William N. Roach Explained

William Roach
Jr/Sr:United States Senator
State:North Dakota
Term Start:March 4, 1893
Term End:March 4, 1899
Predecessor:Lyman R. Casey
Successor:Porter J. McCumber
Birth Name:William Nathaniel Roach
Birth Date:25 September 1840
Birth Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:Georgetown University
Signature:Signature of William Nathaniel Roach (1840–1902).png

William Nathaniel Roach (September 25, 1840September 7, 1902) was a United States senator from North Dakota.

Biography

He was born in Washington D.C. to Edward Roach and Catherine (née Manning) Roach. He had four siblings. His father died in 1861. He attended the public schools, Gonzaga College High School and Georgetown University. He was a clerk in the quartermaster's department during the Civil War. He moved to Dakota Territory in 1879 and settled in Larimore; he was interested in mail contracts for several years and was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives in 1885.

Roach was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor at the first State election in 1889 and again in 1891. He was elected to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1893, to March 4, 1899. In 1893, a subcommittee in the Senate was convened to hear evidence that Roach had embezzled money while acting as an officer of a bank. Expulsion was considered, but the subcommittee decided the matter was too long past to take such action.[1] [2] [3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection and discontinued active business pursuits and lived in retirement in Washington, D.C.

He died suddenly on September 7, 1902 while on a trip to New York City.[4]

He was married to Verona E. (neé Larkin) Roach. Together they had one daughter named Catherine Herron.

See also

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: March 29, 1893 . Senator Roach's record; Mr. Hoar asks that it shall be investigated. A resolution to that effect to be taken up to-day -- The North Dakota Senator accused of an embezzlement many years ago -- the facts as they appear. . . November 2, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Senate: About Expulsion . 2024-07-21 . www.senate.gov.
  3. Web site: Senate Treatment of Prior Misconduct . 2024-07-21 . LII / Legal Information Institute . en.
  4. Web site: William N. Roach . 2024-07-21 . Prairie Public Broadcasting . en.