[Obediah] | Jane | Martha | Margaret | Livingston | Jesse James
1. Obadiah ~1800
Obadiah may not be the son of Jesse. Maxine Lacy found a guardianship record in Livingston County in 1816, making Jesse the “guardian of the children of Stephen Roberts, deceased. One of them was Obadiah. I do not have a birthdate for him. In all the records I have seen Obediah is listed as the son of Jesse S. Roberts. I don’t know if this Obediah is the same child he was appointed guardian for or if he is a natural born son. They would have been about the same age.” [June 13, 2000 from Maxine Lacy] In a later e-mail she says that anyone over the age of 14 did not have to have a guardian - which would mean that Obadiah was born after 1802. If this is the same Obadiah.
Obediah's personal page
2. Jane 1802-1888
1802 August 7 - born - Livingston Co, Ky
1810 census - with Jesse, Livingston Co, Ky
1820 census - with Jesse? but she married in January
1820 January 25 married Thomas Phillips (in Livingston Co).
1820 Kentucky Livingston Salem 15
Tho S Philips 200100 101 (3 children in a year?)
2m, 1f under 10 W, X, a
1m, 1f 16-26
1830 Illinois Montgomery 192
Thomas Phillips 011001 11001
1f 0-5 b. 1825-30 Burrel? 1826
1m 5-10 b. 1820-25 Henry 1821
1f 5-10 Unknown f A b. 1820-25 (1825)
1m 10-15 b 1815-20 Unknown m X b. ~1820
1f 20-30 Jane 28
1m 30-40 Thomas 40
1840 Illinois Montgomery 372
Thomas Philips 0222001 011001
2m, 1f 5-10 b 1830-35 Jesse 1836, (Sidney 1840?)Penicy 1833
2m, 1f 10-15 b. 1825-30 Burrel 1826, unknown m Y, unknown f A b~1825
2m 15-20 b. 1820-25 Henry 1821, unknown m X b. ~1820
1f 30-40 Jane 38
1m 40-50 Thomas 50
1848 - ?Seward, George C - Phillips, Unity Jane 02/01/1848 2/ 57 819 Montgomery
Oba Roberts (Laurens Co, SC) had a daughter Unity and a daughter Jane
1849 - Phillips, Burrel - Cole, Julia Ann 09/27/1849 2/ 81 931 Montgomery
1850 Illinois Montgomery 22nd Dist SW
149-151 Thomas Philips 66 Ga
Jane 52 (42) Ky
Henry 29 Il
Penicy? 17f
Jesse 14 m
Sidney 9m
150-152 Burrel Philips 24 m
Julia 17
Illinois 1/12
1857 - ?Brewer, William H - Phillips, Parmisia M 11/17/1857 / 00001735 Montgomery
1860 Illinois Montgomery Hillsboro p. 3 l. 23 17-19
Thos Philips 71 m farmer GA 10,700 3,400
Jane 58 Ky
Jesse J 23 Il lawyer
1870 Il Montgomery Hillsboro 90 (p. 15) l. 2
Phillips, Thomas 80 mw leisure GA 3500 1500
Jane 68 KH Ky
Boone, James 43 laborer Ky
1880 Il Montgomery Hillsboro 216b ED148 (p. 18, SD6, ED48 163-163)
Phillips, Jane wf 77 KH Ky Sc Sc
Phillips, Henry 59 son farmer Il Geo SC?
Fanny J 45 dau-in-law 45 KH
Henrietta 12 g dau
Nail, George 14 serv
Seward, George 22 g son
1884 - Phillips, Jesse J - Best, Juliet K (Mrs) 11/07/1884 001/0111 00007649 Montgomery
1897 - obit of sister Margaret - present = General Jesse J Phillips, Hillsboro
d. May 23, 1888, Hillsboro, Ill?
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father Jesse Roberts | Roberts Home Page | Lee's Genes Home
3. Martha b. ?1804-10
1810 - ~6 - probably with Jesse in Livingston Co, KY
1820 - ~16 - probably with Jesse in Livingston Co, Ky
? m Unknown Gray
In Caldwell Co: Elizabeth "Betsey" Roberts to John Gray, 14 Jan 1810, Wm.Gillihan, J.P.
Too early to be Martha Elizabeth - but a connection???
I looked for Grays in Kentucky and Illinois.
In Kentucky: Presley Gray - he looked like a pretty good bet to me at first
1830 Livingston Smithland 30 - 111001 10101
If Martha was born 1804 she’d be 26, so she fits (20-30) (Presley 30-40)
this fellow was living next to James Davis (1110001 001101)
1840 Livingston Salem 158 - 0111001 001001
If Martha was born 1804 she’d be 36, so she fits (30-40) (Presley 40-50)
living next door, Peyton Gray 00001 01001
1850 - no Presley in Ky - a James 65 shoemaker with Michel 9 and Martha 3 (Livingston Smithland 378)
also in 1850, a Presley Gray in Missouri - 37 yrs old, Harriet 35, Lewis 2
1860 Livingston Div 2 - Presley Gray 61, Sarah 52, JW Crawford 27
but then I found this: Presley Gray married Maria Hodge . Their son Peyton Randolph Gray was born in Livingston Co Ky and moved to Miss and Ark in the 1840s . Can anyone give me more info? Gray Family Genforum 10076 Frank April 18 2003
In Illinois (Montgomery Co)
1830 Gray, James Hurricane p. 198
Andrew Westfork 202
Thomas ditto
1840 James no twp p. 371
Andrew K ditto
Thomas ditto
Young p. 372
1850 James 37 Eliza p. 107
next to Young 27 Jane Ky
AL 36 Ky Phoebe 36 Oh SW p. 105
John 20 Il p. 106
Thomas A 40 VA / Margaret J 18 Ils / Frances A 13 m Il / Thomas 10 Ils / Charity Ann 7 p. 125
---but next to him:
George Haskey? 45 NC / Martha 46 NC
Zilpha 21 NC
Thursa 18 f Il / Mary 16 / George 12 / Martha 10
Christina 7 / John 5
Jacob Davis 18
This is interesting because - Livingston Roberts had a daughter named Zilpha
AND because of the Davis connection
Martha's husband Gray died and she married Haskey???
However, the family is not together in 1860 - the only ones (by name) still in Montgomery Co in 1860 were Christina (Christiana), living with Easten Whitten, and John, living with John Knight. You would think they would be with some of the Robertses OR Grays if something had happened to their parents. On the other hand, the only one really missing is George, who should be 22 - the older girls might be married. In fact, John Knight's wife was named Mary, and she was the right age to be Mary Haskey.
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father Jesse Roberts | Roberts Home Page | Lee's Genes Home
4. Margaret 1814 -1897
1811 May 11 - born - Livingston Co, Ky probably
1820 - with Jesse - Livingston Co, Ky
1830 - not found
1833 - married Christopher Winters
Christopher Winters and Margaret Roberts, January 31, 1833 by Hooper Warren
1833 -1834 Putnam County Marriages (website)
1840 Illinois Putnam 204
Christopher Winters 210005 (!) 00001
2m under 5 b. 1835-40 James 1838, William J 1836
1m 5-10 b. 1830-35 Obediah 1834
1f 20-30 Margaret 26
5m 30-40 Christopher 34 - and who? laborers?
1850 Il Putnam 356
Christopher Winters 44 m farner 11,000 OH
Margaret 35 Ky
Obadiah R 16 student Il
William J 14
James 12
Elizabeth M 9
Jane A 7
Lewis A 5
Mary E 2
Emily Beckworth 29 CT
Michael Maloy 21 laborer Germ
1857 - moved to Perry County (DuQuoin)
1859 - husband Christopher died (11 Dec)
1860 census - not found
1862 - Winters, William J - Dyer, Laura H 02/05/1862 4/ 120 Perry
1862 - Morris, Marshal E - Winters, Margaret E 10/08/1862 4/ 150 Perry
1867 - Winters, Lewis A - Haywood, Mallissa J 04/18/1867 4/ 556 Perry
1867 - Brookings, Allen C - Winters, J Amanda 06/25/1867 4/ 475 Perry
1870 Il Perry DuQuoin 173 (p. 33)
Winters, Margaret 56 fw KY 31,000 4,500 Ky
Brookings, Allen C 20?m druggist Pa
Amanda J 27 KH Il
Charles M at home
Perry Charles 14 at school
Warms? Mary 19 domestic servant
1880 Il Perry DuQuoin (p8, SD8, ED 73)
Brookings, Allan 40 druggist
Jane A 38
C Mark 12 son
Ella W 9 dau
Lyle W 8 son
Louisa 10/12 dau
Hawkins, Eliza 20 serv
Parks, Lillis 14 serv
Paul, William C 28 boarder
Winters, Margaret E 65 Ky Sc SC
1894 - Spencer, Henry H - Winters, Laura H Mrs 05/01/1894 B/ 200 274 Perry
1897, December 03 - died - DuQuoin, Perry Co, Illinois
Obituary for MARGARET ROBERTS WINTERS (Du Quoin Tribune, Du Quoin, IL, 10 December 1897) Margaret Roberts Winters was the daughter of Jesse S. and Margaret Davis Roberts, who came from South Carolina to Kentucky on horseback, at the time of their marriage. She was born near Smithland, Livingston County, KY., May 11, 1814, being 83 years, 6 months and 22 days old at the time of her death.
