WI BIO - Kenosha Co - ROBERTS, Robert F.

History of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Chicago: Clarke 
Publishing, 1916, vol II, pp 705-707

Robert F. ROBERTS [Bristol Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, now 
deceased], was born 03 August 1833 in Pembrokeshire, Wales, but was only a 
year old when the family removed to England. He spent his boyhood in Leister 
up to the time when he came with his parents to American when a youth of 
eleven years. He continued with the family in Canada until his seventeenth 
year, when a removal was made to Wisconsin, and the remainder of his minority 
was spent upon his father's farm in Bristol township [formerly in Racine 
County, but in Kenosha County after its creation 26 January 1850]. He later 
resided for four years in Racine [Racine County, Wisconsin], but at the end 
of that period returned to the old homestead, devoting his days to general 
agricultural pursuits. He owned the home property, consisting of eighty 
acres, to which he added until he owned a farm of 175 acres. In 1885 he 
erected an attractive residence on his farm near Woodworth Station [Bristol 
Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin], where he [Robert F. ROBERTS] lived 
until his death, which occurred in 1907.

On 09 October 1860 Robert F. ROBERTS married Miss Mary Ann MOORE, a daughter 
of William and Sarah (MAUD) MOORE, who were born in Yorkshire, England, and 
in 1848 settled at Kenosha. [p 706] After a few months they removed to Oak 
Creek, now South Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, Wisconsin], the family 
remaining there for five years. The father [William MOORE] died of cholera 
in 1854, and the following year the mother with her seven children went to 
Racine. Mrs. [Sarah nee MAUD] MOORE passed away at the home of her 
daughter, Mrs. [Robert F.] ROBERTS, in May 1905, when eighty-four years of 
age.

Her children [the children of William and Sarah (MAUD) MOORE] were: (1) 
Mrs. Mary A. ROBERTS; (2) William; (3) Martha Elizabeth, the wife of 
Emilius ENOS; (4) Jennie, the wife of Dr. C. N. HAZLETON; (5) John Henry; 
(6) Bessie, the widow of George HOUSAM; and (7) Emma, who died at the age 
of fourteen. The father of this family [William MOORE] was a machinist by 
trade, as was his father, John MOORE, who died at Oak Creek, Wisconsin, when 
about sixty-five years of age.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Robert F. ROBERTS [Mary Ann nee MOORE] was 
William MAUD, a native of Yorkshire, England, who there engaged in the 
manufacture of fine dress goods. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
ROBERTS [Robert F. and Mary Ann (MOORE) ROBERTS] took up their abode upon the 
farm and they traveled life's journey happily together until they were 
separated by death, Mr. [Robert F.] ROBERTS passing away 25 April 1907, when 
he was about seventy-five years of age. He belonged to the Congregational 
church, of which Mrs. [Mary Ann] ROBERTS was also a member. She [Mrs. Mary 
Ann (MOORE) ROBERTS] died 11 April 1914.

The political allegiance of Mr. [Robert F.] ROBERTS was given to the 
Republican party, which found in him a stalwart advocate. In 1889 he was 
elected secretary of the Kenosha Old Settlers Society, to which his father 
[name him] also belonged, and for many years he occupied that position. He 
took an active interest in the upbuilding and advancement of that society. 
In 1904 his son Frank was elected assistant secretary and aided his father in 
efficiently carrying on the work of the position. Robert F. ROBERTS was 
indeed one of the valued and highly honored citizens of Kenosha county, where 
he lived for about six decades, his life being guided by high and honorable 
principles and characterized by many good deeds as well as by thorough 
reliability in business affairs.

To him and his wife [to Robert F. and Mary Ann (MOORE) ROBERTS] were born 
four children: (1) Franklin William; (2) Arnold Sumner, who died at the 
age of three years; (3) Frederick George, who passed away at the age of 
eighteen; and (4) Emma Marie, who died at the age of two years.

Franklin William ROBERTS, the only living representative among the four 
children, was born in Racine 21 January 1862, but from the age of four years 
has lived continuously upon the home farm in Bristol Township. He attended 
the common schools to the age of seventeen years and then concentrated his 
efforts upon the work of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He is 
today one of the leading agriculturists of this community, owning and 
cultivating a farm of more than 300 acres, in addition to which he conducts a 
hardware store and also deals in lumber and feed, being regarded as one of 
the enterprising and progressive citizens of his part of the county.

In 1906 Franklin William ROBERTS was married to Miss Maude S. BENEDICT, a 
daughter of Addison J. and Hattie L. (ADAMS) BENEDICT. Her father [Addison 
J. BENEDICT] was an early settler of this county, arriving here in 1841 from 
the State of New York. [Kenosha County was then part of Racine County, in 
the Territory of Wisconsin; the State of Wisconsin created 29 May 1848.] 
Mrs. BENEDICT became a resident of Lake County, Illinois, in 1847. Mr. and 
Mrs. [Franklin W.] ROBERTS have one child, Charles Addison, now attending 
district school and representing the 4th generation in the county.

Franklin William ROBERTS is a Republican in his political views, yet does not 
hesitate to cast an independent ballot if his judgment so dictates. He has 
served as a member of the town board [Bristol] and is interested in all that 
pertains to [p 707] the welfare and progress of his community. He belongs to 
the Congregational church and in its teachings finds the guiding spirit of 
his life. He follows the golden rule in his business as well as in his 
social relations and has made a record equally as creditable as those of his 
father and grandfather and has kept untarnished the family name. He is 
respected and honored by all who know him and most of all by those who know 
him best.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly