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; buried in Rosehill Cemetery) served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1887–1889) for the Republican Party. He was elected as 30th mayor, 39th term (due to multiple terms of other mayors.) He was born in Utica New York, and 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 one hour after a meeting from uremic poisoning.^{[citation needed]}

Bibliography

• 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.

v t e 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.