My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL ROBERTS. Among the men of energy and enterprise belonging to the younger element of Norristown business men, there are none who possess in a higher degree the qualities essential to success in life, than the subject of this sketch, Samuel Roberts. He is pre-eminently a self-made man, being the son of parents who devoted less attention to the accumulation of wealth than to the proper training and education of their children. He is still a young man, having been born in Lower Merion township, November 21, 1860. He is the son of Joseph and Martha (Wrigley) Roberts, both long deceased. They were natives of England, Yorkshire and Rochedale, respectively, and in early life sought to better their condition by emigration to America, and have succeeded in thus achieving a considerable measure of success in the country of their adoption, for themselves and for their children.

The paternal grandfather of Samuel Roberts was John Roberts, a manufacturer of Yorkshire, England, and his grandfather on his mother’s side, was James Wrigley, a native of Rochedale, England, who came to this country when a young man and settled in Conshohocken, there becoming a prominent citizen of the place. He died at the age of sixty years, leaving three children.

The parents of Samuel Roberts came to this country more than a half century ago, locating first at Chester Springs, and about 1850 removing to Lower Merion, where they carried on farming, owning a small tract of land. On this they lived seventeen years, and then removed to Norristown, where they resided until their death, excepting a period of five years, which they spent on a farm at Jeffersonville. Mr. Roberts survived his wife six years. Both were members of the First Baptist church of Norristown, in which he was for many years an officer. Joseph Roberts was married three times. By his first wife he had four children, two of whom are now living-Sarah E., wife of Robert N. Wood of Norristown, and Martha, wife of Robert Lees of Roxborough. By the second marriage there were two children- Jennie, a successful teacher in the Norristown high school, and Samuel.

Samuel Roberts lived in Lower Merion until about the seventh year of his age, when his parents removed to Norristown, as already stated. The next few years were spent partly in attending the public schools of Norristown and partly in work on the farm at Jeffersonville. When he was nineteen years of age, the family returned to Norristown, and he became an apprentice in the lumber yards and planing mill of Guest & Longaker, learning the business from its lowest department, and following it ever since. During his apprenticeship he took a course in architectural drawing in the Spring Garden Institute and in 1882 he went to Philadelphia, where he worked in a planing mill for three years. He then returned to Norristown and secured employment with the firm of Bolton’s Sons, for whom he worked two years. At the end of that time, he purchased an interest in the firm of Guest & Grater, on Main street, corner of Arch, the business being gradually increased. He bought out Mr. Guest’s interest, but the firm was carried on under the same name until January, 1902, when the firms of Guest & Grater, and Bodey Jamison & Wainwright were consolidated, the new Grater, Bodey & Company purchasing the extensive plant of Bolton’s Sons and establishing their business therein, with a capital of a hundred thousand dollars. The company gives employment to one hundred and twenty men, their plant being one of the most extensive and best equipped in the state of Pennsylvania. On January 1, 1902, Mr. Roberts became president of the company. He is a director in the Norristown Brick Company, in the Merchants’ Ice Company, and in the Norristown Steam Heating Company.

While Mr. Roberts has achieved much success in conjunction with others in the lumber and planing mill business, his energies have not been confined to that department of work. He has contributed very largely to his own prosperity, and that of Norristown, by the erection of many dwellings, either alone or in conjunction with others, including Henry M. Keeler, Isaac Landis, C. F. Wildman and J. Frank Boyer. He and the first named erected a few years ago a dozen handsome residences on the upper side of Haws avenue, between Oak and Elm, and have built others elsewhere, finding a ready sale for them. He is associated with Messrs. Wildman, Landis & Boyer in the Hamilton Terrace Building Company, of which he is secretary. The company bought a tract of land on the Fornance farm extending from Main to Marshall streets, and from Buttonwood to Selma avenue, including twenty acres or more, which they first graded, drained and laid out in streets at great expense, and then erected thereon many fine residences, scarcely any two of them alike. This enterprise has developed one of the finest and most desirable sections of Norristown, greatly adding to the growth and prosperity of the town.

Mr. Roberts’s wife was Miss Emma Rylands, daughter of William and Sarah Rylands. They have seven children: Helen, Donald, Wallace, Sarah, Willard, Jean and Emma.

Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are members of the Calvary Baptist church, taking an active interest in the work of the denomination. Mr. Roberts belongs also to Norristown Lodge, No. 620, Free and Accepted Masons, having been one of the charter members. He is a past master of the lodge. He is also a member of the Norristown Chapter, No. 190, Royal Arch Masons, and is past high priest of the chapter. Other organizations to which he belongs are: Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, K. T., of which he is past commander; Norristown Lodge, No. 714, B. P. O. E.; and the Independent Order of Heptasophs. In politics Mr. Roberts is a Republican, working actively in behalf of the party. He served as councilman from the first ward for six years. He is at present one of the borough auditors. He resides in a handsome home at the corner of Main street and Forest avenue.

Mr. Roberts is a progressive citizen, always taking the popular side on every question, as it arises, and exerting his influence so as to promote the best interests of the community of which he is a useful, valued, and respected member. In every relation of life he is an example to those around him, impressing his individuality upon all with whom he comes in contact.