Among the prominent Postville People of the Pale Past was Hall Roberts.

In 1864, Hall and friends; Pontoon Bridge Engineer John Lawler and 'Diamond Jo' Reynolds of Mississippi river steamboat fame, erected a large elevator in Postville. Instead of farmers around Postville hauling their wheat to McGregor by wagon -- they could haul it to Roberts Elevator and save a lot of time and effort.

In the same year the railroad came through Postville. By the 1880's Postville had the Chicago, Milwaukee road and another track for the Great Northern.

The following are excerpts from the Postville Review:

The Year 1873
W.N. Burdick, Editor

Postville has at last a bank. This bank will be known as the "Postville Bank." The place of business, Roberts Bros. Store, H. Roberts, President, W.S. Roberts, Cashier. It is not necessary for us to attempt to make our readers any better acquainted with these enterprising and accomodating business men, as they have made for themselves the good name that they may well be proud of.

--
The Postville Bank.
For Progressive Postville people.
Capital $25,000
At Roberts Bros. Store
Will receive Deposits, Buy and Sell Exchange, Transact all Business usually done at Banks.
Hall Roberts, President
W.S. Roberts, Cashier

--
Hall Roberts, one of the most enterprising citizens of Postville started yesterday morning for the East, he will be back soon, and look out for the best and largest stock of goods ever brought to this place.

--
150 pieces of good Calico just arrived at Roberts Bros.

The Year 1876
W.N. Burdick, Editor

Roberts Bros. Don't propose to be rash,
but will give you such bargain in goods for the cash
as will make you feel happy, contented and rich,
while others grow poor who is buying on tick

Full weight and measure you'll receive at their hands,
piled up and pressed down as the scripture commands.
So just call and see them, they will do the fair thing,
the proof of the pudding is in chewing the string.

They do not bind in the field, or follow the plow,
but have long earned their bread by the sweat of the brow,
and are determined to labor to the utmost extent
to build up Postville, if they don't make a cent.

You've all heard of A.T. Stewart, he's won a great name,
by selling good cheap, they are doing the same.

A.T. has done a good thing by selling goods low,
but the age is progressive, he's no longer the go,
this firm have taken the track in condition and strength,
and propose on the home stretch to beat him by a length.

--
At Roberts Bros.
35 cents will by 1 pound of good fine cut tobacco
13 1/2 pounds of Stand ard Sugar for $1.00
9 1/2 lbs. Coffee only $1.00
All Wool Flannel 20 cents
Men's Custom Kip Boots $3.25
Ladies Oil Goat Button Shoes $2.50
17 lbs. of good Prunes for $1.00
25 lbs. Dried Apples for $1.00

The James Brothers

-In 1876 the James Brothers and the Younger Brothers robbed two banks at Northfield, Minn., fatally shooting a bank cashier. The Younger Bros. were pretty well shot up and captured while the James boys, Jesse and Frank escaped back to Missouri.

-No news yet as to the capture of the James Bros. It is rumored that it was Jesse who fired the fatal shot at the Northfield, Minnesota Bank, that killed Cashier Heywood. For the first time in their long string of robberies their haul netted them exactly nothing.

-This heading appeared in the Postville Review:

New Time Lock

The proprietors of the Postville Bank, in order to be up with the times, and in order to secure their depositors and themselves against possible loss by robbery, have put a Yale Lock on their safe. It is an expensive luxury and the patrons of the bank will join with us in thanking the Messrs Roberts for their determination to make the people's money as safe as possible while in their custody. The Roberts Bros. are ready for the James Bros. now!

--
See us for Big Baby Carriages. They can hold at least two at a time -- and in certain situations you can stuff in three. All new and nobby at Roberts Bros.

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NOTICE -- To all those who use tobacco; now gentlemen, I advise you as a friend, to refrain from using that filthy weed while in church. By so doing you will much oblige your friend. Hall Roberts.

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Last Monday there was quite a squabble between a couple of chaps at Roberts Bros. Store. No one seriously injured, they will live to fight another day.

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Horse Blankets and Buffalo Robes -- get yours now, at Roberts Bros.

Take Notice.
I trusted you for goods last year,
When you was out of money;
And now to buy new good
Would thank you for the money.
Please call and settle.
Roberts Bros.

The Year 1913
Bert Tuttle, Editor

Ordinance No. 162.
An Ordinance accepting the donation and dedication by Hall Roberts of Lots 15, 16, 17 and 18, Block 11, Town of Postville, for a Public Park. Be it ordained by the Town Cuncil of the Incorporated Town of Postville, Iowa:
Sec. 1 -- That the donation and dedication by Hall Roberts to the town of Postville, Iowa, of lots 15, 16, 17 and 18, block 11 in Lawler's addition to said town of Postville, for park purposed, is hereby accepted on all the terms and conditions and under all the obligations contained in said deed of donation and dedication, dated April 26th, 1913.
Sec. 2 -- That the Clerk of said town is hereby directed to record said deed in full.

Passed and approved this 7th day of May, A.D. 1913.
P.J. Beucher, Mayor
Attest:
Wm. Shepherd, Clerk.

