John Roques was an early citizen of St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

. He served in both the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

 and the Mexican-American War, and led the first band in St. Louis.

Early life

John Roques was born March 2, 1786, to Jacques Emanuel De Roques (1742–1808) and Julia Braun.

Career

Roques enlisted in the Army in 1798 as a drummer boy. In June 1803, he was attached to General James Wilkinson

James Wilkinson

James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...

's military band. He participated military actions in New Orleans, St. Louis, and Mobile. During the Battle of New Orleans

Battle of New Orleans

The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...

, Roques was wounded in the left leg while assisting a wounded lieutenant. General Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...

 witnessed Roques emptying the blood that had filled his shoe and remarked to the doctor that he should examine Roques' wound. He was discharged from the Army in December 1827.

Roques then lived in Jefferson County, Missouri and St. Louis for several years, where he was known as the leader of the best band of drum musicians in the streets of the city and was leader of his famous drum corps. When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Roques volunteered once again for the Army and was appointed drum major of his regiment.

Marriage and children

John Roques and Margaretta Bedwell had eight children: Jean Tolbert, Marie Louise, James, Priscilla, Lucinda, Mahala, Henry, and Joseph.

Death and afterward

Roques died at the home of his eldest son in Jefferson County, Missouri

Jefferson County, Missouri

Jefferson County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was...

 on December 31, 1857. He was buried in the cemetery of
House Springs, Missouri

House Springs, Missouri

House Springs is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It is located just off Route 30 at the intersection with Routes MM and W near Byrnes Mill. The community is named after Adam House, who settled here ca. 1796, and for the two large springs here. In the...

.