Descendants of Jeremiah Roe I  
Listed below are the thirteen children of Jeremiah Roe I.  Jeremiah was born in 1750, in Ireland and died in 1828, in Buckeye Township, Fayette County, Ohio.  He married (1st) Susannah Maria Shee.  Susannah was born on 17 December 1753, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died on 5 March 1785 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  She was the daughter of Marcus Shee and Anna Christina Cron.  Jeremiah Roe I  married (2nd) Catherine May.  Catherine died in 1832, in Fayette County, Ohio.  Catherine was the daughter of Philip May and Catherine Saylor.

The Roe family became very involved with Joseph Harrison I's branch of the family.  The relationships were so common and complex that they considered themselves as one big clan.  Joseph's sons, Joseph II, Columbia, Alexander I, and Frederick Harrison married Lydia Ann Roe, Catherine Mary Roe, Elizabeth Jane, and Lucretia C. Roe.  Lydia was the aunt of the other ladies.  Kate and Betsey were sisters, and Lucretia, their cousin.   Due to so many complex relationships the Roe family data helps to keep track of some of the relationships.
 
 


 

The children of Jeremiah Roe I and (1st) Susannah Maria Shee:


(1.1) Elizabeth Roe, born on 7 June 1779 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.


(1.2) Johannes "John" Roe, born on 22 February 1783, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It is believed John lived to adulthood and resided in Ohio.  There is a letter referenced in Bernice Osborne's collection dating from 1824, which stated that Uncle John Roe, had visited the family in Fayette County, Ohio, and that they called him “Old Duke.”  It was thought from this entry, that an “Elizabeth,” who accompanied him was either his wife or his daughter.  (More information needed.)


(1.3) Jeremiah Michael Roe II, born on 10 November 1783, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died in 1864, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.  He was married five times and fathered 27 children (we have a list of 15 children which does not include infants that did not survive).


The children of Jeremiah Roe I and (2nd) Catherine May:


(1.4) Ezekiel Roe, born on 9 October 1789, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died 20 June 1860, in Randolph County, Indiana.  He married Elizabeth Funk in 1815.  Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania on 2 November 1795, she was known as “Betsy", the daughter of Barbara and Martin Funk.  Betsy Roe passed away on 9 October 1862, in Randolph County, Indiana, both she and her husband are buried in Ritenour Cemetery.  From Eilene Davis Dawson: "Ezekiel Roe lived in Fayette County, Ohio, for about 15 years.  He went to Randolph County, Indiana in 1831, by horseback a distance of 130 miles.  He selected a tract of 80 acres of land, then went to the land office at Fort Wayne, made the official arrangements regarding his entry and returned to his home in Ohio.  A short time later the family had packed up and were on their way overland in a big wagon to their new home.  While Ezekiel was building his cabin, the family camped on the ground where the town of Ridgeville, now stands.  Ezekiel was a great hunter and killed over a thousand deer in his lifetime.  His family consisted of nine children, eight of whom grew to adulthood.  Three of his children settled in Wells County, in and around Ossian.  Ezekiel died in Randolph County, Indiana in 1860.  Their  children:

(1.4.1) Reuben Roe, born 11 August 1816, in Fayette County, Ohio and died on 2 September 1839, in Randolph County, Indiana.


(1.4.2) Abraham Roe, born 10 April 1819, in Fayette County, Ohio, died on 18 January 1910, in Indiana.  He married Hannah Renbarger.


(1.4.3) Isaac Roe, born. 5 June 1821, in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio and died on 22 August 1902 in Indiana.  He married Mary C. Thomas.


(1.4.4) Ezekiel Roe II, born on 3 May 1823, in Ohio and died in 1918 in Indiana.  He married Catharine Puterbaugh.


(1.4.5) Mary Ann Roe, born in 1826 in Ohio and died in about 1828 in Ohio.


(1.4.6) Jeremiah Roe, born in 1828 in Ohio and died in 1920 in Indiana.  He married Mary A.E. Gramand on 10 September 1863 in Wells County, Indiana.


