Muhlenberg County Kentucky


Biographies R

David B. Roll

David B. Roll was born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., September 16, 1827, and is a son of Abraham and Rachel V. (Rhoades) Roll, the former of whom was a native of Hardin and the latter of Muhlenberg County, Ky. Abraham Roll was educated and married in his native county, where he was engaged in farming for several years. He then removed to Muhlenberg County, where he bought a partially improved farm, upon which he resided until his death, which occurredd in January, 1838, in his fortieth year. His father, Michael Roll Sr., the grandfather of our subject, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war.

David B. Roll received such an education in youth as could be obtained at the early schools of Kentucky. His father died when he was ten years old. He was then employed as a laborer at various pursuits until he was seventeen years old. Afer that he was engaged in flat-boating on the Green, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for some nine years. He then bought 260 acres of wild land near the Green River, in Muhlenberg County, Ky., where he subsequently improved a farm and resided for some three years, when he sold this place and again bought wild land adjoining, where he commenced to improve other farms. There he remained only one year, when he again sold out and bought another farm in the same neighborhood, upon which he has ever since resided. Mr. Roll now owns some 1,100 acres of choice agricultural land, about 300 acres of which are improved. Mr. Roll was a magistrate in his county for ten years in succession.

He was married, July 12, 1849, to Margaret A. Jackson, also a native of Muhlenberg County, Ky. Eleven children were the fruit of this union, nine of whom - six sons and three daughters - are still living. Mr. Roll and wife have been for forty years members of the United Baptist Church, in which he now holds the office of deacon. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is largely engaged in the live-stock business, both as a stock-raiser and a stock dealer. He owns some of the best and most valuable live-stock in Muhlenberg County. In politics Mr. Roll is a Democrat.

Source: Battle, J.H., W.H. Perrin, and G.C. Kniffen. cite>Kentucky: A History of the State. Louisville, KY: F.A. Battey, 1885. Pages 921.

Updated July 9, 2018