At the age of 11 years, the family moved to Hillsboro, Ill., and later to Marshall County, where she was married at the age of eighteen to Christopher Winters of Dayton Ohio. A few years later they moved to Mt. Palatine, Putnam County, where they lived until 1857, when they came to Du Quoin. Her husband died Dec. 11th, 1859, thirty-eight years ago.
They had seven children, three of whom preceded her to her heavenly home, O. R. Winters (Obadiah), W. J. Winters (William), and Mary Ella Winters. Those living are: J. W. Winters (James), Du Quoin; Margaret Elizabeth Morris, Bridgeport, Conn., Jane Amanda Brookings, Du Quoin, and L. A. Winters (Lewis), Pueblo, Col.
The funeral services were held from the First Baptist Church…. Among the relatives from abroad were: Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Morris of Bridgeport, Conn.; Mr. Lewis A. Winters, Pueblo, Colorado; General Jesse J. Phillips, Hillsboro; Mrs. H. H. Spencer, Beechwood; Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Winters, Carbondale; Mr. Chas. H. Perry, Mr. Karl H. Winters, Miss Bertha Winters from Chicago.
---obit supplied by Mary Matthews
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father Jesse Roberts | Roberts Home Page | Lee's Genes Home
5. Livingston 1812-1889
1812 March 24 - born Livingston County, Ky
1820 census - with Jesse, Livingston Co
1830 census - not found
1833 January 24 - married Margaret Dent
Livingston Roberts and Margaret Dent, January 24, 1833 by Hooper Warren
1833-1834 Putnam County Marriages
1840 census - Illinois Marshall Lynn Pct, p. 196
Livingston Roberts 211130001 10011001
2m, 1f under 5 b 1835-40 Alonzo 1835, Jesse 1839, Melissa 1837
1m 5-10 b. 1830-35 Thomas 1833
1m 10-15 b. 1825-30 Unk m
1m, 1f 15-20 b. 1820-25 Unk m, Unk f
3m, 1f 20-30 b. 1810-20 Livingston 1812, brother Jesse James 1818?, Unk m
Margaret Dent 1814
1f 50-60 b. 1780-1790 Margaret Davis
1m 60-70 b. 1770-1780 Jesse 1776
1850 - Marshall Co, Ill - no twp listed
Livingston Roberts 38 farmer $10,000 KY
Margaret 36 wife OH
Thomas 17 m farmer/ Alonzo 15 m/ Mellissa 13 f/ Jesse 11 m/John 9 m
Zelphia 6 f /
George 5 m/ Elizabeth 3 f
Livingston 21 m KY
Catherine 12 f IL
James 11 m IL
Levi Bissell 21 farmer PA
Susan Myres 22 OH
Frank Myres 2 IL
1860 - Marshall Co, Ill - 286
Livingston 48 m farmer KY
Marg 46 OH
Jesse 19 m Il / John 17 Il / Zilphie 15 f / Elizabeth 13 f / Wm? 12 m
Riley 6 m / Ada 4 f / Martha 7/12 - all Il
Cath?Gust 28 m farm laborer Germany;
Jacob Seitz / Lutz 22 m; And& Henry Seitz; John Lee 25 m all Germany
Jas Roberts 18 m farm laborer 1000 Ils - do you suppose James was married to Eliza?
