My Genealogy Hound

Dr. John Preston Roberts has long had an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon of Columbia County, and he is especially well known in Magnolia. He was born in Nelson County, Va., in 1818, and is the second of twelve children born to Elliott N. and Elizabeth (Dawson) Roberts, who were also born in the Old Dominion, the former being a prosperous planter. He died in 1855 and his wife in 1848, and of their family of twelve children only two are now living—the subject, of this sketch, and his sister, Sallie, who lives in Virginia. Dr. Roberts’ early advantages were good, and besides attending the common schools, he at the age of eighteen years entered Oak Lawn College, from which institution he was graduated when in his twenty-first year. He had long desired to become a practitioner of the healing art and with this end in view, he entered the office of his uncle, Dr. John H. Roberts, a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, and diligently pursued the study of medicine for two years, in the same time attending lectures in a Virginia Medical College during the regular sessions and graduated as an M. D. in the spring of 1844. He then practiced his profession several years in the Valley of Virginia after which he attended a course of lectures at a medical college of Annapolis, Md. A few years after that he removed to Arkansas. In order to get a better knowledge of the diseases of the southerly country he matriculated in the medical department of the University of Louisiana, New Orleans, in 1859. At the end of the session he opened an office (his first settlement) at Falcon, Columbia County, it being now in Nevada County. He became a resident of Magnolia in July, 1868, and for the past twenty-two years this has been his home. His practice is sufficiently large to keep him fully employed in his office or in the surrounding country. He is now engaged in the drug business also and keeps an extensive and select stock of goods. He was married in November, 1853, to Miss Julia Wingfield, of Virginia, by whom he became the father of three children: Lelia (wife of W. J. Hays, of this county), Rosalie (wife of W. R. Cross, of Magnolia), and Charles P. (an attorney of Little Rock, Ark.). The mother of these children was called to her long home in June, 1885, having been a daughter of Rev. Charles and Carey (Nicholas) Wingfield, natives of Virginia. Dr. Roberts was married the second time, in October, 1888, to Mrs. Edmonie P. Wingfield, of Virginia, and both are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The Doctor is a member of Columbia Lodge No. 82, A. F. & A. M., also of Magnolia Chapter No. 11 and Pike Council No. 8. He also belongs to Columbia Lodge No. 24, I. O. O. F. He gives liberally of his means in the support of enterprises tending to build up the county, and is an especial friend to schools, churches, etc.