Davis & Mitchell Families
THE WILD WEST, MONTONA IS WHERE THIS FAMILY STORY COMES FROM:
Although the majority of my ancestors came, lived, and went west from Ohio, this story is about my DAVIS, MITCHELL, line that was in Pike County, Ohio. They too gradually migrated west through descending generation.
My second Great Grandmother, MARY D. MITCHELL, daughter of Fanny, Francis DAVIS and Frederick MITCHELL was born in Pike County in 1823. Frederick MITCHELL born about 1790 in Virginia, could have been the son of Frederick MITCHELL who married LUCY LAD in Ross County, in 1805. Francis, Fanny DAVIS was the daughter of John DAVIS who resided in Pike County around the time period of 1820. She was born 1797 in Virginia. The first child of Frederick and Francis MITCHELL was Mary D.
They lived in Pickaway County then Pike County, then the family moved to Jay County, Indiana. The area had just opened to settlers. The only proof of Frederick's land purchase was found on the present day owner's abstracts. It is the first entry. Their Frederick died about 1845. Most of their children were grown so all moved on. Mary D. became the wife of Joseph Roach after he lost his first wife. He was left with a large family. This has left quite some confusion, as Mary was the same age as Joseph's oldest daughter. It has been interesting to straighten out researchers and cousins of this bit of information over the years.
Mary and Joseph Roach then moved to Northwestern Missouri. Then about the time of the Civil War they moved to Platte County, Missouri. Their farm was on a fractional section along the Missouri River. It flooded quite often leaving a deposit of poisonous snakes. Luckily no one died from them, but one son did drown in a nearby lake in the late 1860's. Letters written to my Grandfather Roach tell that Mary was a short stocky very kind lady who worked very hard. She was pretty with lots of heavy black hair. Joseph died about 1865 and Mary 1886. They both are buried in the Iatan Cemetery.
Their second son, Hiram Roach married America Jane Yoakum in 1866. There were several children born while they lived in Platte County but none lived. All buried by their Grandparents. In 1874 Hiram and America Jane went to the new land in Jackson County, Oregon by way of the railroad. The other branches of my family traveled the Oregon Trail.
In Jackson County they settled and their children were born and grew. They are buried in the Ashland, Oregon cemetery. My descendents live in Oregon, Washington and me in Montana. Hiram was a gardener for the city of Ashland. America Jane was a tailor and midwife. My Grandfather, Earl John Roach was their sixth son.
No, my ancestors were not important people. Just one of the every day peoples whom settled and made this country from east to west.
Submitted by Ella Patte, Billings, Mt.
PCOGS Newsletter - January 1997
Copyright © 2005
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690