William Morgan Roberts

ROBERTS, HOLMES, HEAD

Posted By: Steve Roberts (email)
Date: 11/4/2001 at 07:41:52

William M. Roberts, one of the early settlers and leading agriculturists of Nebraska Township, was born in Virginia , April 3, 1828, and is a son of Gaius and Sarah (Barton) Roberts, natives of New Jersey. The parents located in Virginia on a farm in 1800, and had a family of thirteen children: Rebecca and Louisa died in infancy; Nelson, Sarah, George M., Sophia and David died after reaching maturity; John B., Gaius, Reuben S., Elizabeth and Mary are still living.

William M. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He remained at home until he was thirteen years old, when the parents discontinued house-keeping on account of their advanced age and went to live with their children. He went to live with one of his brothers who was a shoemaker, and entered his shop as an apprentice, serving three years; he then abandoned his trade and went to work on a farm for two years.

Mr. Roberts was married March 25, 1849, to Miss Caroline Holmes, who was born in Virginia , April 17, 1830. Her parents were James and Ruth (Head) Holmes, natives of Maryland. Eight children have been born of this union: James M. died March 17, 1883, in the prime of young manhood; Franklin E. died July 3, 1869 , in his infancy; George H., Marion , Emily M., wife of George M. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Thomas Oliver, and Bertie D. After his marriage Mr. Roberts rented a farm in Virginia and lived on it for two years. He then engaged in the shoe-making business, which he followed for two years. In 1855 he removed to New London, Henry County, Iowa, and worked at his trade until 1856, when he went to Bonaparte, Van Buren County, Iowa; there he was still engaged at his trade when there was a call for men to defend this nation. He enlisted August, 1862, in Company E., Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was elected Colonel of the Thirteenth Iowa, and Captain of Company A., both of which offices he refused to accept. He participated in the battle of Peachtree Creek , and in a number of skirmishes, and although he was frequently in the thickest of the fight he was never wounded or taken prisoner . He was honorably discharged April 4, 1865, and returned to his home in Van Buren County, Iowa, engaging in the more peaceful occupation of shoe-making. In 1868 he removed to Page County and continued to follow his trade until 1883, when he bought eighty acres of partially improved land, his present home in Nebraska Township. He has made many improvements of much value; he has an orchard of fifty trees, and fifteen acres of good timber.

Politically Mr. Roberts is identified with the Republican party; he has served as constable and school director with much credit to himself and the satisfaction of the public. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of the township, which they joined in 1851. Mr. Roberts is a member of the G. A. R ., Warren Post, No. 11, Clarinda, Iowa, and also of Bonaparte Lodge, I. O. O. F., Bonaparte, Iowa, which he joined in 1856. He is a man of good, practical ideas, and of upright methods: he has many warm friends and enjoys the confidence of all who know him.

-from the 1890 History of Page County, Iowa.

The following is an obituary for William Morgan Roberts from a Clarinda, Iowa newspaper.

William Morgan Roberts

William Morgan Roberts, a former citizen of Clarinda, died Saturday, May 14, 1910, in Lincoln, Nebr. His remains were brought to Clarinda for interment, and arrived here Monday afternoon over the Burlington Route, via Villisca. The remains were met at the station in this city by friends, including members of Warren post, No. 11, G .A. R., which post turned out to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of their departed comrade, and accompanied his remains to the Clarinda city cemetery.

The State Journal of Lincoln, Nebr., of the date of May 15, said:
"William Morgan Roberts died at his home, 2249 Dudley street, yesterday, at 8:15 a.m. He was 82 years of age. Mr. Roberts was born in Marshall county, Va., April 3, 1828, and lived there during his youth and early manhood. He was married to Caroline Holmes, March 25, 1849. Eight children were born to this union, three of them having preceded him in death. In 1855 he removed to Page County, Iowa, where he lived until coming to Lincoln in 1898, where he continued to live until his death. At the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in Company E. Fifteenth Iowa volunteer infantry, and served until April 4, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. For years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a member of Farragut post, G.A.R., of Lincoln. He leaves to mourn his death an aged wife, four sons, Hanson of Creston, Ia.; Clay and Marion of Kansas City, Bert D. Roberts of this city, and Mrs. Emma Calhoon, the only daughter, of Kansas City, Kan., and a number of grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the home, 2249 Dudley street, today, at 4 p.m. The remains will be taken to Clarinda, Ia., for interment in the family lot."

-Steve Roberts
Crossville, TN