My Genealogy Hound

W. S. ROBERTS, City Treasurer of Murphysboro, and a prominent merchant of this place, was born in Alma, Ill., March 4, 1866. His grandfather, John Roberts, was a miner in Wales, whence he emigrated with his family to the United States, landing in New Orleans and proceeding from there to St. Louis. Crossing the Mississippi to Illinois, he opened a mine at Caseyville. Later he was seized with the western fever, and went to Salt Lake City with the intention of locating there or at some other favorable point, but a little of life there was sufficient for himself and family, and they returned to Illinois. The long journey had been made by ox-teams. Later Grandfather Roberts engaged in farming in Caseyville, where his death occurred; his remains were interred at Collinsville.

The father of our subject, Albert Roberts, was born in Wales and was reared in St. Clair County, Ill., where he engaged in mining from boyhood. In 1875 he came to Murphysboro as Superintendent of the Gartside Coal Company. By the unexpected letting down of a cage in a mine he was so injured that paralysis resulted, and he remained an invalid until his death, in 1887, at fifty-three years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Evans, was born in Wales, and is now a resident of Murphysboro. In the Methodist Episcopal Church she is an active worker and is a lady of sincere Christian character and amiable disposition. Her father, Richard Evans, emigrated from Wales to America and died in Illinois.

In the parental family there were thirteen children, of whom six attained mature years. Our subject, who was the fourth in order of birth, removed from Alma to Murphysboro at the age of eleven years, and was a student in the common schools at this place. At the age of fifteen years he became an employe in a dry-goods store, remaining in that position for six years and spending a like period with C. C. Smith, who succeeded the former owner of the establishment. After Mr. Smith’s death, in November, 1892, our subject and Mr. Sharpe were appointed administrators of the estate, and these two gentlemen in 1893 purchased the stock and have since continued in business. They occupy a store on the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets, 24x80 feet in dimensions, and carry a complete assortment of dry goods, shoes, carpets, etc.

In 1893 Mr. Roberts married Anna D. Hay, who was born in Virginia and removed with her father, William D. Hay, to Leavenworth, Kan., where her marriage occurred. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Roberts was nominated and elected City Treasurer on the Republican ticket for a term of two years. He has ever been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party and an active worker in its ranks. Socially, he is identified with the Uniformed Rank, K. P., and has held the various chairs of that fraternity.