Mysteries of the Roach Family Can you help us solve these mysteries? Mysteries we have encountered and have been unsuccessful so far in sorting out are included in this section.We welcome everyone to join in our efforts to find the answers to these puzzles, and request that when you find answers that you share them with the rest of us.These are listed in no particular order.
Harvey Oren Koontz
Harvey was born 8/12/1872 in Gallia Co., Ohio to Phebe Price and John Q. Koontz.The 1880 Springfield Twp., Gallia County census lists Harvey on page 36 with the family of John Rollisage 62, a farmer, Lucretia age 45, his wife, Samuel age 25, John Rollis' son and a farmer, Mary age 22, daughter of John Rollis, and Harvey Koontz age 8, adopted by John Rollis and working as a servant somewhere.John Rollis is shown as born in Virginia, but his son Samuel is shown as born in Ohio with both parents born in Ohio, while daughter Mary shows as born in Ohio with her father born in Virginia and Mother in Ohio, and Harvey is shown as born in Ohio with his father born in Virginia and his mother born in Ohio.The death certificate for John Q. Koontz says he was born in Gallia Co., Ohio.Bear in mind that there are numerous mistakes on censuses and that may be what part of the problem is.Of course the death certificate for John Q. might also be in error.But a real mystery here is why did anyone adopt Harvey?Phebe remarried to John Hand about 1886 and John Q. remarried to Sophia Angels in January of 1886.
Hulda Best Fleming
What happened to Hulda Best Fleming?She was born in 1846 in Ohio and is said to have died in 1895 in Ohio, but where?We thought she died in Scioto County, but they say they do not have a record of her death-at least not in 1895.Joseph Fleming(her husband) died 7/18/1915 in Greenup Co., Kentucky and was buried in Mt. Ebo Cemetery in Portsmouth, Scioto Co., Ohio.We wrote to Greenup County in February, but have not heard from them yet.We know Hulda is not listed in the Greenup County 1910 census with Joseph.He is listed on that census with his daughter Hettie, son-in-law Harvey (Koontz) and granddaughter Minerva.Joseph and Hulda are not listed in the 1880 Scioto County census.
Mehitable Bennett Best
Mehitable likewise is elusive.She is said to have died also in 1895, and was the mother of Hulda.She is listed in the 1880 Scioto County census and is listed as Mehitable Best.I had thought she might have remarried since Valentine (her husband) had died so young.In 1880 she is listed with the household of William Blair her son-in-law and his wife Esther.She was 68 at that time and is shown as having had typhoid fever, as did her granddaughter Elizabeth.Unfortunately, the 1890 federal census, except for part of Georgia was destroyed in a fire, so we do not know where she was at that time.Again, Scioto County says they do not have a record of her death there in 1895.Phil spent a great deal of time searching one of the local "Bennett" cemeteries in the Portsmouth area and so far we cannot find her.We do not know where Valentine is buried at this time.I should note that the 1880 census indicates that Mehitable was born in Ohio, as were both parents.Most Bennett genealogists do not show Mehitable.A few show Gershom her brother, but most show her stepbrothers and stepsisters only.Her father Thaddeus Bennett, Jr. died shortly after their arrival in Scioto County, and her mother remarried a man named Rockwell.If the census is correct, we may need to try to find christening records for her, if we cannot find a death record.I had thought before I saw this census, that she possibly was born on route to Ohio, maybe somewhere in Pennsylvania, but now it seems like New York would be a better starting place.
