BIOGRAPHY: Howard J. ROBERTS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 445-6
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HOWARD J. ROBERTS, for thirty-two years closely identified with the financial 
history of Johnstown, was a native of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and first saw 
light on the 9th day of May, A.D. 1830. He sprang from Welsh stock, his 
grandfather, Hugh Roberts, having emigrated from Bala, county of Merioneth, 
North Wales, in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and joined the little 
colony of Welsh pioneers in and about Ebensburg. Here, in 1800, was born David 
H. Roberts, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was the first child of 
white parents born in Ebensburg, lived at that place all his life, and died 
there at the age of seventy one. His wife, Margaret (Evans), was born in 
Montgomeryshire, North Wales, in 1799, and came with her parents to America in 
1818. She died in 1882. The couple were united in marriage in 1828, and reared 
to mature years a family of four, of whom Howard was the eldest.
     Howard received an old-fashioned, commonsense educational training at the 
Ebensburg academy, and, while yet a boy, began his business life by accepting a 
clerkship in the general store of Johnston Moore, at Ebensburg. He remained in 
this position several years, when he left the place of his birth and located, in 
the early fifties, at Jefferson (now Wilmore), Cumbria county, having obtained 
employment in the office of Gilbert Lloyd & Co., lumber dealers.
     It was in 1857 that he came to Johnstown, and entered on his long and 
successful career as a banker. In April of that year S.H. Smith & Co., then 
doing a banking business on the premises now occupied by the Citizens' National 
bank, engaged his services, and he remained with that house, with the exception 
of a few months, until it was converted into a National bank in 1863. During the 
summer of that year the First National bank was organized, and Mr. Roberts was 
elected its first cashier, in which capacity he was retained until his death, 
which occurred May 31, 1889.
     It was in this station that his integrity and executive ability were 
thoroughly tested and proved. Under his watchful care and honest and intelligent 
management the First National bank of Johnstown, from modest beginnings, 
developed into one of the solid banking institutions of the State, and was a 
powerful agent in promoting the growth and prosperity of Johnstown.
     In addition to his position in the bank, he was, from its organization 
(1867) to his death, treasurer of the Johnstown Water company; had served a 
number of years as treasurer of the borough of Johnstown, and was long a member 
of the board of trustees of Johnstown Savings bank. All efforts and measures for 
the advancement of the best interests of Johnstown received from him 
enthusiastic co-operation, and his activity and usefulness ceased only with his 
life.
     He was twice married; his first union was with Elizabeth Wray Carmon, of 
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and to this marriage was born one child, Harry Carmon, 
now of Pittsburg. He wedded his second wife, Mary Swoyer, of McVeytown, Mifflin 
county, this State, June 18, 1863; and to this union were born two children, 
Dwight and Otis, the latter of whom, together with his parents, perished in the 
Great Flood.
     Howard Roberts was an unassuming, devout Christian his life long, having 
connected himself with the church of his fathers in his fourteenth year. During 
his residence in Johnstown he was a member of the Presbyterian church, and ever 
zealously labored in and liberally supported the cause of Christianity.
     He leaves behind the honorable record of a man of principle, of energy, and 
of high moral courage; constancy in his attention to his secular and religious 
duties, devotion to his family and fidelity to his friends.