Obituary: Anders Roe

Obituary. Anders Roe (Jackson Pilot, 15 May 1913). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

DEATH CALLS ARE MANY THIS WEEK

Anders Roe, Pioneer Citizen and Respected Gentleman Dead

HAD HELD POSITIONS OF TRUST

Death Also Summons Two Young People and the Funerals Were Held First of the Week

The Grim Reaper has again called and another Jackson county pioneer has answered the summons.

The news of the sudden passing of Anders Roe at his home in Enterprise township on last Thursday morning came as a great shock to his many old friends, for while it was known that he was in poor health, the fact that he was in Jackson only two days before his death, made the shock the more severe.

Mr. Roe was a gentleman held in the highest regard by a wide acquaintance. He was a thrifty citizen and a good neighbor. He will be greatly missed by his many friends.

Mr. Roe was bom in Norway September 13, 1844, the son of Osborn and Ragnilda (Roe) Roe. In 1852, at the age of eight years, he came to America with his parents and for short periods of time lived in Dane county, Jefferson county and Columbia county, all in Wisconsin. He then located in Portage county, Wisconsin, where he took up government land and where he lived until coming to Jackson county.

Our subject served one year in the union army during the closing days of the war, being a member of the Fifth Wisconsin volunteers, having been mustered in at Madison, Wisconsin, in September, 1864. With his regiment he took part in the battle of Petersburg, Virginia, on April 2, 1866, and on April 6 he participated in the battle on Sailors creek. In this latter engagement he was slightly wounded but did not leave the ranks. He also assisted in the closing days at Appomattox court house, when General Lee and his army of twenty-five thousand men surrendered. He was mustered out at Halls Hill, near Washington, June 20, 1865.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Roe returned to his old Wisconsin home, and in the spring of 1868 came to Jackson county. The trip was made by ox team and took four weeks time. Mr. and Mrs. Roe journeyed with three other families as far as St. Charles, Minnesota, when the party divided, all going in different directions. At the time there were on the route taken only two houses between Fairmont and Jackson. One of these was between Fairmont and the present location of Sherbum and the other was near the present location of Sherbum. This point was twelve miles and forty rods east of the old Thomas cabin and was known as Lone Cedar postoffice. On one occasion the team mired in Ten-mile creek and the only way Mr. Roe could get out of the mire was by unloading. They lost their way and had traveled as far south as the present town of Tenhassen before they realized they were off the proper course. They arrived in Jackson county on the 28th day of June, 1868.

Mr. Roe on July 9, 1868, took as a homestead claim the west half of the northwest quarter of section 30, Enterprise township, land which he still owns and upon which he now resides. He engaged in farming there for a number of years. During the latter part of the grasshopper scourge he worked for the John Paul Lumber company at their yard in Jackson. In the fall of 1879, when the railroad extended and the town of Lakefield was founded, Mr. Roe moved there and took charge of the John Paul lumber yard, which he conducted until that office was discontinued. He then went to Sherburn, where he conducted the company's yard three years. Mr. Roe again located on his farm, where he has since resided.

In the early days of the county's history Mr. Roe served as sheriff of the county and he was also judge of probate two years. He was a member of the Lutheran church of Jackson.

On November 27, 1866, Mr. Roe was united in marriage to Elsie Frederickson. To them were born five children, as follows: Julian, born August 16, 1868, died September, 1887; Alfred, born February 2, 1871; Emma, born December 15, 1872; Albert, bom November 8, 1876; Richard H., born January 24, 1884. Mrs. Roe died August 11, 1910.

The funeral was held on Monday afternoon, short services were held at the home, after which the remains were brought to Jackson where services were held in the Synod Lutheran church and when the Rev. John Blaness of Clear Lake, S. D., paid a high tribute to the life of the deceased. The floral offerings were many and beautiful and the remains were laid to rest in the Riverside cemetery besides those of his faithful wife.

The Pilot extends sympathy to the children who are called upon to mourn the loss of a good parent.