Yolo-Solano County CA Archives Biographies.....Roberts, Hampton E. 1879 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 18, 2006, 7:16 pm Author: Tom Gregory (1913) HAMPTON E. ROBERTS The possibilities open to intelligent and persistent application are abundantly exemplified in the past successes and present activities of Hampton E. Roberts, who solely through his own exertions has risen to a position of prominence in business circles. When he was ten years of age he lost his father by death and when he was thirteen he began to be self-supporting. With characteristic determination he devoted his evenings to study and in this way he was able to complete the course of instruction in Pierce's Business College, where he acquired a systematic knowledge of commercial affairs indispensable to subsequent enterprises. Liberal and enterprising, he ranks among the honored and upright citizens of Woodland and is regarded as a valuable element in civic progress. The history of the Roberts family indicates their association with California ever since the era of gold discovery. Shortly after news was received concerning the mining possibilities of the west George Roberts, a native of Arkansas and a young man of rugged health and robust constitution, crossed the plains with a large expedition of argonauts. For him the mines held little fascination and less gold, so he soon turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. The lands were then raw and unimproved, their possibilities unknown, but a large market existed for all that could be raised. For a long period he conducted a grain and stock farm near Silveyville, in Solano county, but in 1883 he retired from ranching and settled in Woodland, where in 1889 he passed away at the age of sixty-nine years. For years after he came to the coast he remained a bachelor, but eventually he married Miss Mary E. Mennefee, who was born in Missouri and in infancy was brought across the plains during the summer of 1849. The journey was made with wagons and ox-teams. Many hardships were encountered, but the deepest trouble came from the illness and death of the father, Arthur Mennefee. The body was buried on the plains and the family came on to the west, where they first settled at Placerville. The family of George and Mary E. (Mennefee) Roberts consisted of two sons, Albert and Hampton E., both residents of Woodland, where their mother also continues to make her home. Hampton E. was born at Dixon, Cal., January 28, 1879, but his earliest memories are associated with Woodland, for the family removed to this town when he was still a mere child. At the age of thirteen he secured employment as a messenger boy with the telephone company and as his fidelity received recognition he was promoted from time to time. By studying at night he fitted himself for higher positions. At the age of twenty he was made manager of the Woodland exchange, which at the time comprised Yolo, Colusa and Glenn counties. The work of reorganization limited the district to Woodland and Yolo county, of which he now acts as manager for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, filling the responsible position with the greatest energy and the most conscientious devotion. When he entered the employ of the company there were only thirteen telephones in the system, but he has witnessed the gradual growth until there are now eleven hundred telephones in this one exchange. Since 1900 he has also served as city electrician. His marriage took place in Woodland January 20, 1912, and united him with Miss Ora Windsor, who was born at College City, Colusa county. The management of the large and important telephone system does not represent the limit of the business activities of Mr. Roberts, who in addition is interested in the Electric garage on Main and Third streets, the oldest business of its kind in Woodland. Not only did he assist in starting the Electric Garage Company, but in addition he has continued a partner up to the present time and has assisted in the building up of a successful trade. In 1912 it was incorporated as the Electric Garage, of which he is a director, secretary and treasurer. The company acts as agent for the E. M. F. 30, Flanders, Mitchell, Maxwell, Haynes and Rambler, and has recently erected a building 44x190 feet in dimensions, containing all modern equipments, including a machine shop with vulcanizing and electric-charging apparatus. While his time is closely filled with business affairs, Mr. Roberts finds leisure for intelligent study of political questions and at national elections he votes the Democratic ticket. Besides being a member of Woodland Lodge No. 111, I. O. O. F., and the encampment, he was made a Mason in Woodland Lodge No. 156, F. & A. M., and has been a leading member and active worker in both organizations. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/roberts368bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb