WI BIO - LaCrosse Co - ROBERTS, Evan

Biographical History of LaCrosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, 
Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis, 1892, vol II, p 378

Evan ROBERTS, dealer in grain, lumber, building material, machinery, real 
estate, and livestock, and also proprietor of a grain elevator, Bangor 
[Bangor Township, La Crosse County, Wisconsin], one of the pioneers of La 
Crosse County, was born 19 May 1834 in North Wales, son of Evan ROBERTS, 
deceased, also born in Wales. The father brought his family to the United 
States in 1851, settling near Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin, after 
which in 1852 he came to Bostwick valley [near Bostwick Creek], LaCrosse 
County, in what is now Barry [Barre] Township, eight miles east of La Crosse. 
It was then wild and inhabited mostly by Indians and wild animals.

Evan ROBERTS went to La Crosse in 1856, and was engaged in freighting until 
1858, when he returned and rented the homestead two years, after which he 
bought a farm in Bostwick valley and remained there twelve years. He then 
came to Bangor [Bangor Township, La Crosse County], and the second year here 
he bought the Bangor flouring mill, which he operated three or four years, 
and during this time he established a lumber yard and built elevators. He 
began dealing in stock about ten years ago [text published 1892, thus about 
1882], and now does a large business. He has held the office of Constable, 
Justice of the Peace, was Chairman of the Board one year, and has been a 
member of the School Board for the past 15 years, and is now serving his 
sixth term as Director of the board, of which he was also Treasurer several 
years.

On 09 May 1858 Mr. [Evan] ROBERTS was married to [his first wife] Mary 
PIERCE, a daughter of Richard PIERCE, deceased. They [Evan and Mary (PIERCE) 
ROBERTS] had three children: Mary, Jane, and Frank. The mother [Mary 
(PIERCE) ROBERTS] died 09 October 1869. On 23 February 1871, the father 
[Evan ROBERTS] married [his second wife] Jane MORRIS [a maiden name?], and 
they [Evan and Jane ROBERTS] had two children: Hugh E., and Luther J. [The 
second] Mrs. [Evan] ROBERTS [Jane] died 23 January 1886. In April 1890 he 
[Evan ROBERTS] was again married, to [his third wife] Mrs. Maggie E. JONES. 
She had one son by her first marriage, Vaughn E. [JONES].

Submitted by Cathy Kubly