Mary Jane Bumgarner
Who were Mary Jane Bumgarner's parents?The 1870 and 1880 Mason County West Virginia censuses show her as born about 1857.The marriage record of Jacob Roach and Mary Bumgarner says she was 21 at the time of the marriage in 1875, which would mean she was born closer to 1854.The 1880 census lists her as part of Jacob Roach's family, and the 1870 census lists her in the household of David and Rachel Layhingle.She was 13 at the time.Were these relatives?The only Mary Bumgarner I find close to the right age in Mason County in 1860 was a daughter of John and Sarah Bumgarner, but the Mason Countydeath index lists this Mary as dying in 1856.The birth index of Mason County does not show Mary J.,but then it does not show Jacob C. Roach either.Mason County could not find a copy of the marriage record for this couple, and we finally obtained a copy of it through the West Virginia Record Archives Office.It appears that the vital records for mid-late 1800's in Mason County are by no means complete.They also could not find a copy of the death record for Mary J.Bumgarner (Roach).We were told Mary J. died in 1884 and is buried in the Salem EUB Church cemetery in Mason County, but we have not been able to have anyone verify that yet.Jacob had a son John with Allie Misner in 1886 in West Virginia and married her in Athens, Ohio in 1889, so it does seem like Mary J. likely died before 1886.Mason County does not have a record of any of the children born to Jacob and Mary J., nor do they have a record of the birth of John, son of Jacob and Allie.We do not know of any other children born to Mary J. and Jacob other than Harriett and Lewis, although there very well may have been a couple more children born between 1800 and 1884.There not being an 1890 census to view, the next we could find the family was in Athens County, Ohio in 1900, and by then the children from the first marriage were not living at home.
Jacob C. Roach
We hesitate to call him Sr., because we have never seen him listed as Sr. before, although it appears that both he and his son had the middle name Camden.Why was Jacob in jail in 1860?The census lists his occupation as a farmer and shows the date 5/16/1859 which may be the date of incarceration.In the final column it looks like someone wrote the words "Religion" and "Insane" .The notes in that column for other persons who were in jail at the time, lists their offense.Does this mean that Jacob was a bit of a religious fanatic at that time?Where were his wife and children that year?Had Harriett died before then?If she did, where were the children?If she was not dead did she indeed take the children and go back to Pennsylvania while he was in jail?How long was Jacob in jail?His sister Margaret had lived with him ten years before that (1850 census) and was living with his family ten years after that (1880 census), and seems to have also disappeared in 1860.Was the family not counted because Harriett's mother was an Indian?Were they simply missed in the census count?
John Price
We show John Price as the father of Phebe, but the name may have been William, so it may have been some other Price.Who were the parents of Phebe Price?Unfortunately, the most helpful document is usually a death record, and Phebe's death record indicates that her father's name was Unknown Price and her mother's name was Unknown Jones.Philip Hand, her son gave the information for the death record, indicating that Phebe was born in Gallia County, Ohio and her father was born in Gallia County, Ohio, with her mother's birthplace unknown.
William Roach
Is the William Roach who married Mary Comer the same William Roach who was the father of Jacob C.?He was living with Jacob C. In 1850 and then I lose him again.We need to verify that this is the correct William Roach and that he is indeed the son of Jonathan Roach.
Beriah Littleberry Roach
The whole saga of Beriah will not be repeated here, but the mystery of who was actually killed in the Muddy Creek Indian Massacre needs to be carefully studied.We do not know yet which records are obtainable for verification of data, but this certainly would be well worth the time and effort to sort out as much as possible.
John Q. Koontz
John Q. Koontz died accidentally, killed by a train.What were the circumstances surrounding this accident?When and where did John Q. and Phebe Price get a divorce?Where were they and their other children in 1880 when the Gallia County census lists their son Harvey as "adopted"?I could not find any of them.Sue Berry tells me they also had a son Lee Koontz and a daughter Della McQuellen Koontz.I find a Lee and Della Koontz living in Columbus on Main Street in the 1887-1892 city directory, but then I lose them again.Also Phebe and John Q. had a son Abram and a daughter Mary that are both listed on the 1870 Raccoon Twp., Gallia Co., Ohio census. Abram was 2 and Mary was 1 at that time, and again it is interesting to note that both children are listed as born in Missouri.Gallia County indicates they do not have a record of marriage for John Q. and Phebe that would not be unreasonable if the oldest children were born in Missouri and may be an indication that John and Phebe were married in Missouri.Why would John Q. and Phebe leave Ohio and move to Missouri to get married, have two children and then move back to the same area in Ohio?