John T. Roberts, Sr. Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 441-442

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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JOHN T. ROBERTS, SR., general farmer, residing on section twenty-five 
in Clifton township, is one of the foremost men of his calling in Spink 
county, and is well known as an upright citizen, supporting the better 
interests of his community. He is the possessor of four hundred acres 
of land, and has as fine an estate as can be found in his locality. Mr. 
Roberts is a native of Wales, and was born in Marianthshire, near Bula 
on farm by name Cay Hir, April 24, 1832. He was the fourth in a family 
of thirteen children, nine of whom grew to maturity, born to Thomas and 
Laura (Lloyd) Roberts. Her father was a carpenter, and with him our 
subject learned the trade and worked with his father until the year he 
attained his majority, when he borrowed about eighteen dollars, and 
that, with the help of friends, brought him across the ocean. He 
located in Utica, New York, where he worked for two years, and then 
made his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, working near there for eighteen 
years. During this time he had become conversant with American ways, 
and was recognized as a good tradesman, and received the highest wages. 
In New London, Butler county, Ohio, he made a home, remaining there 
until 1873. He enlisted for the cause of his country in 1864 with the 
one-hundred-day men, and returned after about five months service. He 
went to McLean county, Illinois, in 1873, and lived there on a rented 
farm until 1882, when he went to Dakota and filed a soldier's 
declaratory. His children farmed the land and early in 1883 our subject 
went to the new home, since which time he has been a continuous 
resident of Clifton township. From 1886 to 1894, he was engaged in the 
furniture business in Ashton, dividing his time between his business 
and the farm work. 

Our subject was married in 1857 to Miss Ellen Davies, a native of 
Wales, and born May 7, 1837. Twelve children blessed this union, all of 
whom lived to maturity, and upon whom they bestowed the following 
names: Jane, now Mrs. H. Sewart, residing in Table Rock, Nebraska; 
John, a bachelor agriculturist of Clifton township; Mary, now Mrs. John 
Mayberry, of Nebraska; Ebenezer, of Spink county; Esther, now Mrs. 
Charles Graves; Maggie, deceased; Cora, deceased; Evan, an 
agriculturist of Clifton township, and a bachelor; Annie, now Mrs. E. 
N. Graves; Susie, now Mrs. George Williams; David, attending Redfield 
College; and William, at home. 

Mr. Roberts is a member of the Congregational church, the Masonic 
fraternity, and the G. A. R. In political faith he is a Republican, 
prohibitionist and equal suffragist. He is strong in his convictions 
and stands firmly for the principles of right. He does not use liquor 
nor tobacco, and supports any movement for the suppression of these 
evils. As an all round prominent citizen of Spink county, he well 
deserves the esteem in which he is held.