In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1805, Lycoming county
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912), History of Crawford County and Ohio (1881)
JOHN ROBERTS, farmer; P. 6. Bucyrus; was born April 7, 1805, in Lycoming Co., Penn., and was the eldest son of Greorge and Catharine (Rickerd) Roberts. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood on a farm, and received a common-school education. He was mai'ried on March 6, 1826, to Lavinia Walton, eldest daughter of David Walton, of Lycoming Co., Penn. Of this marriage, there are six children — Fleming, Wesley, George Washington (born Feb. 22, 1832, on the centennial anniversary of the birth of his namesake), Mary, Edwin and Willis. Mr. Roberts removed to Crawford Co. in 1828, in a portion which was then a part of Marion Co. He commenced farming, and has always continued a miller of the soil. He lived on his farm in Whetstone Township for thirty-seven years. His first wife died in February, 1872. He was married July 16, 1873, to Miss Belle Chambers, of Whetstone Township. By this marriage, there are two children — John and Aubrey N. Mr. Roberts is a highly valued citizen of Holmes Township, where he has lived fourteen years. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for forty-two years. One of his sons, Edwin, served in the cause of the Union in the late war, under Capt. Moderwell.
As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN ROBERTS,* deceased. Among the old and substantial families of English extraction who have assisted in the developing of many of the interests of Ohio, may be mentioned that of Roberts, and the pioneer of this family in Crawford county was John Roberts, a man of broad mind, enterprising spirit and financial independence. He was born in Lycoming county, Pa., April 7, 1805, and died near Bucyrus, O., in 1884. Plis father, George W. Roberts, was of English birth and was in early manhood when he came to Lycoming county, Pa., in 1800. He was a fine specimen of physical manhood, a fact to be noted as his descendants inherited, with many of his worthy qualities, his noble stature and abounding health. After the death of his wife, in Lycoming county, he started out to see something of what was then the great West and on this trip visited in Ohio but subsequently located in Iowa, where he went into the banking business with a son-in-law, and died at Brighton, in that state, when more than 80 years of age.
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,ji: I ! ! bn judgment was a leading factor along almost every line of development during his active years. Finally lie consented to accept a life of ease but it was only when old age had reached him, and he died in his comfortable home, his residence being located just north of Bucyrus, in 1884. In early days a Whig, he later became a Republican, lie and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, their conversion having been accomplished at the same time when they were in attendance at a camp meeting on the banks of the Susquehanna river.
To John Roberts and wife four sons and one daughter were born. The daughter, Mary Jane is the widow of James Cobh and is a resident of Bucyrus, being now in her 78th year. The eldest son, Fleming, was the babe brought to Ohio by his parents. He died early leaving a widow and one son in Marion county, O. Another son, George W washington, who was born in 1835, is a wealthy retired stock dealer and large landowner in Marion county. Edwin, the youngest son, was born in 1840 and died in Harrison county in 1908, survived by a family.
Wesley Roberts, father of Thomas E. and Charles W. Roberts, of Bucyrus, was the second son in the above family and was born in 1829, in Crawford county, O., and he was reared in Whetstone township. In a remarkable degree he inherited his father’s appearance and characteristics. He loved hard work and in endurance could excel any of his associates from boyhood. At one time he owned 2800 acres of land in Crawford county, while his fields and pastures showed herds of fine cattle and horses, droves of fattening hogs and flocks of sheep. He was, like his father, a careful and judicious business man and in a business in which there is large opportunity to tail, he met only with prosperity. For years he was designated as the leading breder, feeder and buyer of stock in this section of the state. 1 1 is perfect health continued into advanced life and the slight digestive trouble that caused his death was at first looked upon as of little consequence, so unaccustomed had he been to illness. Like all strong men he had settled opinions of right and wrong and he had the courage to live up to his convictions. In politics lie was a deliver in the superiority id the principles of the Republican party and when he worked for a candidate he did that task as he did every other, with all his strength, but was never willing to accept political preferment for himself. He was a Methodist in religion.
Wesley Roberts was married first to a Miss Monnett, a member of a very prominent old family of the county. She died in Whetstone township, survived by two sons: Isaac, who is a prominent stockman in Nebraska; and Madison, who is a farmer in Scott township, Marion county, O. His second marriage took place in Morrow county, O., to Miss Elizabeth Xewson, who was born there in 1832. She died at the home of a daughter, in Bucyrus, Feb. 7, 1889, and her memory is tenderly preserved by the following surviving children: Frank FI., Joseph, Charles, Marcellus M. and Ida. Belle died at the age of seven years. Frank IT. and Willis G. are both prominent in the livestock industry at Bucyrus. Marcellus M. is part owner of a fine farm in Dallas township. Ida is the wife of Harry Keil, who is a large landowner and stock dealer in Illinois.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Charles W. Roberts (b. 1862) Wesley Roberts
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.