John A. Roche

John A. Roche


30th Mayor of Chicago
In office 1887–1889
Preceded by	Carter Harrison, Sr.
Succeeded by	DeWitt Clinton Cregier
Personal details
Born	(1844-08-12)August 12, 1844 Utica, New York, United States
Died	February 10, 1904(1904-02-10) (aged 59) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Political party	Republican
Residence	Chicago, Illinois

John A. Roche (August 12, 1844–February 10, 1904) was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1887 to 1889. He was the 30th mayor of the city.

Biography

Early years

John A. Roche was born in Utica, New York on August 12, 1844. He served as an apprentice to his brother for three years. He stayed in business for a long time, and had but a high school education. He was a firm believer in education and mentions this in his inaugural address.

Move to Chicago

In 1869, he moved to Chicago to do business. He loved it, and decided to become a candidate for the Republican Party. He won against the Democratic candidate, Robert L. Nelson. People admired him for his assertive and straightforward nature and history of business. As a mayor, he was prominent for the drainage and water supply commission and being appointed to suppress gambling in saloons as well as closing disreputable ones.

Retirement

After retiring, he focused his attention once again on business, and became manager and vice president of the Crane Elevator Company. In 1893 he was elected president of the Lake Street Elevated Railroad Company. He then died on February 10, 1904, one hour after a meeting from uremic poisoning. He was buried at buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

Footnotes

Works

"Mayor John A. Roche Inaugural Address, April 18, 1887," Chicago Public Library.

Tiwana, Shaw, & O’Brien, Ellen, & Benedict, Lyle. (2007). Inaugural Addresses of the Mayors of Chicago. Chicago, IL: Chicago Public Library Compilations.
Louise Pierce, Bessie. (1953). History of Chicago, volume III: The Rise and Fall of a Modern City. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Hucke, Matt. (1996-2006). Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
Torp, Kim. (2006). The History of Chicago’s Mayors. Retrieved on December 12, 2007.

Mayors of Chicago

Ogden Morris Raymond Loyd F. C. Sherman Raymond Garrett A. Sherman Garrett Chapin Curtiss Woodworth Curtiss Gurnee Gray Milliken Boone Dyer Wentworth Haines Wentworth Rumsey F. C. Sherman Rice Mason Medill Bond ¹ Colvin Hoyne ² Heath Harrison Sr. Roche Cregier Washburne Harrison Sr. Swift Hopkins Swift Harrison Jr. Dunne Busse Harrison Jr. Thompson Dever Thompson Cermak Corr Kelly Kennelly R. J. Daley Bilandic Byrne Washington Orr Sawyer R. M. Daley Emanuel

¹ Acting officeholder. ² Election declared null and void.

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