My Genealogy Hound

W. F. Roberts, Jr., the gentlemanly superintendent, and part owner of the antimony mines of Sevier and Howard Counties, was born in the Keystone State September 20, 1853, and is the son of Prof. W. F. Roberts, who was one of the pioneer geologists of Pennsylvania. His mother is a direct descendant of the well-known Brodhead family of Pennsylvania. The elder Roberts was among the first to locate much of the mineral wealth of that State, and has since that time made reconnaissance of many of the other States. He it was who in 1853 and 1854 gathered data from the State of Arkansas and gave it the name of the Crystal State, on account of the profusion of crystals near and about Hot Springs. He is now living with his son near Antimony City, and although eighty-one years of age is hale and hearty, taking an active interest in the operations of his son, and in many cases directing the location of shafts. While a boy W. F. Roberts, Jr., spent some of his vacations in the field with his father, thus early in life acquiring a taste for and a knowledge of geology and mineralogy. When about seventeen years of age he graduated from the Moravian School at Bethlehem, Penn., and during the summer of 1883 came to Arkansas, since which time he has been interested in locating and developing the mines of the State. From 1873 to 1883 he studied geology and mineralogy as a moneymaking business. Much of his time, while pursuing the study of geology and mineralogy, was devoted to railroad work in the freight, ticket, express and coal departments, and for three years he had charge of a branch road belonging to the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He also mastered the office work as performed in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania. In 1883 he purchased the control of the antimony mines, also the plaster bluffs in Pike County, and since that time he has been actively engaged in developing the mineral properties. In 1879, at Hazleton, Penn., he led to the altar Miss Jennie Silliman. Her family are among the first and best known of those who owned and operated the coal mines of her native State. To them have been born two children—a son and daughter; the son died when quite young. Mr. Roberts is a member of the K. of P., the Masonic fraternity and the R. A. He is a Republican politically, and on national questions votes with that party, but in local affairs is conservative, and votes as his judgment dictates. In his social relations he is a good companion and an entertaining talker, having from his varied experiences a rich store of anecdotes and reminiscences. Straight forward and just in his business relations, he holds the respect of all with whom he comes in contact. He has a wonderful amount of faith and reliance in the future of the State of Arkansas.