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Subject: [GM-L] Grandson of Colonel Oliver Root of MA to Michigan - full biography
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 20:20:30 EST

HENRY E. ROOT

Henry E. Root, a wealthy resident of Constantine Village, where he is living
in retirement, is well known throughout Southern Michigan, not only as one of
St. Joseph County's most honored citizens, but as a fine representative of
the noble pioneers who have played such an active part in her development.
Coming here in all the strength and pride of early manhood, he has not only
witnessed the gradual giving way before the ax of the pioneer of the grand
old primeval forest that for centuries had covered so much of this region,
and seen large towns and busy villages take the place of the humble log cabin
of the white settlers, or the wigwam of the red man., but he has been an
important factor in bringing about this change, making St. Joseph and
adjoining counties a fruitful and prosperous farming country, where commerce
and manufactures also flourish. To the energy, foresight and enterprise of
such men as our subject, St. Joseph County is indeed greatly indebted for its
material prosperity and high standing. Mr. Root experienced all the
privations and hardships incidental to pioneer life; but difficulties fast
disappeared before his indomitable will and steadfast purpose to make life a
success, and old age drawing nigh finds him well fortified against material
misfortune.

Our subject is a worthy descendant of a fine old Massachusetts family on his
father's side, and of sober Connecticut ancestry on his mother's, and in the
ancient town of Pittsfield, in the former State, he first opened his eyes to
this world Dec. 5, 1813. He is a grandson of that gallant Colonel, Oliver
Root, famous in the military annals of the colonial history of Massachusetts,
who born so honorable a part in both the French and Indian Wars, and in the
Revolution. The Colonel was a son of Samuel Root, and losing his father when
he quite young, at the age of eight years was bound out to Mr. King, of
Westfield, Mass., to learn the trade of a shoemaker. When he was a lad of
nearly eighteen years his bold and ardent spirit led him to enlist in the
second French war that was then waging. He had an eventful experience in his
army life, as is recorded in the "Root Genealogical Records." Arriving at the
seat of war the sturdy youth was assigned to the famous corps of rangers
organized by Maj. Robert Rogers, which had among its officers those men of
immortal fame, Gen. John Start, Israel Putnam, and others of like character,
who altogether made one of the most splendid military companies known in
history. When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Colonel, then in the prime
and vigor of a stalwart, athletic manhood, immediately offered his serviced
to the Continental Army, and they were gladly accepted, and he served with
distinction among the many noted Colonial officers. He was present at the
surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, in October, 1777. He was Major of his
company under Col. Brown when that officer fell at Stone Arabis, in the
Valley of the Mohawk, and succeeded to the command. He was a man of fine
physique, six feet and one inch in heights, of a robust constitution, and was
never sick in his life until five days before his death. With rare
disinterestedness he refused to apply for a pension, to which he was justly
entitled for the valor and patriotism that he had displayed in his country's
defense while an officer of the Continental Army, on the ground that the act
of Congress could only have been intended for the benefit of those veterans
who had no other means of support, while he was well off. The old warrior is
not peacefully sleeping his last sleep under the sod of the old State he
loved so well, and on his tombstone is inscribed: "He fought the enemies of
his country in two wars, and his only enemies were the enemies of his
country."

His son Henry, the father of our subject, was born in Pittsfield, Mass., Oct.
21, 1783. He was married to Thankful Johnson in 1810. She was born in Haddam,
Conn., Oct. 16, 1785. They located in Pittsfield, where he was actively
engaged in farming for many years, and there his venerable life was brought
to a close May 3, 1863, at the age of nearly ninety years. His wife survived
him two years, dying Nov. 30, 1865. During their pleasant wedded life of over
fifty years nine children were born to them, of whom our subject was the
third in order of birth and is now the only survivor.

Our subject passed his early life in Pittsfield on the old homestead where he
was born until he was sixteen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the
tailor's trade. He served nearly five years, and then went to Hartford,
Conn., where he worked as a journeyman for two years. In 1835 he went to
Medina, Medina Co., Ohio, and stopped there until the spring of 1836. Then,
in company with William G. Bagg, he walked through the forests and swamps of
the intervening country to Constantine, arriving here some time in April. He
at once began to work at his trade, and continued at it until the spring of
1838. When he first came here he entered 200 acres of land in Constantine and
eighty acres in Cass County, and in the spring of 1838 began to make
improvements, and in the following Spring settled on his land in Constantine.
He continued to live there, and actively engaged in the development of a farm
until about 1852, when he returned to the village where he has lived since,
with the exception of one season on his farm. For six years he was engaged in
the butchering business here, but in the spring of 1858 he bought the hotel
then known as the Wells House, but now called the Romaine House, and for
twenty-two years was successfully engaged in its management. In his capacity
as "mine hose" he was a great favorite with the traveling public, as he was
ever frank, genial and obliging in his manners, and his wife, with her
cheerful, motherly presence, added to the popularity of their hotel, and vied
with him in making their guests comfortable. Mr. Root leased his hotel in
1880, and has since lived in retirement, although he still looks after his
farm and other property. Besides the Romaine House he owns 436 acres of very
valuable land, all in Constantine Township. In all his career as a business
man Mr. Root has displayed unusual tact, foresight and ability, and all his
transactions have been conducted with fairness and generosity. He, of course,
takes a keen interest in the affairs of the county and township, with which
he has been identified for so many years, now numbering over half a century,
and in whose upbuilding he has borne an honorable part, and does all that he
can to promote the various schemes for their advancement. Politically, he
stands by the Democratic party as one of its staunchest adherents. More than
fifty years ago our subject was united in marriage in Constantine to Miss
Lucinda Beckwith, April 14, 1837, being the date of their wedding. Mrs. Root
was born in Saybrook, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1816, and was the sixth
child in the family of ten children of the late Levi and Lucinda
(Starkweather) Beckwith, who were born respectively in Pittsfield, Mass., in
1777, and in Connecticut in 1782. Her parents first settled in Vermont, and
then removed to Ashtabula County, of which they were early pioneers. They
subsequently settled in the township of Saybrook, that county, where Mr.
Beckwith bought a farm, whereon he and his family lived until August, 1828,
when they came to St. Joseph County, this State, arriving at a point on the
White Pigeon Prairie, Aug. 6, 1828, and there they settled near the
wilderness, they being the fifth family to locate on that prairie, and Mr.
Beckwith sowed the first wheat that was ever sown on the prairie, on the farm
which is now owned by Rodney Beckwith. They settled in the southern part of
Constantine Township, where they continued to live until death called them
hence, the father dying in September, 1839, and the mother Aug. 10, 1846. The
paternal grandparents of Mrs. Root lived to an advanced age. The marriage of
Mr. and Mrs. Root has been blessed to them by the birth of a family of five
children: Henry L.,; Charles O. and Mary L., deceased; Clarissa A. and Aaron
C. Clarissa is the wife of Dr. William E. Jewett, of Adrian, Mich. Aaron, who
is a farmer in Constantine Township, married Anna McGill, and they have one
child, Henry E., Jr. Henry L., the eldest, is unmarried and lives with his
parents, helping his father in the care of his business interests. He was a
soldier in Company A, 49th Massachusetts Infantry (Col. Bartlett and Cap.
I.C. Weller), was severely wounded in front of Port Hudson, La., and will
carry its effects to his grave. He was serving in the store of his uncle at
the breaking out of the Rebellion, and was one of the noted "Allen Guards" of
Pittsfield, Mass., who enlisted in a body and did gallant service on many a
hard-fought field.

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