Encyclopedia Titanica

Hugh Roscoe Rood

First Class Passenger

Hugh Roscoe Rood
Hugh Roscoe Rood

Hugh Roscoe Rood, 39, was born in Iowa on 23 March 1873.

He was the son of Vernon Dudley Rood (1842-1906), a doctor who also saw military service, and Sarah Catherine Voorhees (b. 1841). His father was originally from Vermont whilst his mother hailed from New Jersey and he had three known siblings: Grace (1875-1964, later Mrs Yophrazan Jacques), Edson (1877-1915) and Vernon Voorhees (1879-1939).

He appears on the 1880 census living in Anita, Cass, Iowa but the family later moved to San Diego, California and he was still living with his parents in that city at the time of the 1900 census and he had went into the brokerage business. He later settled in Seattle, Washington and joined the Rainier Club, a private elite society, and worked as vice president and general manager of the Perfection Pile Preserving Company.

He was married on 16 January 1909 to Lena Stoiber, née Allen (b. 2 April 1862), a wealthy mining magnate who had previously been married to Edward Stoiber (1856-1906) who owned the Silver Lake gold mine in Silverton, Colorado and who lived in an opulent mansion named Waldheim, also in Silverton. Lena had sold the mine in 1908 to the Guggenheims but Hugh and his wife continued to spend time living between Colorado and Washington.

The couple had been spending time in Europe since late 1911 and by April 1912 were staying in Paris when Hugh was summoned back to Seattle.

Rood booked a single passage on the Titanic and boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a first class passenger (ticket number 113767, £50), he occupied cabin A-32.

His wife arrived back in New York on 26 April 1912 aboard Kaiserin Auguste Victoria and stayed in the Plaza Hotel. Apparently in disbelief that her husband had died, she placed following advertisement in the New York Herald:

INFORMATION WANTED concerning HUGH R. ROOD of Seatte, Wash. passenger on Titanic, occupying cabin 32. Deck A. Grateful for any news of his survival or death, by telegraph at my expense. Mrs. HUGH ROOD, Hotel Plaza, New York City.

Lena, reportedly a very eccentric lady, is believed to have settled in Italy having survived four marriages. She is believed to have died in 1935.

Newspaper Articles

Denver Times (15 April 1912) Denver Men And Women Among Titanic Passengers
The San Francisco Call (16 April 1912) Seattle Man On Liner
The Weekly Republican (18 April 1912) Hugh R. Rood

Documents and Certificates

(1912) Contract Ticket List, White Star Line (Southampton, Queenstown), National Archives, London; BT27/776,780
(1912) Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Passengers and Seamen at Sea, National Archives, London; BT334/52 & 334/53
Hermann Söldner (2000) RMS Titanic: Passenger and Crew List 10 April 1912-15 April 1912, ä wie Ärger Verlag, Rüti, 2000

Miscellaneous

1900 US Federal Census

Comment and discuss

  1. William Armour Murdoch

    William Armour Murdoch

    This is Armour again having read Rachel Fellman's surprising note on "The Titanic Murders," another book I shall immediately purchase. Rachel, it would be a tremendous stretch of the immagination that Hugh Rood would be involved in a murder. He was a responsible CEO of a Seattle company and married to a very wealthy lady. After I read the book I will be back in touch. I too would be fascinated to get confirmation on the issue of Hugh Rood by Boat #7, assisting with the loading of women and children, that is more like it. Please, someone provide more info. Pardon the misspelling of Daniel in my last note. Lester, where do the numbers MT 9/920/201 and BT 100/260 come from? I am still a novice on the Titanic but learning day by day.
  2. Lester Mitcham

    Lester Mitcham

    Armour, MT 9/920/201 and BT 100/260 are the document numbers for the Lists of Deceased Passengers held by the UK Public Record Office. Lester
  3. Daniel Klistorner

