My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. ROE, ex-Circuit Clerk of Perry County, and a well known citizen of Pinckneyville, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, February 24, 1842, and is a son of Thomas S. Roe, a native of Cincinnati, who was born in 1818. The father grew to manhood in Dayton, and was graduated from the Louisville (Ky.) Medical College in 1841. Immediately thereafter he began practice. In 1843 he removed to Shawneetown, Ill., and also engaged in practice in Mt. Vernon, Nashville and Chester, this state. In 1857 he came to Pinckneyville, where he died October 12, 1873. He was one of the leading physicians of Illinois, winning high reputation among his professional brethren. His father, Daniel Roe, was born at Oyster Bay, Long Island, in 1780; his parents were natives of Wales and came to this county prior to the Revolution. Early in life Daniel became a minister of the Swedenborgian Church, but later abandoned the pulpit and entered the legal profession, practicing in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. He was a man of broad views and liberal education and was the owner of considerable property. About 1810 he moved from Langley, Ky., to Ohio, and settled in Lebanon, where his sons Edward and Charles were born. He thence moved to Cincinnati, and later to Dayton. He laid out an addition to the latter place which is now in the heart of the city. His death occurred there in the year 1843. His children were Thomas S., Charles C., who went to California, was enrolled among the “Fortyniners” of that state, and on his return located in Louisville, Ky., where he died in the year 1889, and Edward R. The latter was a graduate of the Louisville Medical College; he practiced medicine for several years, and was at one time Circuit Clerk of McLean County, Ill. He was afterward United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, but the greater part of his attention was given to writing works of fiction. The last fifteen years of his life were spent in Chicago, where he devoted his entire time to literary work. His stories are extensively read, and gained for him a high reputation as an author. He died in Chicago in November, 1893.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Anna Maria Boyer. She was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and was a daughter of Jacob Boyer, a native of the same state and a tinner by trade. He went to Ohio in an early day and served as organist in the German Reformed Church of Dayton for many years. He died in that city in 1860, leaving quite a fortune. In his family were thirteen children, including George P., who was Auditor of Montgomery County, Ohio, for several years; Thomas W., who was First Lieutenant in the First Ohio Regiment during the war and died in St. Louis, where he was a member of the Harter Medicine Company; and Frances, who became the wife of a Mr. Kane, a prominent citizen of Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Roe died in Pinckneyville in 1870.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest of three brothers, he and his brother Robert C. being members of Company G, Twelfth Illinois Infantry, during the late war. Robert C. was killed at Ft. Donelson February 15, 1862. Frank M. served for years as Deputy County Clerk of Perry County, retiring in December, 1892, and is now engaged in merchandising in Pinckneyville. On the breaking out of the Rebellion Charles H. and his brother Robert responded to the first call for troops, enlisting August 1, 1861. He participated in the battles of Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and those of the Atlanta campaign, and was mustered out of the service August 1, 1864. Re-entering the Quartermaster’s Department, he was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea and in the Carolina campaign.

Mr. Roe returned to Pinckneyville in 1865, and in the fall of that year was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk. In August, 1867, he was appointed to the office to fill an unexpired term, and was thereafter continuously elected Circuit Clerk until the fall of 1892. He thus served for a quarter of a century, and Perry County has known no more accommodating official in that office than he.

September 16, 1866, was celebrated the marriage Mr. Roe and Miss Harriet V., daughter of Humphrey B. Jones, who was for sixteen years Circuit Clerk of Perry County, he being the first to hold that office on the organization of the county in 1827. To Mr. and Mrs. Roe were born nine children, who are now living: Fannie G., wife of Henry Maasberg, of Pinckneyville; Jennie J., wife of Thomas L. Wallace, of Pinckneyville; Harriet M., at home; Robert B., who is in the drug business at Pinckneyville; Charles H., Thomas H., John D., Zoe Inez and Ernestine C.

In politics Mr. Roe has always been a Republican. That he has the confidence and good will of his fellow-townsmen is shown by his frequent re-election to office, and that fact also indicates the fidelity and ability with which he discharged his duties. Socially he is connected with the Grand Army post, in which he for many years served as Adjutant. He has led an honorable and upright life, was a valiant defender of the Old Flag, and Perry County numbers him among its best citizens.