ROACH, J. H.

Trade card. Image courtesy: Jim Cox

ROACH, J. H. (Champaign Co, OH-- ). Roach came to Iowa in 1855 and settled in Dubuque in 1860. He became known to the candy trade in 1864 when he opened the Key City Candy Company for the sale of confections and bonbons at 58 Main Street adjoining the GERMAN BANK. The Dubuque Herald reported in 1874 that his business was growing so well that he used 75 barrels of sugar in the month of March. (1) By July this figure had risen to 100 barrels of sugar producing 27,000 pounds of candy. (2)

His increasing business required more space which was found at 182 Main Street, where he moved his business in 1875. Again the space was found insufficient, and he purchased the site at 136 Main on April 1, 1880.

Roach's KEY CITY STEAM CANDY COMPANY at 136 Main was listed in local directories from 1885 to 1890. The company employed sixteen workers to whom a total of $120 was paid weekly. The trade, while largely confined to Dubuque, grew to include a trade area of Minnesota and the Dakotas producing an annual revenue of $50,000. (3)

Roach left Dubuque for St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1892 he along with C. H. Roach and J. G. White all of St. Paul incorporated the J. H. Roach Company for the manufacture of confectionery. (4)

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Source:

1. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, April 4, 1874, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18740404&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, July 9, 1874, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18740709&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. "Dubuque County Before 1880," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, October 29, 1933, p. 20

4. "Municipal Molecules," The Daily Herald, January 30, 1892, p. 4

Oldt, Franklin T. The History of Dubuque County, Iowa Chicago: Western Historical Company, p. 867