Eliza Roberts 18 f servant Germany
Livingston's son Thomas b 1833
1860 Illinois Marshall- Roberts Twp - 275
Thomas 20 farmer Ils; JA 25 f KY; Alonzo 3 m Ils; Kate 1 f Ils
Livingston's son Alonzo b. 1835 - d 1873
1860 Illinois Marshall Roberts Twp 289- 90
Alonzo 24 m Ils; A 19 f Ils;
A Quaintance 19 m Penn (J, 13?)
Ann Quaintance 9 f Penn
1870 Illinois Marshall Magnolia p. 430 21-24
Roberts Livingston 58 m w farmer 4800 3700 KY
Margaret 56 f w OH
John 29 m w Il/ Riley 16 m w Il/ Elizabeth 21 f w Il/ Ida 14 f w Il/ Mary 11 f w /
Welsh, Marion 18 m w farm laborer Ind
Carlton Fisell 16 m w farm laborer Sweden parents foreign
August 24 f w servant Sweden
Thomas b 1833
1870 Marshall Co Ill - Magnolia 19 Aug p. 434 69-74
Roberts Thomas J 37 m w farmer 8500 1500 Ill
Dona 22 f w housekeeper Il
Alonzo 14 m w / Kittie 12 f w / Nellie 1 f w all Ill
Ames Matilda 23 f w house servant Sweden parents foreign
Winters William 21 m w farm laborer Va citizen
Jesse 1839 = 31
1870 Illinois Marshall Magnolia p. 432 92-96
Roberts Jesse 31 m w farmer 800 Ill
Josephine 23 f w keeping house Il
Nellie 1 f w Il
Payton Oliver 24 m w farm laborer OH citizen
Zilpha 1844 m. JW Burns
1870 Illinois Marshall Roberts (Magnolia) 430 (next door to Livingston)
Burns, John 29 farmer Ils
Zilpha 27 KH Ils
Herbert 4 Ils
William 1848 = 22
1870 Illinois Marshall Magnolia p. 434 65-70
Roberts William 24 m w farmer 700 Il
Mary 22 f w housekeeper IL
Frank L 2 m w Il/ Percie 2/12 m w Il
1879 Taken From the Henry Republican - February 27, 1879 - The Roberts Familly Reunion
The Roberts family had a reunion dinner at the old homestead in Roberts township on Sunday last, at which the following children of Mr. and Mrs. Livingston Roberts were present: T. D. Roberts, Mrs. J. S. Roberts, Mrs. J. A. Roberts, Mrs. J. Throm, William Roberts, Riley Roberts, Miss Ida Roberts, Miss Molly Roberts. Mr. T. D. Roberts and family left on Monday's train for Kansas where he has purchased a farm. Mrs. John W. Burns, the other member of his family is now residing in Kansas. The members of the Roberts family are a credit to the community and highly respected citizens.
1880 Illinois Marshall Roberts Dist 147 (18, SD4, ED147 - l 40 91-94)
Roberts, Livingston wm 68 farmer Ky SC Alabama
Margaret 65 Oh Va ?
Ida 23 dau
Mary 20 dau
Devers Edward 14 laborer
R.... Henry 18 laborer
Livingston's son Thomas b 1833
1880 KS Coffey Pottawattomie Dist 52 74-78
Roberts, Thomas mw 44 Il Ky Oh
Dora 32 wife
Maston 23 son at home consumption
Kate 20
Nellie 11
Maud 8
Lewis Aug son
Jordan?, Edwin 23 hired
Livingston's son Jesse b. 1841
1880 Kansas Dickinson Lincoln - 4th st - 75-82
Roberts, Jesse S 40 hotelkeeper Il Ky O
Josephine 32 Il Ky Ky
Nettie 11 Il / Blanche 9 Il / Lora (f) 6 Il / Dwight L 2 Il
Neal, Isabel 24 sister-in-law school teacher
Shepherd, John 18 laborer
Rochs, Charles 21 coal dealer
Livingston's son John b. 1844
1880 Illinois Marshall Roberts Dist 147 (18, SD4, ED147 92-95)
Roberts, John A 36 farmer
Mary 23
Ora B 1
Livingston's daughter Zilpha
1880 Kansas Harvey Sedgwick (from LDS site - forgot to write down page #)
JW Burns 38 Il Il NC stock dealer
Zilpha 36 Il Ky Va keeping house
HH son 14 Il Il Il
Robert Sturdy 23 Il Eng Eng works on farm
Livingston's daughter Elizabeth b. 1847 m Jerry Trone 1875
Livingston's son
Riley
1880 Illinois Putnam Magnolia 308 - June 28
Roberts, Riley B mw 25 farmer Il Ky Oh
Minnie 21 wife keeping house Il Oh Il
William wm 1 son Ils Ils Ils
1889 March 27 - died Magnolia, Marshall Co, Illinois
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father Jesse Roberts | Roberts Home Page | Lee's Genes Home
Livingston Roberts
The father of Mr. Roberts was the first settler in Marshall county, and he is the oldest surviving resident, having come here in 1829. He assisted in making the large farm he occupies, and upon the death of his father succeeded to the property. His wife was a Miss Dent, and he raised a large family of sons and daughters, to each of which he gave a farm. Mr. Roberts is yet hale and hearty, and labors daily in the field. He has a large estate with good buildings upon it, and is very comfortably fixed. He has filled various offices in the township, and no man is more widely known or generally respected. A more extended sketch of his settlement here is given elsewhere.
p. 737 - History of Marshall Co 1878 ( written by researcher at top of page - no other bib info)
- not clear if this is the same book (with the info about Jesse) or not. “Biographical Department” at the top of the page. This is in much smaller type than the other pages.
- written by researcher at bottom -
married at Hennepin Il
Livingston Roberts md. Dent, Margaret - Jan 24, 1843 by Hooper Warren, JP
an Enoch Dent early settler of Roberts twp (1830)
Photocopy of a newspaper obit - no bib info but date written on it - April 14, 1889
Gathered to his Fathers
Lvinigston Roberts, the Earliest Settler of Roberts Township, Passes Peacefully Away
---
In his onward strides, Time has finally overtaken our old and revered friend, and the oldest settler of Roberts township, Livingston Roberts. On Wednesday, March 27, he quietly laid aside the envelop thro which he had so long manifested himself to his fellows, and stepped out into the boundless and ceaseless realms of the immortal future.
Jesse Roberts, the first settler of Marshall county, was born on the Little Pedee, South Carolina, May 11, 1776. Under the law of primogeniture at that time in force, the eldest brother inherited the possessions of the father, leaving the other children, one of whom was Jesse, to meet the future and its cares as best they might. At 18, having served seven years as apprentice in harness making, he shouldered his axe, with a small bundle of clothing, and set out on foot for the fertile fields beyond the Ohio, walking the entire distance of over 600 miles. Having built a log house, and got along as well as he could for some three months alone, he set out on his return to South Carolina for a helpmeet. Arriving there, and having been joined in holy wedlock, and receiving a feather bed and a frying pan as his wife’s dowery, he started on his return to his cabin and “home” in Kentucky, she riding and carrying the bed on horseback, while he trudged afoot at her side. They made the journey in safety, and she proved a worthy helpmeet. From this union came several children, one of whom was Livingston, so recently passed away. About 1826 Jesse and his family left Kentucky, and came to Illinois, settling near Hillsboro, wher he remained some two years, but finally, about 1828, laying the claim in Roberts township, where he resided till his death in 1841. After his death, his son
LIVINGSTON ROBERTS
succeeded to the home farm, and after his father’s death, has always been held as the first settler of Roberts. For many of these first years he followed the teaming business, having made several trips to Chicago, hauling grain to Chicago, and lumber, provisions, etc., in return. At the time of his first load to Chicago, he found there 20 houses of all kinds, and had great difficulty in disposing of his load of wheat, being compelled to accept a greyhound as part pay. The finishing lumber for his large brick house he hauled from Chicago. His home was for many years a well known stopping place for travelers. Some years later he erected his mammoth barn, which was used for a long while as the place of all public gatherings of the neighborhood. Here were the church services, the school exhibitions, so great a part of the life of that day, and the meetings for amusement as well, until it became a noted structure. Here was the station where the stage of those times found food and shelter for passengers and teams. He was a man of unbounded hospitality, and throout his whole life it has been his reputation that no one was ever turned hungry from his door for want of means of payment.
In those early years Livingston Roberts was united in matrimony with Miss Margaret Dent, who was always a faithful partner of his joys or his sorrows, and who always worked in unison with him in all his benevolent enterprises. From this union have resulted a large family of sons and daughters, and who have grown up to call father and mother “blessed.” Mr Roberts has all these years enjoyed the highest esteem and undoubted confidence of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. The name of Livingston Roberts is almost a household word throout all this country and none have known him but to respect him.
