Dale County AlArchives Biographies.....Roberts, William D. 1836 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 18, 2004, 8:48 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) WILLIAM D. ROBERTS, member of the law firm of Roberts & Martin, of Ozark, is one of the most talented and enterprising men of Dale county. He is the son of Jesse H. and Marguerite (McCorkle) Roberts, the former of whom was born in South Carolina, in 1800. While yet a young man he moved to Georgia, settling in Jasper county, where he married and followed farming there all his life. He always took an active part in the affairs of the day, and died in 1885 at the ripe age of eighty-five years. His wife was a native of Georgia, and received as good an education as the time afforded. She was married in her eighteenth year, and became the mother of nine children, all of whom reached maturity and four of whom still survive. William D. Roberts was born in Monroe county, Ga., in 1836, was brought up on a farm and attended such schools as were to be found in the country. When eighteen, he began to read medicine under the instruction of Dr. Shannon, after which he took a course at the medical college of South Carolina, and about the same time began to read law. He settled at Elba, Coffee county, Ala., in 1855, and there began the practice of medicine. While thus engaged, he continued to study law with the view of exchanging the practice of medicine for that of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. He continued in the practice of medicine and then abandoned it, turning his attention entirely to the practice of the law. He has been engaged in this profession ever since. His practice is now very large, extending over two entire judicial districts, the second and the third. During his twenty-five years of practice, Mr. Roberts has defended to the number of 125 or 150 men charged with the crime of murder. On November 1, 1891, he removed to Ozark, Ala., where he has since been engaged in practice in partnership with Mr. Martin, under the firm name of Roberts & Martin. Mr. Roberts has never in any time of his life been an aspirant for political honors, but has, instead, confined his attention strictly to his legal profession. On February 1, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss C. C. Parker, daughter of William R. and Mary Parker. Mrs. Roberts was born in Spaulding county, Ga., and came with her parents from that state to Alabama, at the age of fourteen years. They settled at Elba, Coffee county, Ala., and later moved to Pike county, where their daughter was married. She has a fair common school education, which she improved by private study. She was married in her sixteenth year, and became the mother of four children, two of whom survive: Susie, now the wife John S. Collins, a merchant, of Geneva, and Maude, wife of H. Martin, law partner of Mr. Roberts. Mrs. Roberts at an early age united with the Missionary Baptist church. Her death occurred in 1883. Mr. Roberts married again in 1883, this time to Miss M. A. Parker, sister of his deceased wife. She was, at the time of her marriage, twenty-eight years of age. She is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and is a native of Georgia. William D. Roberts is a democrat in politics and takes a reasonable interest in the affairs of the clay. He contributes liberally to the support of the church and is a firm believer in the policy of public education. He is a representative man, and stands at the head of his profession. He is exceedingly popular, and is well liked by all who know him. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 835-836 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb