The Underground Railroad & Black History Museum of Newark, Ohio marked the Juneteenth celebration with a formal recognition and dedication of the event for Liberia’s 5th President, Edward James Roye, born in Newark, February 3, 1815.The dedication took place during the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 17, 18, & 19, East Main Street in Newark, Ohio. The festive celebration displayed fine arts and historical synopsis of Eddie Roye growing up as a young boy in Newark, Ohio.
In November of 2010, twenty-one members delegation of Liberians led by the Liberian-American Association of Toledo visited the birthplace of Edward James Roye on Mount Vernon Road. The Newark Advocate News covered the News story of the Liberians’ visit and the story was culled by the New Democrat Newspaper in Liberia in its November 2010 Publication. Rita Jackson, Founder and Director of Music Works And Arts Too, and Underground Railroad & Black History Museum, Licking County, dedicated the 2 acres of green space behind the Castle On the Canal Building and officially named it the Edward James Roye Canal Gardens. She hopes to learn more about Liberia and intends to get some plants/flowers from Liberia to put in the Gardens.
James Jornyoun, a motivating and focused leader, and a trained manager by profession spoke on Friday on behalf of the honor bestowed upon the 5th President of Liberia. James Jornyoun, President of the Liberian-American Association of Toledo, said “Edward James Roye was a visionary and a man with the sense of community. He made us proud and his vision lives on from the shores of Liberia to the beautiful city of Newark, Ohio. We are grateful to have him honored in this great city of Newark.” Jornyoun said although Edward James Roye was involved in politics but he was a successful businessman, and his vision was to extend opportunities to everyone in Liberia. Also speaking on Friday was Emmanuel S. Wettee, the 23rd President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the America (ULAA). Mr. Wettee, a Business Process Analyst with the State of Ohio, said E. J. Roye took office when Liberia was encountering political and financial crisis.
Edward James Roye decided to take a loan from Great Britain to bring the country back to economic empowerment. Wettee said although the loan was controversial, but E. J. Roye had the people at heart and did not want the Liberian people to suffer financial hardship; one of the main reasons he obtained the loan. William Kolenky, Acting Secretary General of the Federation of Liberian Associations in Ohio (FOLAO) also spoke at the event honoring E.J. Roye on Saturday. Kolenky said Edward James Roye has been referred to as the “ninth and forgotten president from Ohio.” In a land far away from the Ohio, he is known by some as the “Lincoln of Liberia.” Liberia was trying to modernize its agricultural economy as Roye took office.
Roye began a program of reconstruction with the intention of building new roads and schools. Kolenky said in order to raise the funds for the projects, Roye sailed to England where he began negotiations with London banks. The terms of the loans were severe; among other things, the interest rate on the loan was 7%. Loan amount was about $90,000, while bonds were issued for $400,000. Dr. Sakui W. G. Malakpa, professor in the Department of early childhood, physical and special education at the University of Toledo served as guest speaker at the Dedication & Award Dinner honoring Edward James Roye on June 19, 2011. Professor Malakpa, who also serve as the coordinator of the vision program at the University of Toledo said E.J. Roye started attending Ohio University at the age of 17, but couldn’t find work after graduation. He traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he set up the community’s largest barbershop, following his father’s footsteps. Dr. Malakpa said that Edward James Roye was a descendent of the Igbo tribe from Nigeria, West Africa. After his Keynote address, Dr. Sakui Malakpa took questions from the audience and they were very impressed to learn of Edward James Roye’s journey to Liberia along with his accomplishments. Report by: NewLinkAfrica Lifestyle Services info@newlinkafrica.com
SPEECH BY WILLIAM KOLENKY, ACTING SECRETARY GENERAL OF FEDERATION OF LIBERIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN OHIO (FOLAO) June 18, 2011
EDWARD JAMES ROYE
Edward James Roye from (February 3, 1815 – February 11, 1872) served as the fifth President of Liberia from 1870 to his overthrow and subsequent violent death in 1872. He had previously served as the 4th Chief Justice of Liberia from 1865 until 1868. He was the first member of Liberia’s True Whig Party to serve as President.
HIS EARLY LIFE:
Roye was born into a prosperous African American family in Newark, Ohio. Roye was a descendant of the Igbo people. His father, John Roye, managed a ferry across the Wabash River at Terre Haute, Indiana and acquired considerable land there and in Vandalia, a neighboring state of Illinois. Because of his family’s financial standing, young Edward was able to attend Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. After the death of his father Edward relocated to Terre Haute, Indiana in 1836 where he established the community’s largest barber shop, which boasted a 79-foot high barber pole, “the tallest in western Indiana”.
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LIFE IN LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA:
In 1846, attracted by the American Colonization Society, Edward Roye immigrated to Liberia and setup business as a merchant. Within three years of his arrival he became active in Liberian politics. Edward served as Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia (1865-1868). Roye was inaugurated as President of Liberia on January 3, 1870.
As Roye took office, the country was in the midst of political instability exacerbated by a fiscal crisis. The cost of imports was far greater than the income generated by the export of coffee, rice, palm oil, sugarcane and timber. Liberia was trying to modernize its agricultural economy as Roye took office.
Roye began a program of reconstruction with the intention of building new roads and schools. In order to raise the funds for these projects, Roye sailed to England where he began negotiations with London banks. The terms of the loans were severe; among other things, the interest rate on the loan was 7%. Roye hastily agreed to the loans without consulting the legislature. Liberia actually received approximately $90,000, while bonds were issued for $400,000. Because of increasing world competition Liberia was unable to generate sufficient export revenue and defaulted on the loan negotiated by Roye. Recession forced Liberia into a series of even larger loans. The decline of Liberia’s exports and its inability to pay its debts resulted in a large measure of foreign interference.
SUMMARY:
There is no specific historical record available detailing the date and circumstances of his death, although varying accounts indicate he was either killed on February 11th or February 12th of 1872 or drowned while trying to reach a British ship in Monrovia harbor.
Many years later the nation of Liberia took another look at Edward J. Roye, their fifth president. A building housing what was the True Whig Party headquarters was named in his honor, as well as a ship, a town, and several schools. Was he a villain or a victim of poor political planning? Did he seek his own prosperity over that of the common citizens of Liberia? Edward James Roye has been referred to as the “ninth and forgotten president from Ohio.” In a land far away from the Ohio, he is known by some as the “Lincoln of Liberia.”