(1.4.7) Elizabeth Roe, born in about 1830 in Ohio and died in 1905.


(1.4.8) Benjamin Elvin Roe, born in 1832 in Randolph County, Indiana and died in 1906 in Indiana.  He married Julia Renabarger on 6 September 1868.


(1.4.9) Susannah Roe, born on 13 September 1836, in Randolph County, Indiana and died on 13 April 1904, in Indiana.  She married Elihu H. Bailey on 15 November 1855.


(1.5) Mary Susannah Roe, born in 1790, Pennsylvania (believed to be in Lancaster County) and died in 1830, in Fayette County, Ohio.  She married in about 1808, Joseph McClelland.  Joseph was born in about 1785 and passed away in 1849.  The McClelland's arrived in Fayette County, Ohio in 1820.  Little is known about this family.  They lived in Fayette County, Ohio, and probably died young.  Family notes say that her two daughters moved to Adams County, Indiana and her twin sons probably remained in Ohio. (Documentation needed to support Mary Susannah was her given name, this is obtained from various old family records.) Their children were:

(1.13.1) Susannah McClelland,  married Zachariah Smith son of Isaac Smith and Nancy Wilson of Fayette County, Ohio.  They moved to Adams County, Indiana.  Zachariah died in 1844, he was the first elected sheriff of Adams County, Indiana.  Susannah died in 1891 in St. Marys Township, Adams County, Indiana.  At that time, her brother, John McClelland (known as "Uncle Jack") attended her funeral (sent by Kathy Moore, a great (3x) granddaughter of Susannah and Zachariah Smith).


(1.13.2) Jane McClelland, married Aaron Archer.  They moved to Adams County, Indiana.  After Jane's death, Aaron married (2nd) 15.7.1 Susannah Harrison, the daughter of Columbia Harrison and Catherine Mary "Kate" Roe.


(1.13.3) John McClelland.


(1.13.4) James McClelland.


(1.6) Hezekiel Roe, born on 11 December 1795 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was christened on 24 July 1796, in Trinity Lutheran Church (no further record).


(1.7) Jonathan Roe I, born in 11 Dec 1797, (believed to be in Lancaster County) and died in 1839, in Adams County, Indiana.  He married Lucretia Van Valkenburg in 1816.  Lucretia was born in about 1800, in New York state.  Eilene Davis Dawson's account:  "He settled in Adams County, Indiana in 1830.  In 1839 Jonathan and Lucretia died (during an epidemic) leaving ten children, eight under the age of fourteen; namely":

(1.7.1) Theresa Roe, born in about 1818, in Fayette County, Ohio.


(1.7.2) Joseph Roe, born on 21 February 1821, in Fayette County, Ohio and died on 15 August 1885, in Richland Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan.  He married Catherine Stulz in about 1845 (possibly in Adams County, Indiana).


(1.7.3) Catherine Jane "Jane" Roe, born on 4 June 1824, in Fayette County, Indiana and died in about 1851 (probably in Indiana). Catherine married Samuel Wesley Dean in 1841, in Adams County, Indiana and they had one son, Jonathan R. Dean (family records indicate he was either named Jonathan Roe Dean after his grandfather or Jonathan Richard Dean in honor of his grandfather and uncle). Regardless, Jonathan Dean, was always known as "Jack" or "Jackson" Dean.


(1.7.4) Jonathan Roe II, born on 23 April 1825, in Fayette County, Ohio and died on 3 September 1908, in Richland Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan.  He is buried at Richland Township Cemetery. “Jonty” married (1st) (15.4.2) Catherine Harrison, on 14 January 1852, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.  Jonathan married (2nd) Phoebe Ann Stewart on 17 April 1864, in Wakeshma Township, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.


(1.7.5) Richard Jeremiah Roe, born in about 1827, (probably in Fayette County, Ohio) and died in Indiana or Michigan.  Richard was married to Janet Taylor on 31 August 1848, in Clay Township, Adams County, Indiana.


