Henry Roth, a successful farmer and stock grower in Hanson County, South Dakota, comes from a respected pioneer family. Born in Minnesota in 1862, Henry’s parents were German immigrants and devout Lutherans. Following in his father’s footsteps, Henry dedicated himself to agricultural pursuits and now owns a remarkable 430-acre farm in Spring Lake township. Known for his expertise in raising red polled cattle and high-grade hogs, Henry has gained a reputation for his outstanding farm, boasting well-maintained buildings, fences, and even a beautiful tree grove. Actively involved in local politics and cherished by his community, Henry, along with his wife Minnie, contributes to the Lutheran church and engages in various fraternal organizations.
HENRY ROTH, who is one of the successful farmers and stock growers of Hanson County, is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county, his parents having been the first permanent settlers in Spring Lake township. Mr. Roth was born in Houston County, Minnesota, on the 2nd of July, 1862, and is a son of Jacob and Mary E. (Fry) Roth, who were born in Germany and are prominent and valued members of the Lutheran church. Jacob Roth was reared and educated in the fatherland, where he learned the trade of tailoring, and in 1850 he emigrated from Germany to the United States, being engaged in the work of his trade in New York City until 1854 when he removed to Wisconsin, where he worked in a sawmill and was otherwise employed until 1858 when he took up his residence in Houston County, Minnesota, where he was numbered among the pioneer farmers and where he continued to make his home until 1879 and where he has served eighteen years as school treasurer of district No. 46. In that year, he came to what is now the state of South Dakota, taking up government land in Hanson County, where he has ever since resided, having become one of the prosperous and honored citizens of this section, where he owns a fine farm of three hundred twenty acres. Mr. Roth also has held the office of school treasurer in South Dakota for twenty-two years. Jacob and Mary E. Roth became the parents of nine children, all of whom are living except one.
The subject of this review received his early educational training in the district schools of Minnesota and was seventeen years of age at the time of the family’s removal to South Dakota, where he has been intimately associated with his father in his industrial enterprises, now having a farm of four hundred thirty acres in Spring Lake township, in which the family were the first settlers, while he has made excellent improvements of a permanent nature, including good buildings, fences, etc., and also a fine grove of trees which were planted by him. He devotes special attention to the raising of red polled cattle and a high grade of hogs, in which latter lines he has an average herd of one hundred head. Of the farm, two hundred acres are maintained under a high state of cultivation, and the place is known as one of the best in the county. He is a Republican in politics, having been a member of the township board for the past six years, while he has served two terms as a member of the school board of his district. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Lutheran church, and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Royal Neighbors, of which last Mrs. Roth also is a member.
On the 16th of December, 1890, Mr. Roth was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Beach, who was born in Houston County, Minnesota, being a daughter of John and Annie E. Beach, now representative citizens of Hanson County. Mr. and Mrs. Roth have five children, namely: Matilda, Eldon, Annie, Bernie, and Edna.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.