Johannes Roller of Virginia

Where and when John was born or who his parents were we have no sure records. It is probable that he was born in Germany and the very same Johannes Roller who arrived in Philadelphia on 11 August 1750, on the good ship "Patience" under Master Hugh Steel. The "Patience" left the European mainland from Rotterdam at the mouth of the Rhine river and stopped at Cowes on Southern coast of England enroute to the British colony of Pennsylvania. Though on the passenger list he did not sign his own name but marked two X's. As seen below the John Roller I believe we are descended from signed his name in German script!

On 5 June 1772, Lord Farifax granted 107 acres on the Fairfax line, then the border between Dunmore (later Shenandoah and now Page) and Augusta (later Rockingham) Counties to John Roller for one shilling Sterling per fifty acres on annually on the "Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel." (To see copy of original deed click here.)

From about the year 1775, on "A List of the Men's Names in Dunmore County Militia Under the Command of Capt. Jacob Holeman," we find John Rowler along with most of the same names that appear on the 1785 census of Evan Jones.

John bought 358 acres in Shenandoah County, Virginia, on the County Line with Rockingham County, for £500 from Jacob Dogger 18 March 1778, then on 25 May 1779, John Roller "of Shanando County and Coloney of Virginia," sold to Christian Fry for £300 current money of Virginia the tract of 107 acres in Shenandoah County granted to him in 1772. John had this land surveyed on 21 May 1768 as 157 acres, 14 June 1768 as 107 acres, and again on 8 July 1771, it then being on the Frederick (later Dunmore, then Shenandoah, now Page) county line with Augusta (now Rockingham) County.

In the 1785 census of Virginia for Shenandoah county we find John Roller with eleven white souls, one dwelling and one other building on the list of Evan Jones. In 1787, on tax list "A" for personal property in Shenandoah county, John Roller was taxed for five horses and eighteen head of cattle.

On a petition to the State General Assembly on 11 October 1792, to create a new county out of parts of Shenandoah and Rockingham counties was the signature of Johannes Roller.

John Roller and Mathias Miller of Rockingham County bought 204 acres in Shenandoah County, Virginia, on the waters of Mill Creek and the Rockingham County Line, on 4 October 1802, from Abraham Alger for £40.

The third federal census of the U.S. In 1810, shows John Roller and his wife, both over 45 years of age, with three daughters and four sons. John's will, dated 7 June 1806, was proved in Rockingham county April court, in 1816.

I, John Roller, of the County of Shenandoah. Some children of very tender age. All real estate to be sold by executors and proceeds divided between all the children, viz: Jacob, Casper, Catherine Roller, Mary (Erwin), John, Barbara, Rachel, Paul, Andrew, George, Margaret, Sarah, Michael, David, Peter. All to share alike except my son, Paul Roller, whose share is to be $200 less than any of his brothers or sisters. This deduction I make from his share in consequence of his disobedience to me and ---- of before he came of age and taking up with a woman of profligate character. Sons to be put to learn trades. Executors: Casper Roller and Andrew Zirkle Jr. (Signed in German). Executors refused to execute. Widow refused to administer. Administration granted George Roller.

Jacob moved his family first from Scott County, Virginia, to just across the border to Hawkins County, Tennessee, probably in the early 1820's. On 8 April 1830, Jacob sold fifty acres in Hawkins County (since 1844, Hancock County) on the north bank of the Clinch River, on which he lived, to Peter Levisay for $200. He then went with his father-in-law John Briscoe and Andrew Roller also a son-in-law of John Briscoe settling in the southern part of Greene County, Missouri, and leaving sometime after the 1833 tax. Next he followed his father and brothers to Barry County, Missouri, about 1834. By 1839 Jacob was settled on over 200 acres in the southwest quarter of Section 14, Township 21 North, Range 28 West, Benton County Arkansas. His neighbors in this section were the Forgeys, Ashs, Herds, and Rogers who were his neighbors in Scott County, Virginia, and Hawkins County, Tennessee. Jacob's farm bordered present-day Gateway which was originally called Herd after another related family. The ridge northeast of Gateway which stradles the Missouri border and is known as Roller's Ridge on both sides of the state line was named after Jacob. Jacob was well known for a whiskey distillery he operated for a number of years. In earlier years it was common practice for farmers to have stills and was not illegal! In January, 1857, his son John and sixty-one other citizens filed a petition to form a new township out of the northeast corner of Sugar Creek Township. The petition was granted and Roller Ridge Township was created. Jacob Roller was appointed a judge of elections. Whether this was Jacob Senior or Junior is not clear.

Jacob enlisted on 7 August 1862, at Keetsville (present-day Wasburn), Missouri, for three years service or the duration of the war, as a private in a Confederate Missouri Cavalry company serving 24 days in that capacity at $24 per month. It was organized on 31 August 1862 as part of Hunter's Battalion Missouri Infantry. On 15 September 1862 it was organized as Company B, in the 2nd (also known as Hunter's) Regiment Missouri Infantry. Later it became the 8th (also known as Burn's)Regiment and then finally the 11th Regiment Missouri Infantry, Confederate States Army. Jacob appears on the muster rolls as Jacob Roller Sr. until listed as deserting on 1 July 1863. There is a gap between the births of his son Hiram and daughter Cynthia during this period does seem to confirm his absence.

