John W. Roby
John W. Roby one of the leading attorneys of Lima, and one of the city's educated and forceful men, was born at Delphos, Ohio, January 9, 1868, and is the only son of John and Linda (Searing) Roby.
John Roby was born in Bavaria Germany, March 31, 1839, and was a son of John and Mary (Munger) Roby, both natives of Germany. When he was about six years old his parents immigrated to America, landing in New York and proceeding from there to Perryville, Wood County, Ohio. The mother, worn out by the long journey, died at Buffalo, New York, before reaching their destination, leaving four children. Subsequently our subject's grandfather married again, and after the death of his second wife he went to live with his daughter Mary, at Maumee, and there he died in 1882.
John Roby, father of our subject, was seven years old when his mother died, and in those days it was no easier for a boy to grow up without a mother's love and tenderness than it is at present. When he was about 20 years old he began teaming, later bought a canal-boat which he operated three years, and then engaged for three years in a produce business, after which he opened a hotel at Delphos. He continued as manager of this until the completion of the new Plelan House, which hostelry he conducted until his death. He was a man of genial nature and was very popular with the traveling public. He died in 1898.
Our subject was reared in Allen County and was graduated from the public schools at Delphos in 1884. He then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and after two years there spent two years at Yale College where the degrees of M. L. and LL. B. were conferred upon him. He was graduated from the law department in June, 1891 and was immediately admitted to the bar. he began at once to practice at Delphos, in partnership with H. A. Reeve, and in 1895 entered into a partnership with Hon. John E. Richie, of Lima. This partnership was dissolved July 1, 1905. Mr. Roby is prominent in his profession all over the county, and is also known favorably in business circles, being president of the Townsend Grocery Company, of Lima.
Mr. Roby was married to Eveline Curren, a daughter of J. T. Curren, of Delaware, Ohio, and they have these children: Mary K., Martha A. and Annette. The family is members of Christ Protestant Episcopal Church. Their beautiful family home is at No. 121 South Baxter Street, while Mr. Roby's well-appointed offices are at Nos. 409-411 Holland Block.
Politically Mr. Roby is a Democrat. He is one of the valued members of the Allen County Bar Association and at present is president of that organization.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Edited by Charles C. Miller. Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906