Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Roberts, Joel 1875
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net January 30, 2010, 1:35 pm

Ionia Standard, 5 Aug 1875

How well was old age pictured in the white locks, bent form and feeble steps of 
our aged citizen, Joel Roberts, whose death occurred on the 23d day of Feb’ry 
last, and was briefly noticed at the time.  He was born in New Hampshire, on 
the 25th day of March, 1783; but his parents soon after moved to Connecticut, 
from which State, at the age of fourteen, he went to Whitesborough, New York.  
He was a soldier in the war of 1812.  While living in Connecticut he saw 
General Washington at Wallingford.  In 1843 he came to reside in Ionia county, 
and lived here until his death.

He saw the first president of the United States and lived under each one 
elected since the formation of our government.  When he saw Washington 
traveling in Connecticut, there were no railroads nor steamboats, and the 
president in going from one part of the country to another used his own 
conveyance.  We can scarcely realize the change that has taken place during one 
such a life-time.  A perfect revolution in civilization.  The habits of the 
people among whom he died differ nearly as much from those among whom he was 
born, as we do from the Chinese.  When he first came to Michigan the State was 
a great wilderness, and by many thought not to be habitable.  At his death we 
see it one of the most prosperous and well-to-do States in the sister-hood 
which forms our republic.  Surely we may in wonder ask what the little boy of 
today who lives to be ninety years old may not see.

Mr. Roberts was a hard working, honest citizen, and died respected by all who 
knew him.  Many times have we seen him on the street tottering along with cane 
feebly and slowly passing to and from church to his home; and have often 
endeavored to induce him to tell us of the past, but he evidently was not 
inclined to talk much except to his intimate friends, and so it was only 
through them that we could get much of his history.

But he is gone – dead.  May he rest sweetly, quietly, forever.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/r/roberts2773nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 2.5 Kb