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From History of North Washington, published 1903, now in public domain. 
Submitted by Candy L. Grubb March 5, 1997. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.

candyg@ieway.com

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JOSEPH ROBERTS
 
	Joseph Roberts has the distinction of being one of the earliest of 
the early settlers of the Colville valley and to minutely relate his career 
would require a volume in itself. The thrilling adventures with Indians and 
wild animals, the long tedious journeys during the 'fifties and 'sixties, 
the hardships endured in prospecting and mining, together with the various 
experiences of these days would be very interesting reading, but space 
forbids more than a cursory review. At the present time, Mr.Roberts is 
dwelling about two miles north of Addy, on one of the finest farms in 
Washington. He owns two hundred acres of fertile land, which will produce 
annually a net revenue of three thousand dollars. This farm Mr. Roberts 
secured through the homestead right purchasing a squatters right thereto for 
five hundred dollars. This was in 1873 and since then he has continued here 
devoting himself to raising hay and stock. He has sold as high as one 
hundred head in a year. At the present time, he has but few stock and pays 
attention entirely to handling hay.
	Joseph Roberts was born in Canada, on March 14, 1829, the son of 
Augusta and Louisa (Gouges) Roberts, natives of Canada, where they remained 
until their death. Our subject's grandfather was a native of France. Mr. 
Roberts is the youngest of eight children, Frank, August, Michael, Celestia, 
Sophie, Lizzet and Olive. Our subject was bereft of his mother when two 
years old and five years later he went to live with his oldest sister, his 
father having married again. When twelve years of age, he hired out for 
fifteen dollars a year. The next year he received twenty-four dollars and 
the third year he got thirty-six. The fourth year he was offered forty-five 
dollars and went to work for a magistrate where he remained until he was 
twenty-four. In 1849 he was in Buffalo, New York, and four years later he 
went to Missouri. Soon thereafter he crossed the plains, driving cattle with 
John Noble of the Grand Valley. This was in 1854, and the same year he went 
to Portland. The following spring Mr. Roberts came to Stevens county and 
since that time this has been his headquarters. He mined on the Pend 
d'Oreille river for two years and then went to The Dalles with seven hundred 
dollars and bought goods which he packed to this valley, selling them to 
good advantage. He continued in this business for some time. After this he 
made good money in raising hogs and selling pickled pork at fifty cents per 
pound. In 1860 he bought a farm for three thousand dollars but was not 
successful on that place and in 1863 came to his present place. Mr. Roberts 
has his place improved in fine manner. He has two or three residences, 
several barns, and plenty of outbuildings, as vegetable cellars, tool sheds, 
ice-houses, and so forth.
	In 1868, Mr. Roberts married Miss Mary Aracasia, and five children 
have been the fruit of this union, three of whom are living, named as 
follows: Randolph, Olive Seyler, and Addie, wife of W. Baulue, in this 
county. Mr. Roberts and his family are adherents of the Catholic church.