Throout his life he has been a man of wondrous constitutional force, but the great amount of labor which has has performed and the great exposures to which he has been subject, finally began to tell upon even his fine physique, and for some months past he has been moving along life’s decline and for some time his death has been expected, and he finally yielded his spirit into the hands of the Master on Wednesday, March 27, at the age of 76. His remains were laid to rest in the family cemetery on his own farm, on Saturday, amid a large concourse of sympathizing and loving friends. We extend our deepest sympathies to the sorrowing relatives, and bid them remember that his life is but transplanted to that other clime, and that at the tomb it is not “farewell,” but only “adieu until we meet again.”
From “Deep are the Roots” pub 1976 by Maud Upscold, Lacon
p75
Roberts Point was the name of a town that was planned on paper. Where else would be a logical place but the Carl Schulz farm which was formerly owned by Livingston Roberts?
Livingston Roberts was one of the first settlers in Marshall County coming in 1828. He followed the teaming business; making five or six trips to Chicago. The return trip brought loads of merchandise for the new settlement.
Evidently it was on one of these trips that the following happened to his wife who had remained at home. An Indian came to the house and asked for food. Mrs. Roberts told him he must wash his feet before eating. As he was doing this, she killed him with an ax. Then she hid the body. Other Indians came looking for him but she claimed he hadn’t been there. This took place in the old stone house which was the Roberts’ first home. This 20 foot by 26 foot home ws built using the stones from the creek. It was heated by a huge fireplace and the wooden windows wing outwards were the source of the fresh air that was needed.
[Is this a horrible story or what???]
Mr. Roberts build the brick home in 1841. The bricks were kilned a short distance away where red clay was available. The walls are solid brick and the thickest one is eighteen inches thick. Formerly there were six fireplaces but all have been sealed shut. The mantel from one fireplace is in the kitchen. There is a spiral gooseneck staircase in the hall and also a rose colored window. The front door is pictured in Betty Madden’s book, Art, Crafts and Architecture in Early Illinois, as an entrance in a former inn near Wenona. (Varna didn’t exist at that time.)
(picture of large house)
p. 76
(picture of small building)
This house was called “Halfway House: as it was half-way between Springfield and Chicago. This was a stagecoach stop and people would stay overnight. The three-story barn had a lighted lantern in the cupola each night to guide travelers to the inn. Two or three barns have been rebuilt over the lower story because of fire. The remains of the lower story still stands. The stagecoach with four horses could drive into the barn and turn around there.
Mr. Roberts was a hospitable man and everyone was welcome. The house was a well-known stopping place for travelers and a noted landmark. Abraham Lincoln slept here many times and probably many more famous people.
The Roberts were friends of slaves and so the place was also part of the Underground Railway. The slaves were kept in the stone house during the day and they traveled at night.
The present owners are Carl and Tena Schulz. Carl was born in this house and has never resided any other place. The home is located on Route 89 just north of Varna, Illinois.
Mrs. Tena Schulz.
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father Jesse Roberts | Roberts Home Page | Lee's Genes Home
6. Jesse James 1818 -
1818 Jan 10 - born - Birdsville, Livingston Co Ky
1820 - with Jesse, Livingston County, Ky
1830 - not found
1840 - with Livingston in Marshall Co, Il?
1840 - Illinois Marshall Lynn Pct, p. 196 Livingston Roberts 211130001 10011001
2m, 1f under 5 b 1835-40 Alonzo 1835, Jesse 1839, Melissa 1837
1m 5-10 b. 1830-35 Thomas 1833
1m 10-15 b. 1825-30 Unk m
1m, 1f 15-20 b. 1820-25 Unk m, Unk f
3m, 1f 20-30 b. 1810-20 Livingston 1812, Jesse James 1818, Unk m
Margaret Dent 1814
1f 50-60 b. 1780-1790 Margaret Davis
1m 60-70 b. 1770-1780 Jesse 1776
1840 Dec 24 - married Louisa Myers - Marshall Co, Il
Louisa b. July 25, 1821 in Richland Co, Ohio - dau/o David Myers & Drusilla Simpson
Children
1. Murray Roberts, b. March 03, 1842, Marshall Co, Illinois;
d. September 17, 1842 - buried - Roberts Cem, Marshall Co, Il
2. Irving Washington Roberts, b. May 25, 1843, Marshall Co, Illinois;
m. Mary L Patterson, September 30, 1868, Fayette Co, Iowa.
d. September 09, 1887
3. Mary Ellen Roberts, b. August 24, 1845, Marshall Co, Illinois
m.Charles Howe, May 29, 1868, Fayette Co, Iowa.