(1.7.6) Susannah Roe, born in about 1828-1830 (probably in Fayette County, Ohio, but also recorded as Adams County, Indiana).  She married John Cooley in about 1847, in Adams County, Indiana.


(1.7.7) Lucretia C. Roe, born on 9 June 1830, Fayette County, Ohio (when she was a very small child the family moved to Root Township, in Adams County, Indiana, where many believe she was born) and died on 18 August 1913, in Murray County, Minnesota.  She is buried in Lincoln Township Cemetery, in Hinton, Plymouth County, Iowa.  “Lou” married (15.10) Frederick Bethannah Harrison on 4 April 1850, in Wakeshma Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan (Book 1, Page 266).


(1.7.8) Michael Van Valkenburg Roe, born on 17 February 1835, in Adams County, Indiana and died in 1918, in Michigan.  Mike married Catharine Davis.


(1.7.9) Charlotte Roe, born in about 1836, probably in Adams County, Indiana.  She married (1st) Stanton Billington, and (2nd) Aldous Prisho.


(1.7.10) Joel Roe, born in about 1838-1839 (probably in Adams County, Indiana).
Their children were all farmed out to other family members, started life out on their own, or were placed under guardianships. A paper from August 1839 lists the names of the children who were still minors; Jonathan, Susanna, Lucretia, Joel, Michael and Charlotte.  So we have reasoned that Richard, Joseph and Catherine were older (or married or supporting themselves). (The birth order listed above needs work.) We estimate that Catherine "Jane" also known as "Kate," was born ca 1824-5.  Daughter Susanna had a guardianship with Eli Zimmerman, and records indicate that Catherine married Samuel Dean, at about the age of 14-15.


(1.8) Frederick Roe, born on 27 November 1802 in Pennsylvania (believed to be Porter Township, Huntingdon County) and died on 17 October 1871 in Jackson Township, Darke County, Ohio.  He is buried in Union City Cemetery, Union City, Indiana.  He married Catherine Breakfield on 4 December 1827 in Fayette County, Ohio. Catherine was born 24 November 1797, and in other records the last name is spelled Brakefield.  The daughter of John and Susan (Harmon) Breakfield. Catherine died 11 Jan 1857. Eilene Davis Dawson's account: "By 1833, Frederick had moved to a farm south of Union City, in Darke County, Ohio.  Frederick opened a blacksmith shop in Union City in 1853, believed to be the first one around Union City.  They were members of the Dunkard Church.  Frederick died there on October 17, 1871.  They were the parents of eight children, with one dying in infancy":

(1.8.1) Eliza Jane Roe, born in 1828 in Wayne Township, Fayette County, Ohio and died on 8 March 1893.  She married in Christian Sheets in Darke County, Ohio.


(1.8.2) Ruey Ellen Roe, born on 21 December 1829 in Fayette County, Ohio and died on 6 January 1882.  She is buried in Union City Cemetery, in Indiana (for many years she lived in Monona County, Iowa).


(1.8.3) Harrison Roe, born on 5 March 1831 in Fayette County, Ohio and died on 23 January 1889 in Jackson Township, Randolph County, Indiana.  He is  buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, in Salem, Indiana.  He married Caroline Eleanor Gebhart on 17 June 1858, in Darke County, Ohio.


(1.8.4) Ferguson Fleming Roe, born in 1832 (in either Fayette County, Ohio Union City, Ohio both from family records) and died in 1920, in Castiana, Monona County, Iowa.  He married Elizabeth Miller.


(1.8.5) William Roe, born in 1835 in Union City, Darke County, Ohio, he died as an infant.


(1.8.6) Jeremiah Roe,  born in 1837 in Darke County, Ohio and died on 17 January 1913 in Greene Township, Darke County, Ohio.  He is buried in Greenville Cemetery, in Greenville, Ohio.  He married Amy Jane Parent on 7 August 1860.


