Roberts, Frank M.

ROBERTS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/30/2021 at 00:04:19

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.450

FRANK M. ROBERTS
While Rev. F. M. Roberts is well known as a prosperous farmer with ex­tensive agricultural interests, he is equally well known by reason of the active part which he has taken in promoting those interests that tend to uplift man­kind, to raise the standard of living and to promote a progressive citizenship. He is living near Ackworth where he has two hundred and forty acres of rich land that yields to him a steady return in reward for his care and labor. His home place is situated on sections 24 and 25, Lincoln Township and yields to him a valuable annual tribute. He was born in Lucas County, Iowa, May 27, 1860.
His father, Wiley Roberts, was a native of Tennessee and a son of John Roberts, who removed with his family to Illinois where he resided for a few years and then came west to Iowa. He settled in Warren County where he purchased land and began the development of a farm which constituted the site of the old town of Hammonds, an active trading point and business center for a number of years. John Roberts afterward sold that farm and removed to Lucas County, where he became the owner of a tract which he developed into a productive property and which remained his residence until he was called to his final rest, while Wiley Roberts removed with his parents, settling in Lucas County, where he met all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. He was afterward married in that county to Miss Mary Holtam, a native of Indiana. He followed farming in Lucas County for many years and there reared his family, but afterward returned to Warren County, where he continued to make his home until his life's labors were ended in death. At the time of the Civil War he espoused the Union cause and with an Iowa regiment did duty at the front, participating in many hotly contested engage­ments.
F. M. Roberts, whose name introduces this review, remained in Lucas County to the age of fifteen years and then went west to Nebraska, spending four years in Hamilton County, that state, where he was employed at farm labor. In 1879 he returned to Lucas County and worked on a farm for several years. It was thus that he gained his start in the business world. But while he did faithfully and well every duty that devolved upon him while he was employed as a farm hand, he was ambitious enough to wish to own land for himself and resolved that some future day would see him the owner of a good property.
On the 25th of February, 1885, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Mrs. Eunice Ballard, who was a widow and a daughter of William Myrick, who cast in his lot with the citizens of Warren County in its pioneer days, coming to this state from Indiana. Mrs. Roberts was born and reared in Warren County and first gave her hand in marriage to Frank Sandy, by whom she had two children, one of whom is living, Elmer Sandy. Following the death of her first husband she became the wife of Mr. Ballard. She is a sister of Mrs. Frank Miller, whose husband is a prosperous farmer of Rich­land Township. After his marriage Mr. Roberts settled on the Sandy farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve for a few years, carefully saving his earnings in the meantime. He then removed to Indianola and purchased fifty-two acres of land, adjoining the corporation limits. Upon this he erected a substantial residence, fenced the place, set out an orchard and converted the property into a neat and valuable farm, which he cultivated for two years.
On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased a store in Ackworth, where he carried on general mercantile pursuits for four years. He was also connected with Hugh Williams in the grain business for a year and at length traded his store for a farm which he rented out. After dis­posing of his store he took up church work. He had charge of the churches at Ackworth, Walker and Lockridge, serving the three congregations, and for three or four years his labors were devoted entirely to the work of the church. In 1900, however, he purchased the farm whereon he now resides and took up his abode and has since erected a good residence, also a large barn and outbuildings that furnish ample room for stock, grain and farm machinery. There is upon the place a good orchard of his own planting, containing a select variety of apples, peaches, pears and cherries. There is also much small fruit upon the place and in season he has everything that is to be produced in the way of small and larger fruits. With his farm Mr. Roberts makes a business of raising, feeding and fattening stock for the market. He thus handles from eight to ten carloads of cattle and hogs an­nually and his business in its various branches is meeting with the most gratifying success. His judgment is sound and he is seldom if ever at fault in valuing a situation or the possibilities for success that may arise there­ from. He has improved two good farms and is justly counted one of the active and progressive men of the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three children: Sadie, the wife of William Heswik, a farmer of Marion County; Alva, a student in Simpson College; and Ray. Mrs. Roberts lost a son by her first marriage, James Sandy. He reached adult age, was married and followed farming in Warren County, but died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a wife and one child. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts also lost a son, Charles Roberts, who died in his third year. The parents are both active in church and Sabbath school work and Mr. Roberts has been serving as superintendent of the Sunday school for years, while his wife is a capable teacher therein. His politics are in harmony with the principles of the Prohibition Party. He was formerly a staunch Republican and for a long period supported that party, but his opinions upon the temperance question led him to vote as he does at the present time. The cause of educa­tion has ever found in him a stalwart friend and for years he has been officially identified with the schools, acting as president of the school board at dif­ferent times. He was elected to serve for one term as township assessor, has served as a delegate to numerous county conventions and has been as a delegate to numerous conferences of the Free Methodist Episcopal Church. His fellow townsmen have thus reposed confidence in him and at all times he has proven himself worthy of their trust. He is a man of strong individual­ity, whose opinion has ever been founded on right, justice and truth and whose labors have been for the benefit of his fellowmen as well as for himself and who in matters of citizenship has desired and worked for that which will produce a progressive and honorable commonwealth.