Though Jacob is found on the 1860 Benton County, Arakansas census list in Roller Ridge Township he is also on the 1861 tax list for McDonald County, Missouri on Township 22, Range 30 next to his brother John. This is near present-day Jacket and immeadiately across the state border from Benton County, Arkansas.

Jacob enlisted for twelve months service, on 11 November 1861, as a private in Captain William J. Kelley's Company South Arkansas Regiment at Fort Smith, Arkansas. It became the 11th unletterd company in the 4th Regiment Arkansas Infantry which had been mustered into Confederate service at Miller's Springs, Lawrence County, Arkansas, on 17 August 1861. The 16th Regiment Arkansas Infantry was organized in Benton County, Arkansas, on 4 December 1861. At this time Captain Kelley's Company became Company H, 16th Regiment Arkansas Infantry under command of Col. John F. Hill.

1 January 1862, Col. Hill's regiment, 2nd Brigade under Col. Louis Hebert (3rd Louisiana), division in western part of Arkansas commanded by Col. James McIntosh.

March 7-8, 1862, Jacob fought in the battle of Pea Ridge only five miles from Roller's Ridge to the east and south of his home in Mountain Township, McDonald County, Missouri. In this battle, also known as Elkhorn Tavern, his regiment was in Col. Louis Hébert's Brigade (who was captured in this Battle) and Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch's Division (who was killed by a sharpshooter in this battle) and Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn's Trans-Mississippi District. Van Dorn's 17,000 Confederates were defeated by Union Maj. Gen. Samuel. R. Curtis' 11,000 Federal Troops. This decisive victory secured Missouri for the Union for more than two years. The Confederates casualties were about 1,300, with 300 captured. Union losses amounted to 1,384.

11 March 1862, Benjamin McCulloch's Divsion, 2nd Brigade under Churchill.

17 March 1862, 1st Division, Army of the West, Maj. Gen. Sterling Price Commanding, 2nd Brigade Louis Hebert Commanding

29 April 1862, General Orders, No. 17 Headquarters Army of the West, Memphis, Tennessee, Col. Hill, First Brigade, Brig. Gen. Henry Little, Maj. Gen Price's Division.

April through June 1862 Jacob's unit was in the Cornith Campaign.

4 May 1862 Headquarters Army of the West, commanded by Maj.Gn. Van Dorn, at Cornith Mississippi, Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's Division, Brig, Gen, Henry Little's Brigade.

The regiment was reorginized at Cornith, Mississippi, 8 May 1862, for three years service. 26 May 1862, 1st Division under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price 1st Brigade under Brig. Gen. henry Little, Army of the West under command of Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn.

30 Jun 1862 Gen. Braxton Brag commanding , Army of the Mississippi, Army of the West under Maj. Gen. J.P. McCowan, 1st Division under Brig. Gen. Henry Little, 1st Brigade under Col. Elijah Gates.

On 19 September 1862 in the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi, his Regiment was in the 2nd Brigade, under command of exchanged and promoted Brig. Gen. Louis Hébert, in Brig. Gen. Lewis H. Little's 1st Division of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's Army of the West, where they bore the brunt of the Federal attack and again received praise for their stalwart defense. During this battle Little was killed and Hébert assumed command. The Confederates disengaged and retreated after suffering 1,516 killed, wounded, or captured. Union losses were 790.

The next major battle Jacob Roller participated in was the Battle of Cornith, Mississippi 3-4 October 1862. Confederate forces numbering 22,000 men advanced on Cornith from Chewalla, Tennessee under command of Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. In this two day battle the Confederates made an impressive intial attack. Jacob's regiment 1st Brigade under Col. Elijah Gates, 1st Division under Brig. Gen. Hebert (Maj. Gen. Serling Price's Corps or Army of the West, Army of West Tennessee under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn) and was on the left and drove the Federals toward their interior lines taking the outer works. During this attack there were three earthquake tremors and 90 degree heat. On the second day Hébert's Brigade attacked and flanked the Union right at dawn. But, alas, Hébert reported sick after Union cannons had silenced the Confederate's. Under Hébert's replacement Brig. Gen. Martin E. Green they drove into the Federal Lines. The Confederate forces withdrew by noon having lost a third of those engaged, 2,470 killed and wounded, and another 1,763 missing or deserted. Jacob's regiment lost 13 killed, 29 wounded and 13 missing in action. Union losses were 2,500. Van Dorn's Army retreated for two days to Ripley, Tennessee.