4. Laura L Roberts, b. October 30, 1847, Marshall Co, Illinois
m. Augustus Hickethier.
d. September 03, 1939, Douglas Co, Oregon
5. Ellis W Roberts, b. July 06, 1850, Marshall Co, Illinois
m. Nellie Wells, March 09, 1878, Fayette Co, Iowa.
6. Alice G Roberts, b. July 06, 1850, Marshall Co, Illinois
m. Eugene Waite Leonard, December 11, 1873.
d. December 18, 1913, Buchanon Co, Iowa
7. Margaret "Maggie" Roberts, b. November 30, 1852, Marshall Co, Il
m. George M Aldrich, September 10, 1874, Fayette Co, Iowa.
d. April 23, 1893
8. Harriet "Hattie" Roberts, b. May 08, 1854, Fayette Co, Iowa
m.Albert M Sheldon, February 20, 1877, Fayette Co, Iowa.
9. Charles Dickens Roberts, b. February 22, 1856, Fayette Co, Iowa
m. Emma Florence Simpson, March 29, 1882, Fayette Co, Iowa.
d. February 05, 1925, Jennings, Kansas
10. Drusilla Roberts, b. November 24, 1858, Oran or Fairbanks, Fayette Co, IA
m. Monroe Westcott, March 18, 1881, Fayette Co, Iowa.
d. September 13, 1941
11. David Roberts, b. November 24, 1858, Fairbanks, Fayette Co, Iowa
m. Eliza Caroline Saunders, May 04, 1881, Holton, Jackson Co, Iowa
d. March 28, 1930, El Dorado, Butler Co, Kansas
buried: El Dorado, Butler Co, Kansas, Sunset Lawns Cemetery
1850 - Marshall Co, Ill - no twp listed, p. 123
Roberts Jesse 36 m farmer 1000 KY
Laura 28 f OH
Washington 9 Il/ Mary 5 Il/ Laura 3 Il/ Elsy 3/12 Il/ Alice 3/12/
Margaret 70 f SC
~1853 - moved to Iowa - niece Caroline probably with him (she m. in same county in 1856) - mother Margaret probably went to daughter Margaret Winters in Perry Co, Il (she died there 1858)
1860 Iowa Fayette Oran Fairbanks - 26 July - p. 303 - 2350-2064
Jesse J Roberts 42 m farmer 3000 1000 Ky
Louisa 38
Irving 17 / Ellen 14 / Laura 12
Allis 10 there is a notation running vertically but I can’t read it
Ellis 10 listed as f in this and next census, as m in 1880
Margaret 8 / Harriett 6 / Charles 4 / David 2 / Druzilla 2
Andrew Shay 23
186x - served in Civil War - Co F, 38 Reg, Iowa Inf
1870 Iowa Fayette Oran Fairbanks - 103b (p14) - the scanning is messed up - l 34 - 109-111
Roberts, Jesse 52 mw farmer
Louisa 59 must be 49
Alice 19 f / Elis 19f / Margaret 17 Il / Harriet 16 Iowa / Charles 14
(p. 15) David 11 / Drusilla 11
111-113 - Irving 27
Mary 25
George 11/12
1873 July 27 - died Fayette or Bremer Co Iowa
buried Readlyn - Bremer Co, Iowa Grave Hill Cemetery
1907 Aug 2 - Louisa died - buried Readlyn- Bremer Co, Iowa Grave Hill Cemetery
Myers, Hiram. Autobiography of Hiram Myers (1833-1926) of Marshall County, Illinois / edited by Richard Myers King, Sandra Calkin King. Acton, Mass. : R.M. King, 1992.
Hiram Myers was the brother of Louisa - I looked over this little pamphlet, but since they weren’t directly related to me, I didn’t make many notes. One thing I did notice was that Mary Ellen How was in Hastings, Nebraska in 1913. [This was interesting to me because my grandfather Bothwell - whose mother was a Roberts - was born in Hastings.]
