Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 170.
 
JOHN S. ROOT

     is improving and operating a fine farm located eight miles below Myrtle
Point on Fishtrap creek, Oregon, and has gained recognition as a successful and
practical agriculturist. He was born in Illinois, on May 6, 1862, and is a son
of John and Susanna (Noffsinger) Root, natives of Ohio. Their marriage occurred
in Indiana and in that state the father followed farming until he moved to
Illinois, where he engaged in the same line of activity until 1874. In that year
he came to Oregon and settled on Fishtrap creek in Coos county. There he bought
eighty acres of land and was successful in its management and development for a
number of years. He eventually traded his original property for land on the
Coquille river which he operated until his death, on November 22, 1887. His wife
is still living near the old homestead and has reached the age of eighty years.
She and her husband were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are still
living: Uriah, of Chico, California; Daniel, of Myrtle Point; John S., of this
review; Joel, of Coos county; and Hezekiah, who is farming near his father's
homestead.
     John S. Root received his education in a little log schoolhouse in Coos
county. His advantages in this respect were extremely limited, owing to the
primitive conditions of the section in which he resided. He remained at home
until he was twenty-one years of age, and began his active life at that time. He
worked in the logging camps in Coos county for three years and in 1886 married
and started farming upon his wife's property in Coos county.He was successful
from the beginning and was soon able to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of
land on Halls creek, Coos county, which he developed and improved until 1910. In
that year he moved upon a farm eight miles below Myrtle Point, on Fishtrap
creek, and here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, specializing in
the operation of a modern and sanitary dairy. He also owns a large amount of
real estate in Bandon, Oregon, and is a representative and enterprising citizen
of that section.
     On April 4, 1886, Mr. Root was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann
Barklow, a native of Keokuk county, Iowa, where she was born January 14, 1868.
Mrs. Root is a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Miller) Barklow, who were both
born in Pennsylvania. Their marriage occurred in that state and they remained
there for several years before they moved to Freeport, Illinois. After a short
period of residence there they went to Iowa, where the father followed farming
until 1872. In that year they came to Oregon and settled in Coos county, buying
land in that district upon which they lived until the father's death on February
5, 1889. His wife survived him for many years, dying on May 17, 1902. They were
the parents of two children, the sister of our subject being Sarah E., who died
in infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Root have been born fourteen children: Sarah E.,
who lives at home; Naomi, who is teaching in the Coos county public schools and
who resides with her parents; John D., Nettie E., Hezekiah, Samuel J., Bertha
S., Elvina, Minnie I., Mary Z., Thomas L. and Julia D. L., all of whom make
their home with their parents; and two who died in infancy. Mr. Root and his
family affiliate with the church of the Brethren of which Mr. Root, is an elder.
He is independent in his political views and always votes for the man regardless
of his party. He takes an intelligent interest in public affairs but has never
sought public office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon the efficient
development of his farm. His agriculture, based as it is, on personal
experience, in the details of planting, cultivating and harvesting, has been
productive of good results and his farm is one of the model and attractive
features of Coos county.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.