In 1850 census of Kent County, Delaware:

"Inhabitants of Milford and Mispillion Townships of Kent County in 1850. Page 124.

James Melvin, 45, Male, DE, Farmer

Lavinia Melvin, 45, Female, DE

Clementine, 19, Female, DE

Mary E., 17, Female, DE

Isaac I., 14, Male, DE

Deborah A., 11, Female, DE

Jacob B., 6, Male, DE

James M., 4, Male, DE

Thomas A., 2, Male, DE

William D. Roe, 19, Male, DE, Farming.

In the 1870 census of Brunswick, Chariton, Missouri:

ROE, William D., 39, Maryland

Mary E., 36, F, Delaware

Anna S., 18, F, Delaware

Robert E., 14, F, Delaware

Mary F., 12, F, Illinois

Clementine, 10, M, MO

Lafayette, 7, M, MO

William P., 5, M, MO

(Notice there is an extra child, William P. Also, notice that Clementine is again listed as a male and Robert E. is a female. In both the 1860 and 1870 census, Anna Levina has a middle initial of that looks like an S.)

In 1880 U. S. Census of Lowell, Cherokee, Kansas he is listed as William O. Roe, age 49 and Mary E. Roe, age 46, Robert E. is age 25, Mary F., is age 21, and Lafayette is age 17. The census was taken on 1 June 1880. He was working as a miner.

"William O. Roe, married, white, age 49, MD, Miner, MD, MD.

Mary E. Roe, wife, age 46, DE, Keeping house, DE, DE.

Robert E. Roe, son, age 25, DE, Miner, MD, DE.

Mary F. Roe, daughter, age 21, IL, MD, DE.

Lafayette Roe, age 17, MO, MD, DE."

According to Melinda Flittner on Genforum, "He is in the 1885 census of Kansas, his name was William D. Roe, age 53, born 1832 in MD. Mary E., age 51 and Lafayette, age 22 found in Lowell Township, Cherokee County, KS. Also shows Mary born in DE and Lafayette in MO. 1900 KS census shows Robert E. Roe born in DE, father's birthplace is MD and mother's birthplace as DE. Married to Laura E. Redman, born IA. Nine children born of this union."

From the Galena Republican, 31 Oct 1896: "Mrs. Mary E. Roe, while returning from the funeral of the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, Monday, was thrown from the vehicle and sustained internal injuries from which she died at 9:30 o'clock that evening. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church, Wednesday forenoon, Rev. Thos. Pingry, officiating, after which the remains were followed to their last resting place by a large number of sympathizing friends. Mrs. Roe was 63 years, 6 months and 28 days old, was the mother of Constable Laffayette Roe, and a warm friend of all who knew her. This is a sad death indeed. It was thought at first that the only injuries sustained was a broken collar bone but her condition grew worse until her spirit took its flight from this to the world beyond."

I put those dates into the date calculator and the birthday came out as 29 Mar 1833. Unfortunately, this may be wrong as her older brother was born in November according to other records.

From the Galena Evening Times, 27 Oct 1896: "Mrs. Roe, mother of Lafe Roe, the night policeman, died last night as a result of injuries sustained by being thrown from a wagon. We are without particulars."

From Marilyn Schmitt, secretary/research volunteer of the Cherokee County Kansas Genealogical-Historical Society, Inc.: "It was a disappointment to read Mary Roe's obit about her…burial. I'm pretty sure it is in the Old Galena City Cemetery though. There is no tombstone for her or her husband there, but a lot of the old tombstones are no longer readable or are missing all together. The city records and funeral home records for the cemetery are non-existent for that time period. I've checked all the other cemeteries in the area with no luck."

Mary Ellen Melvin