An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 348-349.

JOHN M. ROTH is one of the wealthy and leading citizens of Wasco county. His
farm of one thousand acres lies five miles east from Kingsley and has seven
hundred acres under cultivation. In addition to this, he owns about five
thousand acres of land near Rock Island. Chelan county, Washington. His home
place is well improved and provided with all equipment needed on a first class
Oregon grain farm.      

John M. Roth was born in Germany, on May 18, 1838, the son of Johann M. and
Sophia (Klaenfaller) Roth, both natives of the Fatherland. The father followed
blacksmithing and farming, as did his ancestors and his death occurred in
Germany on February 22, 1848. The mother died in Ohio. In 1856, his education
having been completed in his native country, our subject came to the United
States, settling in Wisconsin. There he labored for wages and rented land until
1867, in which year he enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Wisconsin Regulars, under
Captain Perry and Colonel Harris. For three years he did faithful service and
then on account of disability was honorably discharged. He was in active service
all the time and saw much hard fighting in Arkansas and Missouri. Following the
war he returned to Wisconsin and shortly went to Minnesota. In 1867, he went
thence to Kansas, and in 1875, he came to Oregon. On June 8, of that year he
arrived in Albany and on November 5, he located on land in Wasco county. Since
that time he has been assiduously following the occupation of the agriculturist
and stockman. He has accumulated considerable property and has wisely bestowed
his labors all these years and is to be classed as one of the pioneers and
substantial citizens.      

While in Wisconsin, in August, 1864, Mr. Roth married Miss Margaret Unselt, a
native of Germany and an immigrant to this country with her parents in her
infancy. Eight children have been born to this union; Emma, wife of Horatio
Fargher, a wool grower, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Sophia, wife of
Orwen Jones, a farmer near Nansene; John, living near our subject; Ella, at
home; William and Victor, living on the estate near Rock Island; Carl, at home;
and Lena, a school girl. Mr. Roth is a member of the order of Washington.
Politically he is one of the active men of the county and is a strong Democrat.
He was put in nomination for sheriff, but suffered defeat with his ticket. Mr.
Roth has reared a very bright and interesting family, and they are good members
of society and all being highly respected.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.