William Sherman Roberts

ROBERTS, MILLER, RUHS, BATES, SHOUP, MARTIN, DAVIS, KATSONTONEFUR, GREELEY

Posted By: Phyllis Stackhouse (email)
Date: 8/21/2008 at 18:56:51

Taken from "History of Audubon, IA" 1915 edition:
It is interesting to note from the beginning the growth and development of a community, to note the lines along which progress has been made and to take cognizance of those whose industry and leadership in the work of advancement have rendered possible the prosperity of the locality under consideration. William Sherman Roberts is one of the sturdy individuals who has contributed to the material welfare of Audubon, where he resides. He is an up-to-date business man, public spirited as a citizen and progressive in all that the term implies. William Sherman Roberts, the operator of a popular dray line in Audubon, and a city councilman of Audubon, was born on September 19, 1865 on a farm in Illinois. He is the son of Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts, who was born in 1829, and who died in August, 1904. Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts married Martha Woodburn Miller, who was born in 1838, and who is a native of Pennsylvania. She is now living in Los Angeles, California. Her husband, Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts, was a native of Indiana. In 1866 Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts and his wife, Martha Woodburn (Miller) Roberts, came to Audubon county. They lived in Exira for one year and then moved to a farm in Leroy township. The farm was composed of wild land and was wholly unimproved. Mr. Roberts erected a frame building. He cut timber out of a grove, hauled it to Exira and had it sawed into boards and hauled the lumber back again to the farm. They lived on this farm of two hundred and forty acres until his death. The original farm of one hundred and twelve acres is still owned by the family. Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts was prominent in the affairs of Leroy township and also in county affairs. He was road supervisor of the north half of Audubon county and laid out the roads in conjunction with the surveyors. Martha Woodburn Miller was the daughter of Robert Miller, who was an early settler in Audubon county. To Mr. and Mrs. O. H. P. Roberts seven children were born, namely: William S., is the subject of this sketch; Hubert Merill lives in Los Angeles; Robert E. lives in California: Ida is the deceased wife of John Ruhs; Mrs. Mary E. Bates lives at Venice, California; Louis Woodburn lives in Los Angeles; and Oscar Perry also lives in Los Angeles. William Sherman Roberts received a good common-school education. He attended school only three months each year and during this period worked on his father's farm. When twenty-one years of age he began farming for himself. Later he purchased eighty acres, adjoining the John Greeley farm, on which he lived for three years. In December, 1894, he moved to Audubon. He bought out a drayage business and operated it until 1908, when he went to Omaha and worked as a street-car conductor for sixteen months. He then returned and bought back his dray business again. He operates three teams which are driven by his three sons. William Sherman Roberts was married on November 14, 1886, to Isabel Shoup, who was born in Illinois, and who is the daughter of Samuel and Nancy Shoup, former residents of Audubon county. Samuel Shoup lives in Colorado. His wife is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. William Sherman Roberts the following children have been born: Samuel Perry; Mrs.Iva May Martin, who lives at Mason City; Mrs. Cora E. Davis, who lives in Los Angeles; Mrs. Frances Katsontonefur, of Lincoln Nebraska; and Alvin, Jesse, Glen, Lillian, Bonnie, Vernon, Louis, Edward and Martha, all of whom live at home. In politics Mr. Roberts is identified with the Democratic party. Throughout his life he has been prominent locally in the affairs of the Democratic party. He is now serving as a member of the Audubon city council. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is manager. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Woodmen of the World, of which last order he is the clerk.