    Daniel Klistorner

    I get it
    attachment
  4. William Armour Murdoch

    William Armour Murdoch

    Lester Micham. Thanks for your info. The reason I ask is in April 1912 would it have been easy to purchase a ticket in Paris for a sailing planned to debark from Southampton. Rood could have debarked from Cherbourg but it appears he debarked from Southhampton. I have now confirmed that his wife debarked from Southhampton on a German Ship for New York, along with her maid, the lady I talke to those many years ago. I really believe he bought his ticket in London. I wonder? Rachel Fellman: It was a bit gutsy for the author of Murder on the Titanic to select (a man) from the Titanic whom he thought no-one would recognize or possibly care about. Far from true through our joint efforts, Hugh Roscoe Rood was never forgotten and shall be better known as this saga progresses. I have ordered the book and will show it to the Rood family here in Seattle. I have also ordered the book on Margaret Brown a/k/a Mollie. It will be interesting reading. Armour
  5. William Armour Murdoch

    William Armour Murdoch

    Can anyone tell me how I can find out aboutAmerican's by name, coming from America to the Port of Southhampton for period late 1911 and early 1912? Is the name of a ship required? Armour
  6. Lester Mitcham

    Lester Mitcham

    Armour, Rood travelled on Ticket No 113767. While I appreciate what Daniel posted on behalf of our mutual friend George Behe; I believe that Rood's ticket was purchased in London. My reason is that his ticket was part of a group of tickets purchased by passengers for whom we have London or near London addresses (Mr and Mrs Pears lived in Middlesex) and all of whom boarded Titanic at Southampton. The Carter family had Ticket 113760 and the Marvins 113773. This carries through to Ticket No 113801. On this web-site I refer you to First Class: High Detail. You can check all of the ticket numbers for yourself. I hope this helps, Lester
  7. Rachel Fellman

    Rachel Fellman

    Mr. Murdoch- I think you have the wrong book- it's The Titanic Murders (Max Allan Collins) not Murder on the Titanic (Jim Walker). I hope that was a typo, because otherwise you'll have to order Titanic Murders also...and Titanic fiction can be dangerous in large doses. And small doses. -Rachel
  8. Daniel Klistorner

    Daniel Klistorner

    It was certainly possible to book tickets in Paris and arrange to book the ship at another port, such as Southampton, or the other way round, however the ticket booked, would be a Paris ticket, and as already established and agreed by all, Rood booked his ticket in London - either on 2nd or 3rd of April, probably the 3rd. There were several Titanic passengers that booked their tickets in Paris and boarded the ship in Southampton. I believe the Straus party was one such case. Regards, Daniel.
  9. Beckey Payne

    Beckey Payne

    Does anyone have information regarding rumors that Hugh Rood of Colorado was never actually on Titanic, despite reports that he was one of the many souls lost with her? What about the inquiry made in 1932 to the Denver Police Department's Bureau of Missing Persons as to whether his wife was still living? It is my understanding that the person making the inquiry was very specific that she not be told someone was asking about her. Simply a curious person, or someone quietly trying to locate families of victims, or Mr. Rood himself wanting to know what became of her? Beckey
  10. George Behe

    George Behe

    Hi, Beckey! >.....or Mr. Rood himself wanting to know what became of her? Apparently not. In May of 1912 Margaret Hays wrote a letter to Mrs. Rood saying that she and Mr. Rood had stood together for a short time on A deck during the evacuation of the Titanic. There is very little doubt that Mr. Rood perished when the ship went down. All my best, George
  11. Daniel Klistorner

    Daniel Klistorner

    Oooh, juicy! Anything more on the 1932 inquiry?
  12. Jana Webre

    Jana Webre

    I am interested in corresponding with anyone who has information about Hugh Roscoe Rood. I can tell you that I have newspaper articles from the time, showing that as early as 1915 there were doubts that Hugh had ever boarded the Titanic. He left his wife behind in Paris, and was to board the Titanic to return to America. His wife and her maid were to follow on another ship. There was a body recovered, which his wife thought might be his, but it evidently turned out to not be him. She spent the rest of her days following sightings of him all over Europe. Many were sightings by people who would have known him. Jana Webre Rood-Awakenings.com

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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr Hugh Roscoe Rood
Age: 39 years and 23 days (Male)
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married to Lena Stoiber, née Allen
Occupation: Businessman
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 113767, £50
Cabin No. A32
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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