Our Bobbitt Family Genealogy

Husband: William Pearson ROBERTS

Born: 23 JAN 1831 in Schuyler Co., IL Died: 16 JUL 1917 in Sangamon Co., IL Father: Mother: Spouses:

Wife: Nancy Elizabeth BOYD

Born: 12 MAR 1841 in Morgan Co., IL Died: 19 DEC 1930 in Sangamon Co., IL Father: Milton A. BOYD Mother: Mary Elizabeth "Polly" BOBBITT Spouses:

Children

01 (M): Joseph D. ROBERTS Born: 08 JUL 1859 in Macon, or Sangamon Co., IL Died: 11 JUL 1864 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Spouses:

02 (F): Mary Ann ROBERTS Born: 17 MAY 1861 in Sangamon Co., IL Died: 11 JAN 1936 in Mosquito Twp., Christian Co., IL (1) Spouses: William J. KAYLOR

03 (F): Emma Francis ROBERTS Born: 29 APR 1863 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Died: 20 AUG 1879 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Spouses:

04 (F): Martha Ellen ROBERTS Born: 09 OCT 1864 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Died: 11 APR 1883 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Spouses:

05 (F): Tempa Florence ROBERTS Born: 19 MAR 1867 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Died: 06 AUG 1939 Spouses: Alva JEFFORDS

06 (F): Ida Belle ROBERTS Born: 06 NOV 1868 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Died: 23 AUG 1946 Spouses: Martin Edward BAKER

07 (M): George H. ROBERTS Born: 26 FEB 1871 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Died: 08 MAR 1944 Spouses: Sophia M. KNICKREHM

08 (M): Harvey Crittendon ROBERTS Born: 14 MAY 1874 in Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Died: 06 MAR 1950 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., IL Spouses: Laura Belle TURNER

09 (F): Infant ROBERTS Born: 19 DEC 1880 in Sangamon Co., IL Died: 19 DEC 1880 in Sangamon Co., IL Spouses:

William Pearson ROBERTS:

Notes:
1900 Illiopolis, Sangamon Co., IL Census: (next door to Wm. Kaylor family)
#146/146 ROBERTS, William, head, 67, marr 42 yrs, IL NC KY
Nancy 57, marr 42 years, 10 child 5 living, IL KY KY
Belle I 34?, dau, single IL IL IL
Geo. H, 27, son, single IL IL IL

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS - HISTORY OF ILLINOIS Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company - 1881.
Page 928
WM. P. ROBERTS was born January 23, 1831, in Schuyler County, Illinois; his father, Norman Roberts, was born October 19, 1800, in South Carolina, and emigrated to Georgia, when quite a boy, from Georgia to Kentucky, and from Kentucky to Indiana, and from thence to Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1830, and removed to Sangamon county 1853; engaged mostly in farming, but traded some on Ohio river from Newbery, Indiana, to New Orleans; is now living with his son, Wm. P. Roberts; was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln when a boy. Mother's name before marriage was Temperance Lockhart, born in Washington county, Kentucky, November 17, 1796, died September 28, 1839. Grandfather Joseph Roberts was born in Virginia, and died in Gibson county, Indiana; accidental death by gunshot. Norman Roberts was twice married; by his first wife were born seven children, (married June 13, 1821,) viz: Mary Ann, Betsy Monroe, Amanda Jane, Martha Ellen, Wm. P., Hannah and Joseph; Mary Ann and Joseph are dead. Norman Roberts was married second time to Mrs. Lockhart, September 18, 1840, to whom were born four children, viz: John W., Norman B., Thomas J., and Madeline; all of whom are now living. Wm. P., the subject of this biography, in early life lived with his father, and followed farming; was educated in the common schools of Warwick county, Indiana, school house built of logs, and ground floor; emigrated to Sangamon county, Illinois, February 12, 1852; was married January 28, 1858 to Miss Nancy E. Boyd, of Macon county, Illinois. The family consists of nine children, viz: Joseph D., born July 14, 1859, and died July 11, 1864; Mary Ann born May 17, 1861; Emma F., born April 27, 1863, died August 20, 1879; Martha E., born October 9, 1864; Tempa Florence, born March 19, 1867; Ida Belle, born November 16, 1868; George H., born February 26, 1871; Harvey C., born May 4, 1873; an infant died December 19, 1880. Mr. Roberts has two hundred and ten acres of land adjoining Illiopolis under a high state of cultivation, is regarded as a first class farmer; has a nice residence; his family are taking an interest in education and music; has been a member of the Christian Church twenty-seven years; his motto in religion as, in everything else, is "go slow, be sure".

