Obituary of James Roscoe

August 19, 1903 - The citizens of Noble CO. were much surprised and shocked to learn of the death of Hon. James Roscoe, which occurred at his residence in York Twp. On Wed am, August 19, 1903.

Mr. Roscoe was attending to his usual and many duties on Tues am and same to Albion to make preparations for threshing. In the pm he was taken with severe pains in his stomach. Dr. Hays of Albion, was summoned and from his treatment he rallied and the pain partially relieve. He rested fairly during the night and in the morning he gave some directions to his employees, but said that he would not attempt to get up. This was before breakfast. Just as they were seating them selves at the table, as strange noise was heard from the bedroom. His wife ran into it, Mr. Roscoe seemed to be strangling and in great pain, and was struggling for breath. They raised his head, but he passed away in a moment without saying a word to anyone.

Mr. Roscoe and his faithful and living wife came to Noble CO. in the spring of 1861, when it was practically a wilderness and they lived here ever since. Their acquaintance has become extensive and there were few person in the Co. who were better know. Their labors have been crowned with success, and the beautiful “Evergreen Farm” will remain as a tribute and monument to their faithful work, and patient and unceasing industry.

James Roscoe was born in Elizabethtown, Essex CO. NY, on Sept. 11, 1833, and was the oldest son of Levi and Eliza Roscoe. He as one of seven brothers and had two sisters, now deceased. He lacked a few days of having reached 70 years of age. He came from Scotch and English ancestry, and was early taught the habits of frugality and industry, and these lessons served him well during his entire subsequent life and contributed in a large degree to the successful acquisition and cultivation of one of the largest farms in N. Ind.

Mr. Roscoe came with his parents to Milan, Erie CO. Ohio, in 1834, where he received his education in the district schools of North Milan, and where he resided until the spring of 1861. He was married to Alcy N. Barr in March 1857. In the spring of 1861, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe and one child came from Milan, Ohio with a wagon drawn by oxen to Green Twp. Noble Co. Ind. occupying 14 days on the journey. He had bought 80 acres in Green Twp. Before they started. He lived on this land for two years, when, Mr. Roscoe seeing that he could not easily acquire additional land, sold it and bought 160 acres in York Twp. Which was then in a state of wilderness, and which is that part of his farm now situated (on the west side of Ind. 9). He moved onto this place in the spring of 1863. Filled with ambition and blessed with a strong constitution, he tackled the forest and soon subjected the land to the plow. Not satisfied with owning 160 acres he kept buying more timber land, and kept on clearing and improving it until at his death he and his wife were the owner of nearly 600 acres of land, all contiguous and in one body and with large and commodious building thereon. It is a fact worth mentioning that all of this farm cleared by him or under his supervision, and it has been brought to its present condition by the united efforts and plans of himself and wife.

About 25 years ago Mr. Roscoe joined the order of Free Masons at Albion, where he took all the different degrees which this subordinate lodge could grant. He served as officer of this lodge in various ways. He subsequently joined the lodge at Kendallville where he went still higher in Masonry until he became a Knight Templar. Not satisfied with this attainment in 1890 at Indianapolis he took the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rites.

In politics Mr. Roscoe was originally a republican until about 1888, when he became a democrat. In 1890 he was elected to the legislature of the state of Indiana as a member of the House, which office he held for one term. He also held other local offices.

To Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe were born two sons and one daughter. Nelson their oldest child, lived to manhood and married Miss Celia Clark, of Wolf Lake. He died 15 months after their marriage, leaving his wife, who has since deceased, and a son, Nelson J. C. Roscoe, now living. Mrs. Roscoe and her grandson, constitute his direct surviving relatives. He leaves however, surviving him six brothers, four of whom, Caselton, Lei and Ransom of Norwalk, Ohio, were all present at the funeral, and who with his nephew Geo. P. Voorheis of Toledo, Ohio, and his grandson Nelson J. C. Roscoe acted as his pallbearers.

Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe have survived as husband and wife, and are the last to be parted by death, of all the families who lived at Port Mitchell and in that vicinity when they moved to the present location in 1863.

The funeral was held at this home on Sat am under the auspicious of the Masons and buried by the Masonic Ritual.

A large number of friends followed his remains to their final resting place in the cemetery in Albion. G.P.V.

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