Isaac Roberts ~ 1827-1913

ROBERTS, FITZGERALD, BENNETT, MERCER

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/4/2002 at 09:02:36

Death has again taken away one of Van Buren County’s old citizens in the person of Isaac Roberts of Harrisburg Township, who died January 29, 1913, aged 85 years 10 months and 12 days. Mr. Roberts was born near Danville, N.C. March 18, 1827, and when only seven years old, accompanied his parents and their family to Columbus, Indiana, to make a home in the new country.

Here the mother died. In 1845, the father, two brothers, one sister and himself moved farther west and stopped for a short time in Wayne County, Iowa, but soon came to Van Buren County, Iowa, which has been his home ever since.

Mr. Roberts had been married twice before he married the woman who afterwards became the mother of his children. His first and second wives died soon after marriage.

In 1863, Mr. Roberts led to the marriage altar, Mrs. Martha A. Fitzgerald who for forty three years ministered to his comfort and made happy his home. The wife was called from the midst of the family by death, Nov. 27, 1906, leaving the home desolate and the husband lonely.

To this union were born eight children, five boys and three girls, all of whom except on daughter, Minnie, survive him. The surviving children are Mrs. Etna Bennett, Elmer, Amasa, Anly, Isaac, and Miss Martha, all of who reside in Van Buren County, and Ency Roberts who lives at Seguin, Washington. One brother, Elijah Roberts, of Douds-Leando and one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Mercer, of Alva, Oklahoma, also survive him. One brother died during the Civil war. His stepson, Samuel C. Fitzgerald, of Floris, Iowa also survives him. Six grand children are left to mourn the loss of their grandfather.

When a young man of twenty-three years, Mr. Roberts suffered from an attack of hip joint disease which left him a cripple for the rest of his life, yet handicapped as he was he became a successful farmer, until old age and enfeebled health forced him to stop. Mr. Roberts had resided on his late farm in Harrisburg Township, for over twenty-four years and during that time was honored by his fellow citizens with the office of Justice of the Peace, for some twelve years. Mr. Roberts, in the late years of his life, did not affiliate with any church, but he was a firm believer in the Christian religion, and was an honest, upright and reputable man. He was loving and affectionate in his family., kind and hospitable to his friends and neighbors, and was a good man and a patriotic citizen.

Funeral services were conducted in the Presbyterian Church at Bentonsport Friday at one o’clock by Rev. W.J. Hamilton and interment was made in the Bentonsport Cemetery.

Source: Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings