A BEAR RIVER POSTMASTER

Roach McGaugh was born in Bear River in 1902, son of Mary and Thomas McGaugh. In 1924, he married Marjorie Gallant, also from Bear River, and they farmed on her homestead for a few years. Then they purchased a farm of their own nearby, and began a mixed farming operation.

Life seemed to be going well for them until their second child, Gene, arrived. He was born at home, and Marjorie had some complications with this birth. She was confined to bed from July to the following March. During this time she had three operations at home and was very sick.

To prepare the bedroom for home surgery, all the interior had to be painted white. At one time, she wasn’t expected to survive; so the doctor asked Roach if he would consent to the use of a certain drug. This was a grave decision to make since the medicine might either cure her, or shorten her life—span. Roach was a man of great faith, and he went to ask the advice of the Bishop who happened to be in Rollo Bay for Confirmation. The Bishop suggested that he have faith and follow the doctor’s orders, which he did, and Marjorie survived.

Because of the expense incurred from Marjorie’s illness, they had to leave Prince Edward Island to make some money to pay the bills. Leaving the baby with Roach’s parents they went to Poughkeepsie, New York, where Roach was employed on the railroad. Here, they remained for five years, before returning to the farm where they had to start all over again.

To supplement his income, Roach went to work on the road, when misfortune hit again. While they were lowering a cement culvert into place, it slipped, falling on his leg and severing the bone causing him to spend some time in the hospital, and an additional six months in bed

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