JOSEPH F. ROTH FAMILY

The Joseph Roth family came to Naperville in the spring of 1939. Mr. Roth had spent the previous year at the behest of John Middleton, a Chicago businessman, driving around the western suburban area looking for suitable land.

Joe had come to the United States in the 1920’s from Pfarkierken, Germany. He worked at St. Josephs College in Rensselaer, Indiana and at Our Lady of Bethlehem Academy in LaGrange, Illinois as a landscape architect.

The Middleton Farm, which was worked by the Roth family was located two and one-half miles south of Hobson Road, on Greene Road and one-half mile west of Rt. 53. The boundary line between Dupage and Will County ran through the farm. John J. Augsburg farmed the land to the north and the Dupage River formed the eastern boundary. 

The farm was a working farm from 1939 to 1967, when Joe passed away. The main product was a large herd of registered purebred Hereford beef cattle, usually about 130 head. He supplied many FFA and 4-H boys and girls with calves for their projects.

Joe always used new agricultural methods and did much to preserve the land and enrich it. He was one of the first farmers in Dupage County to be ecology-minded. In the October issue of “Farm Journal” a feature article was written about his methods. “One acre makes $160. in beef…that’s what Joe Roth’s pasture produces since he shifted to rotational grazing. These pictures of lush, knee high forage were taken on August 1st, when most pastures are fading. Roth’s entire farm is arranged so it can be pastured in strips. Roth rotates 130 cows, heifers, and calves among 30 acres of pasture strips.

After the farm was sold, mother Rose, continued to serve the community. In 1969, she joined the staff of Edward Hospital in the medical records department. It was her special joy to help any of the old farm friends in a time of distress. Rose passed away in February, 1981. Son Joe, who worked with his father for many years, still lives in Naperville. Daughter Marilynn lives in San Clemente, California. Son Richard died as a result of an automobile accident. Daughter Rose Marie Mannion lives in Long Beach, Indiana.