(1.8.7)  Joel “Joe” Roe, born on 12 August 1838 in Darke County, Ohio near the Indiana state line and died on 15 May 1908 in Randolph County, Indiana.  He is buried in Union City Cemetery in Indiana.  He married Susan Finfrock, she was born in 1839 and died in 1919.


(1.8.8) Eli Roe, born on 12 August 1838 in Darke County, Ohio near the Indiana state line and died on 2 December 1906.  He married (1st) Acha Parent in about 1863, she was born on 6 March 1847 and died on 26 October 1872.  Eli married (2nd) Martha Wasson, she was born in 1849.

Note that Frederick and Catherine Roe’s Union City farm was very near the Union City, Ohio, and Indiana state line.  The Roe’s sold 4 acres of their farm which became incorporated into Union City, Ohio (Division Street area.)  The family appeared in the 1830 Federal Census of Wayne Township, Fayette County, Ohio, but some family records compiled by Harrison Roe II estimate they may have moved to Union City in 1832 instead of the following year.


(1.9) Lydia Ann Roe, born on 7 October 1805 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania and died on 21 September 1872.  She married (15.4) Joseph Harrison II on 5 December 1824.  Eilene Davis Dawson's account: "This family lived in Union County, Ohio, until 1834, when they migrated into Michigan, a few years before Michigan became a state.  Eleven children were born to Lydia and Joseph.  They remained in Kalamazoo County, Michigan where they died, Joseph in 1851, and Lydia in 1872."


(1.10)  Joel Roe, born on 6 June 1806 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania and died on 9 January 1879 in Blue Creek Township, Adams County, Indiana.  He is buried in Backesto Cemetery, in Adams County, Indiana.  He married (1st) Malinda Andrews in 1839 and married (2nd) Mary "Polly" Odle on 31 August 1841.  "Polly" was born on 5 Mar 1813, in Randolph County, Indiana and died on 3 February 1916, at the home of her daughter, Mattie Harrison, in Wakeshma Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.  She is also buried in Backesto Cemetery.   Eileen Davis Dawson's account: " Joel Roe spent his formative years in Fayette County, Ohio, coming to Adams County, Indiana in 1833.  After many days of traveling by horse and wagon, from Fayette County, Ohio, to his new home in the wilderness, Joel arrived in Adams County, Indiana, several years before the county was founded, Decatur platted and named the county seat.  Samuel Rugg, Joel Roe and Thomas Johnson, selected the site for the county seat.  The first election in Adams County was held at the home of Jeremiah Roe II (brother to Joel), which was on the first Monday in April, in 1836.  The board met on May 19, 1836, when Jeremiah was appointed the first Treasurer of Adams County.  Joel, Michael and Jonathan Roe, were three of the twelve men selected as the first Grand Jurors.  Jonathan Roe was hereby appointed road supervisor to district one.  Joel Roe and Zachariah Smith, Jr. (the Roe's brother-in-law) was appointed Fense Viewers in St. Mary's Township.  Joel built his first cabin close to the St. Marys river in Washington Township, but after losing his crops for several years, due to the river flooding he decided to build a new cabin upon a hill close to what is now state road 33. Part of the house standing there today is the original log cabin.  He married Malinda Andrews in 1839, she died shortly after the birth of  their first child.  Joel hired Mary Odle, from Randolph County, Indiana to care for his child.  On August 31, 1841, he married Mary, who was the daughter of Caleb Odle and Hester M. Brown.  A white horse called "Old Jack," which Joel had trained for deer hunting, was a great pet.  He hired a painter traveling through the county, to paint a portrait of old Jack, upon one wall of his home.  In 1850, Joel was the third largest taxpayer in Washington Township.  His real estate was valued at 5,000 and personal property at 1,000.  In 1878, he sold this farm and bought another one in Blue Creek Township.  Two months later Joel died January 9th, 1879.  He had been to visit a neighbor and when returning home, he was walking through the fields, so the distance would be shorter.  A buck sheep had struck him and caused his death later that night.  Mary lived for 37 years after Joel passed away.  She lived with her son, Nathan, in Blue Creek Township during the summer months and spent the winter with her daughter, Martha Jane Harrison in Michigan.  She died on February 3, 1916, at the age of 102 years, 10 months and 29 days.  Active until the end.  Joel and Mary, always known as "Aunt Polly" are buried at Backesto Cemetery in Adams County, Indiana."  Their children were:

    (1.10.1) Malinda Roe, born in 1840 married Henry R. Buckmaster.
    (1.10.2) Catherine Roe, born in 1842 married Ezra Lister.
    (1.10.3) Isaac Roe, born in 1843 married Catherine J. Smith.
    (1.10.4) Sarah Ann Roe, born in 1846 married Elijah Reynolds.
    (1.10.5) Jeremiah Roe, born in 1848 married Nancy Elizabeth Frank.
    (1.10.6) Caleb Roe, born in 1850 married Sarah A. Smith.
    (1.10.7) Michael Roe, born in 1851 married Charlotte Van De Bogart.
    (1.10.8) Joel "Jola" Roe II, born in 1853 married Elizan Frank.
    (1.10.9) Martha Jane "Mattie" Roe, born in 1855 married (15.813) Garrett "Jute" Harrison.
    (1.10.10) Nathan Roe, born in 1857 married Catherine Bickel.
    (1.10.11) Susannah Roe, born in 1860 married Clark Calderwood.
    (1.10.12) Henrietta Roe, born in 1864 married Jacob H. Marsh.


(1.11) Michael Roe, born in 1811 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania and died on 28 August 1854 in Poe, Allen County, Indiana.  He married Anna Hopple, on 20 December 1836 in Adams County, Indiana.  She was born in 1819 in Ohio the daughter of George Hopple.  Anna married (2nd) Richard Morton in 1858.   Eileen Davis Dawson's account: "Michael was reared to manhood in Fayette County, Ohio.  Shortly after locating in Adams County, Indiana he married Anna Hopple, the daughter of George.  Michael lived in Preble Township, of Adams County, but died near Poe, Allen County, Indiana in 1854. His children all moved west (many to Iowa).  Their children were:

(1.11.1) Elizabeth Roe, born in 1838 in Indiana.
(1.11.2) Joel Roe, born in 1842 in Indiana.
(1.11.3) Lydia Roe, born in 1845 in Indiana.
(1.11.4) Adam Roe, born in 1847 in Indiana.
(1.11.5) George Roe, born in 1850 in Indiana.
(1.11.6) Sarah Ann Roe, born in 1853 in Indiana.

(1.12) Amos Roe, born in 1814 (probably in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania).  He was married (1st) Eliza Ann Fauste and there is record of one son (10.12.1) John Milton Roe, born in 1839, in Indiana.  Amos, his brothers and many of their nephews did much westward exploring.  Amos and brother. Lewis, are given credit for having been with Roe's and Harrison's in California for the 1849 gold rush, having built hunting cabins in Montana, and settling Iowa early.  It is confirmed Amos was living in Clay Township, of Jones County, Iowa on the 1850 Federal Census.  Amos married (2nd) Julia Fauste in about 1852.  He died in about 1862 in Rome Township, Jones County, Iowa.


(1.13) Lewis Roe, born in 1817, probably in Ohio.  Eileen Davis Dawson references a letter written by Lewis in 1831 to his brothers, Ezekiel, asking him to see Jonathan and Amos for certain details about the non-payment of corn.  Lewis is given credit for much westward expansion showing up in California, Montana and Iowa all before 1850.


Roe family research compiled by Eileen Davis Dawson, Irene Townsend, Loraine Washburn, Justin Herbst, Marie Mackey, Hazel Cober, Celia Schreiber, Hank and Sandy Harrison, and Gladys Dickerson.
 



 

This web page is authored by Scott Duncan.  All information listed without a reference should be verified.  Any additions, questions, or comments should be sent to:

 

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