7 Jan 1863 G.O. No. 5, HQ Port Hudson, Louisiana, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 23rd Arkansas consolidate regiment commanded by Col. R.H. Crokett

30 Apr 1863 Col. David Provence consolidated under B. W. Johnson of the 15th AR Inf

31 Mar 1863 consolidated 15th, 16th, 8th Ar under Col. B.W. Johnson of the 15th

From January until 9 July 1863, Jacob was in the defenses at Port Hudson, Louisiana about 25 miles north of Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River, in Brig, Gen. W.N.R. Beall's Brigade the 3rd Military District, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The Confederate garrison under command of Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner numbered about 7,000. Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks commanding the Union forces had 30,000 men at his disposal. Banks encircled Port Hudson on 23 May 1863 and attacked on 27 May suffering about 2,000 casualites. The Confederates lost about 250. On 13 June 1863 Banks and a Federal naval flotilla opened fire raining one shell per second on the the besieged Confederate forces. On the 14th a battle ensued with a Union division attacking and repulsed in fierce fighting. The Federal forces suffered 1,805 casualties and continued a siege against Port Hudson. On 8 July 1863 a surrender was arranged after the Confederate forces had been under siege for 47 days and long since cut off from resupply. On the morning of 9 July 1863 Maj. Gen. Gardner offered his sword while his men, Jacob among them, stood in formation. The Union General, Andrews, handed the sword back to Gardner on token of the gallantry of the Southern defense. Jacob was among the Prisoners of War released on parole on 12 or 13 July 1863. One might observe that Jacob's daughter, Delilah, was born only a few days after his enlistment and his next daughter, Mahala, was born almost nine months from the date of his release.

After the war Jacob returned to Mountain township, McDonald county, Missouri but by 1880 was again in Roller Ridge township, Benton county, Arkansas.

John came west as a young boy with his father and first settled in Sugar Creek Township, Benton County, Arkansas on what was to become known as Roller's Ridge. In January, 1857 he initiated a petition to create a new township out of Sugar Creek and have it named after his family. Sixty-one people signed it and the petition was granted establishing Roller Ridge Township.

Shortly thereafter John relocated to Mountain Township, McDonald County, Missouri, across the border from Benton County, Arkansas and was followed by his brother Jacob. John is on an 1861 tax list for McDonald County, Missouri on section 22, Range 30 next to his brother Jacob.

John enlisted, with fourteen other Roller cousins, brothers and his father, as a private for three years in a company of cavalry in the Confederate service. This Company was raised with Joseph G. Peevey as Captain, by Gen. Joseph S. Gains as one of seven for a Cavalry Battalion of Missouri Volunteers on 7 August 1862 at Keetsville (present-day Washburn), Barry County, Missouri. The Regiment was dismounted by order of Maj. Gen. Hindman on 31 August 1862 and became Company B, in Lt. Col. De Witt C. Hunter's Battalion Missouri Infantry. On 15 September 1862 John's Company was organized as Company B, 2nd (also known as Hunter's) Regiment Missouri Infantry in the Confederate States Army. This Regiment was part of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department (Army) under command of Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman, Brig. Gen. Sterling Price's Division, and Brig. Gen. Mosby Monroe Parson's 4th Brigade Missouri Volunteers.

On 3 December 1862 Hindman moved north from Van Buren, Arkansas with 11,000 men to secure northwestern Arkansas and southwest Missouri for the Confederacy. His objective was to crush Union Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt's force of 7,000 men at Fayetteville, Arkansas. Blunt asked for reenforcements and 4,000 Infantry and 2,000 Cavalry were sent arriving at Fayetteville on 6 December 1862. In the predawn of the 7th Hindman attacked and had victory in his grasp but instead took a defensive position. The fighting continued until dark with each side suffering about 1,300 casualities. The Confederates withdrew during the night undetected by the Union forces. The next day burial parties found many unwounded men frozen to death on the battlefield. Company B, 2nd Regiment Missouri Infantry lost three killed and seven wounded in this battle. John was wounded in action at the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas on 7 December 1862. The forced march while withdrawing to Van Buren, Arkansas caused many of the Company's men to fall sick and several died. John was left behind at a hospital.

As with his father and brother Jacob there is a noticable span between births during the war years. After the war John was again at home in Mountain Township, McDonald County, Missouri.

McDonald County redistricting took place on 9 May 1872 establishing new township boundries. The meeting place for Mountain Township was at Roller's school-house.

When Walter was about 17 or 18 years old, he would make a salt lick for hunting deer. At night when the moon was just where he could see them well, he'd shoot. Sometimes he would take his nephew Edmond with him. One night when he went to the salt lick he shot a deer. Soon afterwards the man who owned the land shot at Walter. Walter shot back and killed the man. Walter left the deer and packed some of his belongings. He went by his nephew Edmond's place and told him not to let anyone know, but he was going North. No one heard anything about him for many years. Later they found he was in Canada. Appearantly a cousin who went to Canada to see him, said that Walter had two sons and all three of them were guides for hunting parties. (This was related to me by Edmond's son Ken Roller of Purdy, Barry County, Missouri, my Grandfather's cousin, nearly twenty years ago though it was a well known story in my family.)

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