ROBERTS, George D. Biography Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives September 8, 2003 by Dave Roberts , g-grandson of George D Roberts ********************************************** The bio in excerpted from the "Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Brown, Kewaunee, and Door, Wisconsin" J.H. Beers & Co. 1895. ********************************************** GEORGE D. ROBERTS, who holds a prominent place among the prosperous agriculturists and landowners of Ahnapee township, Kewaunee county, is a native of Wales, born January 2,1853,in Llangollen. His ancestors were farming people in that country. Godfrey William Roberts, father of our subject was born in Wales, and was educated in the Welsh language. He married Elizabeth Jones, a native of the same country, whose family were prominent and wealthy people in the neighborhood in which they lived, many of the members there of being government officials and well-known in the Navy department. To Godfre W. and Elizabeth (Jones) Roberts were born twelve children two of whom died in Wales. Of the others, Evan is now a resident of Birnamwood, Shawano Co., Wis.; John is living in Menominee, Mich.; Mary Jane is the wife of John Sullivan, of Milwaukee, Wis.; Joseph lives in Birnamwood; David comes next in order; George D. is the subject of this biographical sketch; Elizabeth is married to John Bach, of Chicago; Sarah is the wife of Charles Kugler, of Milwaukee; Almira is the wife of Perry Fay, of Chicago; Godfrey is a resident of Birnamwood. In 1858 Mr. Roberts came with his family to the United States locating first at Racine, Wis. where he followed blacksmithing for one year, and then removed to Ahnapee, Kewaunee county, here purchasing the farm our subject now owns and occupies. The land being still in its primitive condition he commenced at once to clear the timber and prepare the soil for cultivation following general agriculture on the place until his death, which occurred in 1860. When he arrived in the United States he was a poor man, but he was a man of considerable energy and perseverance, and by good business management and steady industry had accumulated considerable property, and gained for himself an enviable reputation for honesty and openhearted generosity. Being one of the early settlers of the township, he experienced many of the hardships incident ot pioneer life; but he lived to see the region developed from a wilderness to a prosperous farming community. In political faith he was a member of the Republican party, and in religious connection a member of the Church of England, as was also his wife. Mrs. Roberts was a lady of considerable education and refinement; she was a sister of John Jones, a millionaire and prominent man of London, England; he is a manufacturer of watches, also holds large interests in railroads, and now owns the farm once owned by the mother of Henry VII, of England. George D. Roberts came with his parents to Ahnapee, Kewaunee county, in the common schools of which locality he was educated, at the same time receiving a thorough agricultural training on the home farm. When a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed more or less for a number of years. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Frank, daughter of Capt. J.D. Frank and of German extraction. She died one year and ten days after her marriage, at the early age of twenty-three and is buried at Ahnapee. On April 2, 1884, Mr. Roberts was again married this time to Pauline Braasch, a native of Mishicot, Manitowoc Co., Wis., born May 5, 1854, the eighth in the family of nine children born to Fredrick and Sophia (Hanson) Braasch, the former of whom was a native of Saxony, Germany, the latter of Danish ancestry. Mr. Braasch was a man of thorough education, having graduated from two universities, and possessed considerable natural ability; his wife had also received careful literary training, and was well educated, both in German and French. Both Mr. and Mrs. Braasch are now deceased, he having died in 1884, she in 1892 consistent members of the Lutheran church. They were among the early settlers of Mishicot, Wis. of which place a Mr. Braasch, who was a veterinary surgeon by occupation, became a citizen of much prominence. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been born five children, a. follows Gladys, October 12, 1885 Luella, August 2, 1887; George E., May 28, 1889; David J., November 15, 1890, and Bessie B., September 5, 1892. Since his marriage Mr Roberts has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, now owning the home farm consisting of 200 acres of good land, and is one of the substantial agriculturists of the township. Politically, he is a Republican. The family attend the M.E. Church, Mrs. Roberts however, being a member of the Baptist Church. In 1884 Mr. and Mrs. Roberts visited relatives in England, and had a most enjoyable trip, of which they recall many pleasant incidents.