The farming community of Dunleith Township recognizes among its enterprising men no more worthy and successful individual than he with whose name we preface this sketch. He apparently has the correct idea of the manner in which to conduct a farm and takes pride in his achievements in this respect. He is fortunate in having a tract of finely located land, well supplied with running water, and all the other natural advantages required for successful agriculture. His residence and out-buildings are neat and substantial structures, his live-stock is well-sheltered and well-fed,and the farm machinery includes a valuable wind-mill by which means water is conveyed to any locality required. The man who has thus established a good homestead has contributed this much to the prosperity and real-estate value of his county.

The Province of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, contained the early home of our subject, where his birth took place April 15, 1831. In common with the youth of his native Empire he received a thorough education in the German tongue, and after leaving school learned the art of manufacturing steel frames for leather cases, pocket-books, and the innumerable other articles of this description. He lived in his native Province until a young man of twenty-three years, then accompanied by his wife and her parents, set sail for America on an English vessel, making the voyage from Havre to New York City in thirty-five days, setting foot upon American soil May 4, 1854, whence lie made his way to Bridgeport, Conn., where he employed himself in a shovel factory nearly a year, and then set out for what was then the Far West. Coming to this county he located first in Galena; where he lived for eight years. We nest find him as the lessee of a farm in Dunleith Township upon which he operated five years, and at the expiration of which time he purchased that which he now owns and occupies.

The present homestead of our subject embraces forty-three acres, which has been brought to a fine state of cultivation, and upon which he has erected a good residence, a substantia] barn, and other structures necessary for his convenience. He is also the owner of eighty acres in Grant County, Wis. His family consists of his estimable wife and ten children, the latter named respectively: George. Nicholas, Peter, Adam, Maggie (now Mrs. JohnHiller), Valentine, Pauline, John, Mary, and Henry. They still form a family circle unbroken by death, and a group which the parents regard with pardonable pride. Mr. Roth received 81,000 from his father's estate, and from that capital has built up his present property. Politically, he, like his sons, uniformly supports the Democratic party, and in religious matters they all belong to tlxe Catholic Church. Joseph Roth, the father of our subject, was the son of Adam Roth, who was of pure German ancestry. The latter married Miss Frances Ncsser, and to them there was born a family of six sous, three of whom still survive. Grandfather Roth and his excellent wife spent their last years in their native Province of Hesse-Darmstadt. There also their son Joseph, the father of our subject, was born, reared, and married, to Miss Margaret Rabal. They became the parents of six children, namely: Valentine, our subject; Susan, now Mrs. John Dohe (this daughter was first married to Peter Wites); Adam J.; Maggie (Mrs. John Wites), Elizabeth, and Nicholas. They are all living, and with the exception of our subject, remain in their native Germany. Joseph Roth departed this life in the fall of 1875, at the age of seventy years. The mother had died in 1872. when about sixty-five years old. The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Catherine Roth, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, and they were married in Galena, Sept. 3, 1856.

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)