Roswell Champion, Justice of the Peace, Sterling, was born in Lyme, New London Co. Conn. May 26, 1827, his parents being John and Sophia (Lay) Champion, natives of Connecticut and of the old Puritan stock. When he was nine years old his mother moved with the family to Herkimer Co. NY, where they lived until their death, that of his mother occurring in 1875 and his father in Oct. 1884.
He lived at the parental home until 21 years of age, having the usual experiences of farm and school life (of the common district school, with the exception of one term at the Institute in Clinton, Oneida County, being a techer the last two years of the above period). Next he was employed four years in a mercantile house at Albion Mich. In 1855 he came to Sterling continuing in the mercantile business, and soon purchased a grocery house, which he conducted a short time. Selling out the latter, he then engaged as bookkeeper for the firm of Galt and Brother, then in the same capacity for the firm of Patterson, Witmer & Co., and continued for some time with Mr. Witmer after the old firm was dissolved. His health failing, he accepted an agency for the Etna Fire Ins. Co. of hartford Conn. and subsequently for other fire insurance companies, in which business he still continues.
In 1869 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has held the office ever since. In 1873 he accepted a position as cashier in one of the banks at Sterling, which he fulfilled for three years. In the saem year he was appointed School Treasurer, and he still holds the office. He is a Republican and he favors the Swedenborgian explanation of the Word, believeing it to be the most reasonable. he is a member of the presbyterian Church as is his wife.
In December 1869, Mr. Champion married Agnes Wallace a native of PA who came to Sterling with her parents,
Hugh and Mary (Galt) Wallace. Mr. Wallace was a lawyer here for many years, retired now and had devoted his attention to real estate until his death in August 1864. Since the spring of 1879 the interests of his estate have been in the charge of Mr. Champion.
Portraits & Biographical 1885 Pg 316
