Bio of Capt. William T. Roberts, Miller Co, AR

From "The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas,"
Published 1890 by Goodspeed.  Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis:
The Goodspeed Publishing Co.  1890

Submitted by: Becky Hargett <bhargett@cityscape.net>

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Capt. William T. Roberts, one of the leading citizens of Miller County, was born
in Pendleton District, S. C., in 1819, the third of a large family of children
born to Little Berry and Susan (Davis) Roberts, natives of North and South
Carolina, respectively.  They were married in South Carolina and made their home
there for a number of years, but subsequently moved to Roane County, Tenn.,
where the father died in his sixty-third year.  He was a farmer by occupation,
and successfully pursued that calling all his life, being among the leading and
prosperous agriculturists of Roane County at the time of his death.  In politics
he was a Whig, and while in South Carolina was honored by his constituents with
many offices of trust and responsibility, which he filled very efficiently,
among them being that of sheriff.  He served in the Florida War.  After
his death his widow and family removed to Camden County, Mo., at which place she
received her summons in her eighty-third year.  She was a member of the Baptist
Church, in which denomination she took a deep interest and did a great deal of
good.  The immediate subject of this sketch spent his school days in Roane
County, Tenn., remaining at home until he attained his twentieth year, at which
time he began farming for himself.  He tilled the soil of his native State for a
number of years, then went to Camden County, Mo., and there engaged in
agricultural pursuits.  He was a very prominent resident of that county, and
took an active interest in its affairs.  For several years he filled the
important office of county judge, besides many other offices of honor and
emolument.  When the great struggle between the North and South began, 1861, Mr.
Roberts enlisted as lieutenant in Col. Brown's regiment of calvary, and served
his cause with distinction until the close of the war.  During this time his
superiors, recognizing his worth and ability, promoted him to a captaincy.  He
participated in several severe battles, besides many skirmishes.  He was at the
battle of Wilson Creek and others in Missouri and Arkansas.  At Linn Creek he
was taken prisoner and confined for a few weeks at St. Louis and then exchanged.
In 1865, at the close of the war, he came to Miller County, Ark., where he has
ever since resided.  He owns an extensive tract of land, both timber and
agricultural lands, and has recently gone into the milling business.  This
property has nearly all been accumulated since the war, and is the result of
energy, industry and business ability.  Mr. Roberts has been too busily engaged
with his own affairs to take a very active part in political matters, but he
always takes a deep interest in all laudable public enterprises, to which
he is a liberal contributor.  In 1836 and 1837 he was a corporal in the United
States army, and helped to move the Indians from Oconee Purchase in Tennessee,
George and Alabama to their reservations.  His marriage to Miss Mary Parmley, of
Roane County, Tenn., was consummated in 1841, and her death occurred in this
county 1868.  She was the mother of nine children, only four of whom are now
living, viz:  John A., R. A. and Mary C.  John A. is an ex-Confederate soldier,
and a prominent citizen of this community, having very ably filled the offices
of sheriff and Representative of this county; he is a farmer and mill man.
R. A. also served the Confederate cause in the late war, and is now a prosperous
farmer.  Mary C. married John Boslin, who is a leading agriculturist of this
section. Capt. Roberts remained a widower until 1878, when he succumbed to the
charms of Miss Tennessee Bowlin, of this county, and one son, Albert L., is the
result of this union.  Capt. Roberts has been a member of the Missionary Baptist
Church for many years, and is much esteemed by al who know him.  Socially he is
a Mason, and politically a stanch Democrat.