WI BIO - Dodge Co - ROBERTS, David M., George W. & Vincent

History of Dodge County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1880, pp 
661-663

Biography of David M. ROBERTS - p 662 (son of Vincent, brother of George W.)

David M. ROBERTS, grain dealer, Iron Ridge [Wisconsin], was born 27 December 
1849 in Iron Ridge [Hubbard Township], Dodge County, Wisconsin, son of 
Vincent and Ann ROBERTS. [The biography of Vincent ROBERTS follows below.] 
Mr. ROBERTS has spent his life and received his education in his native 
county [Dodge], and is now proprietor of the Iron Ridge Elevator [grain 
elevator]. In politics Mr. ROBERTS is a Republican. On 17 February 1875 he 
[David M. ROBERTS] married Miss Wilhelmina FAVOUR. They [David M. and 
Wilhelmina (FAVOUR) ROBERTS] have two children: Anna, and Courtland.



Biography of George W. ROBERTS - p 651 (son of Vincent, brother of David M.)

George W. ROBERTS, grain and produce dealer, Mayville [Williamstown Township, 
Dodge County, Wisconsin], was born 30 November 1851 in the town [township] of 
Hubbard, Dodge County, Wisconsin, a son of Vincent ROBERTS, and has spent his 
life and been educated in Dodge County. George W. ROBERTS was with his 
father on the farm until 1869, when he began business as a grain and produce 
dealer in Iron Ridge [Hubbard Township]. He was also a buyer in Blair 
[Preston Township], Trempealeau County [Wisconsin].

On 28 June 1876 he [George W. ROBERTS] married Miss Clara B. MOODY, of 
Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, Wisconsin]. In 1878 he built his Mayville 
[grain] elevator, and is now doing a large business, and bought 30,000 
bushels of grain during September 1879. Mr. ROBERTS is a Republican, and a 
member in good standing of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, Ancient Free & Accepted 
Masons.



Biography of Vincent ROBERTS - pp 662-663 (father of David M. & George W.)

Vincent ROBERTS, farmer, and dealer in money, land, etc., Iron Ridge [Hubbard 
Township, Dodge County, Wisconsin], was born 10 March 1818 in Llanegryn [in 
the parish of Dolgelly], in Meironythshire [Merionethshire; the shire 
(county) of Merioneth], North Wales. In his parents emigrated to Oneida 
County, New York, where he was educated, learning the trade of carpenter of 
his father. [Records for this ROBERTS family should be found in the 
Merioneth records (which include five parishes) in those for the parish of 
Llanegryn, which are said to include baptisms, marriages, and burials back to 
1723. The land around Llanegryn is historically described as rugged and 
primarily used for raising sheep.]

On 28 December 1842 he [Vincent ROBERTS] married Miss Ann JONES, who was born 
03 February 1822 in Marcy, Oneida County, New York. In May 1845 he removed 
with his wife and eldest son, William, to a farm in [the Township of] Emmet 
[in southern] Dodge County, [Territory of] Wisconsin. [Emmet Township 
contains the border community of Watertown, which lies partly in Jefferson 
County.] Here [Emmet Township, Dodge County] his second and third sons, John 
and Vincent, were born. In May 1848 he [Vincent ROBERTS, the subject] 
settled on his present farm. [Wisconsin became a State on 29 May 1848. Thus 
the children, John and Vincent, may have been born in the Territory of 
Wisconsin.] 

He [Vincent ROBERTS the father] bought heavily timbered land of a "squatter" 
and did real pioneer work in chopping and clearing, living the first summer 
in a small log shanty. He began with 80 acres, and now has 260 acres of 
well-improved land with the best of buildings. He also owns 90 acres on 
Section 17 [also in Emmet Township?], and village lots in Iron Ridge [Hubbard 
Township] and Juneau [Oak Grove Township].

Mr. [Vincent] ROBERTS has always been a stanch Republican. He was 
commissioned Notary Public by Nelson DEWEY, the first Governor of Wisconsin, 
and now holds such commission for every succeeding Governor. With no chance 
for election in his Democratic district, he has been four times the 
Republican candidate for the Legislature. Mr. ROBERTS was Town Clerk many 
years, collecting and arranging the original town records, has been Assessor 
and Supervisor, was Highway Commissioner in 1847, and has been Justice of the 
Peace about fifteen years.

His seven oldest children [the children of Vincent and Ann (JONES) ROBERTS] 
are sons, and his three youngest are daughters. The seven youngest [three 
daughters and four sons] were born on the homestead [in Emmet Township, Dodge 
County, Wisconsin], and all reside in the county. [The children's names 
are]: (1) William, the oldest, an engineer; (2) John, a livestock [p 663] 
dealer; (3) Vincent, a confirmed invalid; (4) David M., who owns the Iron 
Ridge Elevator; (5) George W., who owns the Mayville Elevator; (6) Adam C., 
in company with John; and (7) Watson, who is in charge of the homestead, 
where he lives with his father, mother and [three] sisters: (8) Lydia A., 
(9) Mary, and (10) Lovina. Mr. ROBERTS may fairly be called a successful 
pioneer farmer of the county, and is closely identified with its history and 
progress. [Numbers added by submitter and do not necessarily indicate order 
of birth.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly