Alexander Roush
Alexander Roush, miller, of Manchester, Ohio, was born June 27, 1847, in Sprigg Township, Adams county, Ohio, son of William and Margaret (Edgington) Roush. Michael Roush, great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came in 1796 with the Pence and Bowman families to established the "Dutch Settlement," in Sprigg Township. Parmenus, son Michael Roush, married Catherine Smith and raised a family of nine children: William, Michael, John, Squire, Samuel, Rachel, Cassander, Mary Ann and Elizabeth.
William, the eldest of these, is the father of our subject. He was born April 16, 1824, and was married to Margaret Edgington, in 1849. She was the daughter of Azariah Edgington, of Sprigg Township. William Roush has been a very prosperous farmer, and is noted for his liberality in contributing toward the support of the church. He and his wife are members at Union, near Bentonville. The children of William and Margaret Roush are: Laura Ann, wife of D. C. Beam, of Bentonville, Ohio; Nancy Jane, wife of Hiram E. Pence, of Manchester, Ohio; Mary Catherine, wife of Rev. H. Allen Gaskins, of Manchester, Ohio; Alexander, the subject of this sketch; Frank, of Bradyville, Ohio, Commissioner, of Adams County; Pangburn, of Coyville, Kansas; Aaron, of Manchester, Ohio; Robert, of Bradyville, Ohio; and Sherman, of Manchester, Ohio.
Alexander Roush, subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. He was married on November 16, 1871, to Olivine Pence, daughter of David Pence. David Pence was drowned while bathing in the Ohio River at the mouth of Crooked Creek. By this marriage were born two children: Harvey, born September 16, 1872, cashier, of the Burnet House, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lillie, who married Walter Wilson. Mr. Wilson has charge of the coal office of Mr. Roush. Mrs. Roush died July 15, 1878, and on October 21, 1879, Mr. Roush married Mrs. Caroline Ellison, widow of John Ellison, of Manchester, Ohio.
Our subject remained on the farm until 1872, when he removed to Manchester, Ohio, and engaged in the grocery business. In 1882, he entered the milling firm of Oliver Ashenhurst & Son, and since 1888 has had the entire control of the mill. Besides the mill, he carries on an extensive business in coal and salt.
Mr. Roush is one of the most enterprising citizens of Manchester, and is always found taking an active part in any project calculated to build up the business interests of the community. He is a member of Hawkeye Tribe 117, Improved Order of Red Men, at Manchester, Ohio. Also a member of 827 I. O. O. F., Encampment, No. 203, at Manchester, Ohio. In his political views he is a Democrat.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900