of his parents,
he returned to Missouri and settled down at the age of 36 years with Ora WILSON
a widow with a son and daughter. He worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation
until his retirement in the 1960s. Ora WILSON-ROACH died in 1986 at Stanberry,
Missouri. Donahue ROACH still lives in Stanberry, Missouri, as of this writing
(18 May 1997), and celebrated his 94th birthday 7 February 1997.