10/06/2026
❤️🖤💛💚 Did You Know? The men of Metropolitan Savings Bank: James Seward LaRoche was born into slavery in 1858 in Fairfield County South Carolina. His family later moved to Palatka, Florida. As a young man, James LaRoche was heavily involved in politics, serving as a delegate of the Republican Party in 1886 while still in Palatka. In 1887, he served as foreman of the Palatka North End Hose Reel Company, an organization admitted into the fire department and composed entirely of black men.
In 1901, James LaRoche, along with V.B. Collier, opened the first and only first class ice cream and refreshment stand in Ocala for African Americans.
James LaRoche left Palatka for Ocala, Florida where he became a mail carrier and clerk working for the Ocala Post Office. James Seward LaRoche became the first Black postal clerk in the Ocala Post Office in 1902 after passing the civil service exam for that position. He was appointed mail carrier in December 1902. His fellow carriers elected him as president of the local branch of National Association of Letter Carriers.
In 1922, LaRoche was one of 5 of Marion County’s prestigious African American men who traveled to Daytona for the laying of cornerstones for Mary McLeod Bethune’s Normal Institute for girls.
James LaRoche was one of the original investors and employees of the Metropolitan Reality & Investment Company, a bank organized by Marion County’s leading African American men. The three-story bank sat on Magnolia Street south
Fun Fact: James LaRoche served as secretary for the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and in 1909 was noted to have been elected year after year, serving for a quarter of a century. Mr. LaRoche’s involvement in the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows dates back to 1886 while living in Palatka, Florida.
Fun Fact: James LaRoche was one of the original mail carriers who started with the Ocala Post Office when it was made a free delivery post office. He retired as of June 30, 1915
Fun Fact: JS LaRoche was a mathematician
Fun Fact: He served as the second assistant chief of the Palatka Fire Department
Fun Fact: James LaRoche served as assistant secretary of The Ocala Knitting Mills
Fun Fact: James S. LaRoche is the father in law of Dr Richard S Hughes, founder of the American National Thrift Association (ANTA) hospital
Visit the Marion County Black History Museum to learn additional interesting facts about Marion County! ❤️🖤💛💚
Historical Information obtained from Alonzo Hardy and Craig C. Hughes, great grandson of James Seward LaRoche, as well as the following:
Palatka Daily News 5/25/1887
Palatka Daily News 7/25/1886
Palatka Daily News 9/8/1886
The Ocala Evening Star 5/8/1909; 8/20/1914; 6/11/1915; 10/14/1922
The Ocala Banner 1/12/1917; 7/9/1920
