Mr. and Mrs. George Roof - Celebrate 57th Wedding Anniversary

February 1919 - Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Roof celebrated their 57th marriage anniversary on Wed, Feb. 23, 1919, in a quiet and unobtrusive manner.

On the evening of Feb. 23, 1850 at the log cabin of the late Henry L. Brown, on e mile south of Albion, were congregated Mr. and Mrs. Brown, her small children, Felissa, Eliza, and Willard; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Story, and Esquire Damon P. Coffinsbury, including the contacting parities, Mr. Geo. W. Roof and Miss Elizabeth Skeels. The solemn words, which legally joined the two young people as life partners was spoken by Mr. Correnbury.

Mr. Roof’s advent in Noble Co. was at Albion, early in Oct. 1857. On the 23rd day of this month the stockholders of the Noble Co. Democrat leased the office to him for on year, afterward renewing the lease ending May 19, 1859. The stockholders were Jacob S. Foster, Thomas Story, Owen Black, and Geo. W. Roof. Every one of the signers of this document (except Mr. Roof) lie in their caskets of clay, unconscious of journalistic struggles of the pioneer time. It was during this period that Elizabeth Skeels was wooed and won (Geo. was born June 1, 1838)

Elizabeth Skeels, born Apr 27, 1840 was the youngest of five daughters of Wm. Skeels, a pioneer of Noble Co. She was born in Huron Co., Ohio 4/27/1840. All her married life being spent with the partner of her choice was spent in the cities and towns where the business of her husbanad called. She has been a true and faithful companion; and her unspotted character and true woman hood is best known by the public wherever her lot has been cast.

When Mr. Roof abandoned the printing business, he entered the grocery business in April 1899 (the south side) and for 17 continuous years has been selling groceries and provisions at the corner of Orange and Washington Streets. He was born in East Palestine, Ohio, June 1, 1838. He is the author of a number of valuable books; comprising interesting observations, thrilling experiences, whole some instructions, entertaining narrative, fireside talks, and shop lore---including a finely illustrated Family History of the Skeels from the yr. 1720.

Age has silvered the locks of this couple since then, but their loyalty to each other is as true as of yore.

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Obituary of Elizabeth (Skeels) Roof

April 1919 - Elizabeth (Skeels) Roof was born in Huron Co., Ohio, Aug 27, 1840, and passed away at the James Stephenson home in Albion, April 3, 1919, age 78 years, 11 months, and six days.

Elizabeth Skeels was the youngest of the five daughters of William and Susanna Skeels, all of whom with the exception of one sister, Mrs. Rachel Srthur, of Churubusco, have preceded her in death. She had two brothers, David and William, the latter of whom survives.

Feb. 23, 1859 she married Geo. W. Roof and for more than 60 years they happily trod life’s pathway together and as they were never blessed with children the aged husband lingers to mourn her departure and live in the happy past.

Many of her years have been passed in Albion and area and the past 20 years was spent in their South Side store where their kindly faces and smiles and their ever ready words of cheer will be missed by many who were wont to congregate there on business or pleasure bent.

Seldom is it possible for a couple to live 60 years in love and harmony together, and seldom is it possible for one to retain the active mental faculties and cheery disposition, which holds friends and makes new ones as did Mrs. Roof. She is mourned not alone by her husband, the surviving brother and sister, nieces and nephews, but by a vast number of sincere friends and appreciative neighbors who will sadly miss her.

None ever entered her home without a warm welcome or left without feeling the warmth of a genuine hospitality, so characteristic of the people of her ancestry. Advancing age and disease did not destroy the charm of a kind, indulgent, disposition, nor dimish her unselfish solitude for her friends and loved ones.

And so her cheerful, beautiful helpful life has closed but her memory will long linger as a fragrant memeory in the community where she was so well loved.

Though she has gone, her record has been made and will remain a lasting treasure.

Funeral was held in the Stephenson residence, April 5, conducted by Rev. R. W. Page. Interment in Chapel Cemetery.

Albion New Era April 1919.

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Obituary of George W. Roof

George W. Roof, pioneer citizen, author, journalist, publisher and merchant, passed away at the ome of James T. Stevenson, north of this city, at 5:30 o’clock, Tuesday morning, April 15, 1919, after a few weeks illness, aged eighty years, ten months, and fourteen days.

He was a native of East Palestine, Ohio, where he first saw the light of day, June 1, 1838. In 1859 Mr. Roof was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Skeels, of Noble county, Indiana who passed away on April 3, 1919.

For many years Mr. Roof followed the printer’s trade and was an expert. He then became a publisher and writer and for the past twenty years had conducted the South Side Grocery in Albion. Mr. Roof published The Albion Democrat from 1857 to 1859 and was for a short time connected with the Albion New Era. He also published a paper, The Truth Seeker, at Angola, and later the Novle County Journal at Kendallville.

At various periods in his life he had either published or been connected mechanically with papers in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. He was also a writer, not only of articles and books pertaining to his chosen trade, but of family and local history and to a small extent entered the field of fiction. His fiction was based on Pioneer life, Indian traditions and customs, folk lore and superstitions.

Mr. Roof taught eight successive terms of school at Wolf Lake Burr Oak and Green Center. For the past twenty years he and his companion of his joys and sorrows conducted their store in peace and harmony and endeared themselves to a larger circle of friends and patrons. Recently they celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary and it was but mete time that he should linger but a few hays after she was called. We can well believe that he was anxious to join her and resume their loving companionship of three score years on the other shore.

It was the writer’s good fortune to have known him long and well and we only knew him to steem him more as the years past by.

The obsequies were held at the Presbyterian Church at 1:30 o’clock, conducted by (Thurs) the Rev. R. W. Page of Merriam Christian Chapel, assisted by Rev. C. H. Heller, of the Presby. Church. Interment in the Chapel cemetery.

Card of thanks signed by Mr. and Mrs. James Stephenson.

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