Biography - John Roodhouse
JOHN ROODHOUSE was born in Yorkshire, England, February 8, 1824. He is the second child of Benjamin and Jane Roodhouse, who were both natives of England. They had a family of five children, four sons and one daughter. He emigrated to Illinois and settled near Whitehall, in February, 1831, where he resided and followed farming as an occupation till his death, which occurred in the following July. His children are all living and are well situated in life. John Roodhouse had no advantages for an education except those of the common schools of Greene county, but he possessed the talents and energy which have made him decidedly a practical business man. He entered land in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1848, which he afterward improved. He was married February 10, 1850, to Miss Eveline, daughter of Cuthbert B. and Sarah Baker. By this union they have had a family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters. Five of the children died in infancy; those living are in the following order of birth; viz. John Wesley, Laura Louisa, William Cuthbert, Mary Minerva, and Eva Josephine, all residing with their parents. Soon after his marriage Mr. Roodhouse settled in Tazwell county, where he resided until December, 1854, when he purchased about four hundred acres of land where the railroad station which bears his name is situated. Here he followed farming, which has been thus far his leading business. In 1868 he laid out the original plat of the town or station of Roodhouse. In 1870 the Louisiana branch intersected the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad at this point, and was attained through the liberality and untiring energy of Mr. Roodhouse and others, thus securing it as one of the prominent railroad centers of Greene county. Mr. Roodhouse is a man whose unflinching integrity and public spirit are among the leading traits of his character. Although he began life with small means, yet, by honest industry and a liberal policy, he has made a record which reflects credit upon Greene county.
Extracted 07 Sep 2018 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 51.
