Roberts, Paul 1835-1910

ROBERTS, WHITNEY, EDWARDS, GOLDEN, BAUERLY

Posted By: Paula Curcio (email)
Date: 5/20/2004 at 08:14:16

Obituary as it appeared in the LeMars Sentinel January 1, 1910, Page 1, Column 5

FAMILIAR FIGURE HAS GONE

Worked Continuously on Streets Twenty Two Years

HIS HEALTH FAILED THE PAST YEAR

Paul Roberts Had Lived in Plymouth County Thirty-One Years and Was Known by Almost Everybody in LeMars and Vicinity

Paul Roberts, one of the familiar figures to be seen daily on the streets of LeMars for the past two decades, died at his home on Howard Street in this city on Tuesday evening about ten o'clock at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Roberts had been in failing health the past few months, suffering from dropsy and other complications attendant on the approach of old age, but had only been confined to his home a few days.

Mr. Roberts has lived in Plymouth county for the past thirty-one years and for twenty-two years has been an employee of the city in the street cleaning department and was known to nearly everybody in LeMars. He worked and toiled hard all his life, was interested in his labor, was efficient and faithful and made use of the talent bestowed upon him to the best of his ability.

Paul Alexander Roberts was nearly seventy-five years of age, having been born in St. Louis on the first day of May, 1835. But little is known of his early life, even by his relatives. He was twice married. By his first wife he had two children, one of whom is living. He was married on Christmas Day,1866, to Miss Sarah Whitney in Jackson County, this state, who survives. Soon after their marriage they moved to Missouri, where they lived a few years and then came to Iowa and thirty-one years ago came to Plymouth County. Mr. Roberts is survived by his wife and six children, who are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving husband and father. The children are Mrs. Mercy Edwards, of Goose Lake, Saskatchewan, N.W.T., Mrs. Thomas Golden, Mrs. Chris Bauerly, Mrs. Geo. Bauerly and Alex Roberts, of this city, and Geo. Roberts, of Dell Rapids, S.D.

All the children except Mrs. Edwards were here to attend the funeral, which was held yesterday at the First Congregational church of which the deceased was a charter member, Rev. C.F. Fisher conducting the services.

The Mayor, City Officials, and members of the street cleaning department attended the funeral in a body, paying a well merited tribute to the memory of one who worked hard and faithfully and earned the respect and good will of those by whom he was employed and those who side by side worked with him under the scorching rays of the summer sun and the biting blasts of wintry cold for so many years.