Mrs. Roth was born in Polk township, Monroe county, Aug. 21, 1859, a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Hawk) Serfass, who always made their home in that county, spending their last days with our subject. The father, who was a farmer by occupation and a Democrat in politics, died in March. 1894, at age of seventy-seven years, the mother in 1890, aged sixty-eighty and both were buried in Jerusalem church cemetery. In their family were six children