Civil War letter written by Jesse James Roberts, Co K Thirty Fourth Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers
Fort Butler Donaldsonville
Louisiana Sept the 24th 1864
My Dear Wife (If I have any) actually underlined twice
I am well, and if this ever reaches you I hope it will find you, and the children all well. This is Saturday evening. I will not finish this untill after the male comes in on Sunday morning, which will be just nine weeks since I have had a letter from any of you. There is something very strange about it, and I am verry uneasy about it. I have written once a week and sometimes twice. I have no particular news to write, only that to let you know where and how I am. We are in tents yet it is hot by day, and cold at night, with frequent showers. I got a letter from (Hobson) he said he had received the goods that I sent for from Brownsville. I sent you 4 blankets one pair of pants and some other trinkets, but I have sent you two boxes (or goods in boxes) since that. The last box is valuable they are princibly and a good silver watch for (Ellen) they are sent in Co, with a man by the name of Ives and he is to pay one half of the express money on all the goods that belongs to me in the box. The box is his, these will be a cheap lot of clothes for the boys. I can send you all the blankets and mens clothes that you want, they cost me a mere nothing. If you will pay the rate and go after them. I will not expres any more to Westunion. I will send them to Independence. I have not been able to send you any money yet. We have been expecting it every week for two months. There has been some of the forces here paid off. our time will come next. I will try to get a pas and go down to Orleans, as soon as I get paid off and I will send you something for the girls. If I don’t get to go, I will do the next best thing I can. I can’t get anything for the girls in the army of course, but I can buy cheaper at Orleans than you can there, but I don’t know whether I have got any girls or not, or boys either.
I saw James Mear sergt, James Roberts private. Marion Ellenberg private. One of Nelson Dugans boys, one of Parrots boys and a number of other Magnolia boys in the 77th Regt. James had just got a letter from home stating that Livingston was not expected to live.
I have not herd from them since. We are seventy five miles above Orleans. It is a beautiful little village, the inhabitance are loyal and friendly, they all speak French. I hope this bloody war will soon come to an end. I am satisfied with soldiering, although I want to see it honorably settled, I am for no compromizing short of unconditional submission, I will not write any more this evening. This is Sunday morning the 25th it is a beautiful morning. I look toward the North with the fond hope, that I shall see you all again. I should like to walk with you to meeting this morning. I would like to look around on them beautiful Prairies again. Iowa is the place yet, be contented with your home, I saw nothing that I would exchange it for. The more I see of the south the less I think of it, it is to hor for a man to be out after ten oclock till four, and the nights will freeze you. I would rather freeze seven month in the year than be infested by the flees, musketoes, cheegers, Tarantilas, Scorpions, spiders, flies, gnats, bugs, ants, Lizards, snakes, toads, and Aligators. Give me my own native home that dearly loved spot, where you, children and country so dear. It is for you and my country I am here, and I feel it my duty to stay untill I know you are safe. Then I will return. I think we will stay and guard Donaldsonville this winter. We have been verry lucky so far, and there is no danger of us getting into a fight here. There is no Reble forces close to us. There is a few guirrilleys prowling around. There was four taken the other day and sent to Orleans, they ar the wildest game that we have in this country. We asked them what they were fighting for. They said for there rights just had always been fighting for. what is that? For the acknowledgement of our Independence, and we will have it or loose every man in the South. But I notice they are as willing to surrender, when they are whiped as any other people I ever saw, and they are a getting that every time that we ketch them.
We had a small male this morning. I waited for it. was disapointed as usual, so I have no incouragment to write. I sent the children one fifth of a pod of southern cotton, that they called king.
I will write once a week, let them plant the seed early in the spring and see it grow. The boys are all well. Simpson has not got to the Regt yet.
Jese J Roberts Louisa Roberts
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Letter in the possession of Margaret (Westcott) Ebert, Clarion, Iowa.
The Westcotts are descended from Jesse James and Louisa through Drusilla.
Apparently Margaret has a trunk full of Roberts memorabilia, but she never yet got around to letting Maxine Lacy see it, although they have sent Christmas cards to each other for years. This letter was published in the Boulder Colorado Genealogical Society Newsletter, which is how Maxine finally got to see it.
Oh yes - Maxine wrote on the letter: Civil War letter written by Jesse James Roberts, Co. “K” Thirty fourth Regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers.
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