The City Park.

Through the generosity of their old townsman, Hall Roberts, the people of Postville now enjoy the possession of a small park in the heart of town, the gift having been made in this spring of 1913. The conditions attached are reasonable and easily complied with as follows:
-That the grass shall be mowed and raked as frequently as a home lawn.
-That the public shall be kept from using it as a thoroughfare in going to or from the Milwaukee depot.
-That plants and flowers shall be put in the rockery in their season.
-That no intoxicating liquors shall ever be permitted to be sold on the grounds.
-And that no concerts, except sacred ones, shall be permitted in the park on Sundays.

Roberts Park comprises four city lots opposite the Commercial Hotel, in which eighteen years ago Mr. Roberts set out elm, oak, poplar, maple, basswood and other native trees; he built a fine rockery on the plot that is beautiful with the flowers and foliage of plants during the summer months, and the lawn has been kept closely mowed and raked, and all this he has done at his own expense. It has been an inviting spot to wearied travelers to eat a lunch or await a train, and town folks too have oft-times enjoyed its inviting shade.

The Year 1916
Bert Tuttle, Editor

Hall Roberts Suffers A Fatal Fall!
About 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Hall Roberts, Postville's widely known grain and stock buyer, went into Thoma Bros. restaurant to buy some muskmelons. As Fred Thoma, who was in the store alone, was busy with a customer in the front end of the store, Mr. Roberts, as he had frequently done before, stepped behind the counter and started to look over a crate of melons in the rear part of the building. The passageway behind the counter is quite narrow and near the northwest corner of the store is a trap-door in the floor leading to the cellar below, and by this Mr Roberts had to pass on his way to the melons.

While Mr. Thoma was putting up a sack of bananas for his customer he heard a slight noise that sounded to him as if a package had fallen from the shelf to the floor and glanced in that direction, but seeing nothing out of place concluded his hearing had tricked him. As the customer passed out Fred huried over to wait on Mr. Roberts, but as he stepped behind the counter he observed Hall was not in sight. Like a flash he recalled the noise he had heard, and looking down the stairway saw Mr. Roberts lying on his back on the cellar floor with his head against the wall and in an unconscious condition.

Fred at once called Mr. Roberts son-in-law, Dr. Blessin, and after unavailing efforts to restore consciousness Mr. Roberts was conveyed to his home on a stretcher. Dr. Kiesau of this city and Dr. Harris of Dubuque were called in consultation, and the result of their deliberations was that Mr. Roberts was past medical or surgical aid, a hemmorrhage at the base of the brain being discovered.

Reports from Mr. Roberts bedside this morning are to the effect that he has not yet regained consciousness and is gradually growing weaker, and it is hardly expected he will survive the day.

Mr. Roberts is one of Postville's oldest and most highly respected business men and citizens, close to 73 years of age, and universal sorrow pervades the community. Sympathy as unbounded as it is sincere, goes out to the sorrowing family and relatives who are keeping vigil at the bedside where the Death Angel hovers so close one may almost hear the fluttering of its wings.

Hall Roberts, A Pioneer Citizen Enters into Eternal Rest.

Hall Roberts was born at Rollinsford, N.H. March 7, 1844, and died at Postville, Iowa, September 16, at the age of 72 years, six months and nine days. He came of the old Puritan stock from New England and throughout his life exhibited many of the qualities which caused this small band of forefathers to put their stamp so indelibly on the Americanism of the early days.

His life as a churchman is an open book to all who have lived in Postville. While his body was beginning to show the effects of the activities of 72 years, his spirit continued still young and joyous and he was as much of an inspiration and guide to those associated with him as ever. He seemed to find in his declining years, his best days and his spirit rose above the informities of the flesh and conquered.

The accident which befell him was terrible and would have caused him the most intense suffering could he have been concious of it, but the kind Providence which seemed to have guided his feet through life in the ways of joy, gladness and prosperity rendered him unconcious to the fever and pain which at the last burned his life out. Alas! there will be a vacant chair!

There are left to mourn his passing, his wife, one son, Harvey, who has for many years the business associate of his father; and two daughters, Mrs. Bessie Blessin of this place and Mrs. Ruth Templeton of Great Falls, Montana.

A letter from John R. Mott

The next month Harvey Roberts, Hall's son, received this letter .....

Hotel Traymore,
Atlantic City, N.J.
October 14th, 1916

Mr. Harvey Roberts
Postville, Iowa

Dear Harvey:
I have just learned of the home-going of your dear father. I make haste to assure you and your mother and sister of my own sincere and prayerful sympathy. May the God of all comfort greatly strengthen you and the other members of your family in this loss which you and I well know, means infinite gain to your father. I shall ever cherish with sincere gratitude his friendship and constant encouragement. His example and unfailing witness for the best, have been a source of great strenth to all who knew hiim.

Very sincerely yours,
JOHN R. MOTT

- published on the Allamakee co. IAGenWeb with the generous permission of Stan Schroeder
- original transcripts provided by Stan Schroeder & transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall

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