WILLIAM W. ROBERTS

ROBERTS

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 16:35:08

WILLIAM W. ROBERTS, county Surveyor of Adams county, Iowa, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 19, 1845. His parents, Daniel and Sarah (Inman) Roberts, were natives respectively of Virginia and Marietta, Ohio. His father was for many years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and at one time served as Justice of the Peace. He was only five years old when his family moved to Ohio. In Muskingum county, that State, he was married. In 1851 he moved to Henry county, Illinois, back to Ohio the following year, and in 1859 to Adams county, Iowa. Having been an early settler of three States, he well knew the hardships incident to pioneer life. He drilled the first military company ever formed in Adams county, a company of home guards. He understood the manual of arms, having drilled soldiers for the Mexican war, although he did not take part in that struggle. A Christian man and a member of the Baptist Church, he died February 25, 1889, aged seventy years. His widow is still living, aged seventy-two years, with powers of mind and body well preserved. This worthy couple had four children, namely: Pomelia J. and Mary E., deceased, the former at the age of one year and the latter at the age of eight; William W. and Lewis D.

William W. Roberts attended the common schools of Ohio, and after coming to Iowa received instructions in a public school until he was prepared for the freshman class in college. He then entered the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, and graduated there June 10, 1870, receiving the degree of A. B. and the same from the literary society of which he was a member. Three years later he received the title of A. M. After leaving college, Mr. Roberts taught in the graded schools in Quincy for two years. Immediately thereafter, in the fall of 1873, he was elected county Superintendent of the schools of Adams county; was re-elected in 1875, and filled that important position most acceptably. He is now serving his second term as county Surveyor, having been elected first in 1887. He has also served as Justice of the Peace. A public-spirited, progressive and enterprising citizen, he has been and is to-day an important factor in promoting the best interests of this county.

Mr. Roberts has been in the real estate business with H. F. Dale of Corning for some four years. He came to his present location in 1882. Here, in section 9, Washington township, he owns eighty acres of well improved land. He raises corn and all kinds of fruits, his land being adapted to any product indigenous to this climate.

September 18, 1876, Mr. Roberts wedded Miss Sadie A. Andrews, daughter of O. S. and Delilah Andrews, residents of Box butte county, Nebraska. Mr. Andrews is a contractor and mechanic, as popular as he is extensively known. He was a leading pioneer of Iowa. He and his wife had four children: Patience A., Sadie A., William F. and Letitia O. The last named is the wife of H. K. Prickett, of Box butte county. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been blessed with nine children, viz.: F. Clyde, Lewis W., Jennie M., Jesse E., Daniel C. and Orlando S. (twins), Ida I., and Mabel and Ethel (twins). Mrs. Roberts, like her husband, was for a time engaged in teaching. She is a lady of much culture and refinement. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political views Mr. Roberts is [Independent], voting for men and measures rather than party. He is opposed to monopolies in any form, and believes in keeping pace with nineteenth-century progress. Such is a brief sketch of one of Adams county's best citizens.