***********************
1904 Past and Present of Springfield and Sangamon County, IL by Jos. Wallace, pub by S. J. Clarke & Co, Chicago.

Page 1188: (includes a family photo)
WILLIAM P. ROBERTS - William P. Roberts is numbered among the
substantial farmers of Sangamon county, owning a valuable tract of three
hundred and forty acres of land adjoining Illiopolis. He makes his home on
this place, giving his personal supervision to the management of his
agricultural interests. The desirability of Illinois as a place of residence is
indicated by the fact that so many of her native sons have continued to
remain within her borders, becoming active factors in business life here.
Among this number is Mr. Roberts, whose birth occurred in what is now
Brown county, Illinois, January 23, 1831. His father, Norman Roberts, was
born North Carolina, October 19, 1800. The grandfather, Joseph Roberts,
was a native of Virginia and was of English ancestry. He removed with his
family from the Old Dominion to North Carolina and thence to Kentucky.
He remained in the latter state for a few years and then went to Gibson
county, Indiana, where Norman Roberts grew to manhood. There he was
married to Temperance Lockhart and they resided in Gibson county for a
number of years, coming thence to Illinois in 1830. They settled first in what
is now Brown county, but in the fall of 1831 they removed to Warwick
county, Indiana, locating on a farm, where the death of Mrs. Roberts soon
afterward occurred.

William P. Roberts, of this review, was reared upon a farm in Indiana,
acquiring his education in the public schools there. When a young man be
returned to Illinois, arriving, in Sangamon county on the 12th of February
in 1852. Here he worked by the month for two years. For two weeks he was
employed at splitting rails for his board and then secured a position as a
farm laborer. Subsequently he managed to become the possessor of a
breaking team, and engaged in breaking prairie for six years. It was thus
that he got his start in life. On the expiration of that period be rented forty
acres of land and commenced farming on his own account. In the fall of the
same year, however, he secured employment on the construction of the old
Western Railroad, which is now a part of the Wabash system, and the
following year he again devoted his energies to breaking prairie.

On the 28th of January, 1858, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Nancy E.
Boyd, a native of Morgan county, Illinois. Prior to his marriage he had
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 5, Illiopolis
township, and of this he retained eighty acres, upon which he built a home
and then turned his attention to the development of a good farm. He sold
one-half of his quarter section, but transformed the other half into a very
desirable property, improved with good buildings, while his fields were
placed under a high state of cultivation. As his financial resources increased
he made other investments from time to time, and he now owns three
hundred and forty acres, constituting a well-improved farm adjoining the
corporate limits of Illiopolis. There he carried on agricultural pursuits from
June 10, 1858, until November 10, 1902, and during that time success
attended his efforts. He built substantial barns and sheds, erected a good
residence, tiled and fenced his place and planted an orchard. In connection
with the cultivation of the fields he also engaged in the raising and feeding of
cattle, hogs and making more of a specialty, however, of hogs and cattle. He
still gives his supervision to his farm and is accounted one of the enterprising
agriculturists of this part of the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have
been born five children who are yet living and four who have passed away.
Those who survive are: Mary Ann, wife of William J. Kaylor, a farmer of
Illiopolis township; Temperance, the wife of Alva Jefford, of Illiopolis; Ida
Belle, at home; George H., who is married and resides on the old
homestead; and Harvey C., who is married and follows farming near
Illiopolis. Those who have passed away are: Joseph D., who died at the age
of five years; Emma Frances, at the age of sixteen years; Ellen, at the age of
eighteen; and one that died in infancy.

Politically Mr. Roberts is a stanch Democrat and his first presidential vote
was cast for Pierce in 1852. He and his wife are members of the Christian
church, belonging to Long Point church, in Macon county. He has been a
resident of Sangamon county during the greater part of his life and is
numbered among its active and successful farmers, for by his own labor and
enterprise he has accumulated a large and valuable property and good
home. He is an honest man who has the confidence and good will of all who
know him.
------------------------
1912 - HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
published by Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago

Page 1569
ROBERTS, William P. - In these days of high land values, a man is wealthy who owns plenty of Sangamon County rich acreage, and when it has been accummulated through his own individual effort, he can well afford to retire and live free from the cares of business during his declining years. Illiopolis is the home of a number of retired farmers of this class, among whom is William P. Roberts. He was born in Schuyler County, Ill., January 23, 1831, a son of Norman and Temperance (Lockhart) Roberts, born in South Carolina, October 19, 1800, and Washington County, Ky., respectively.The granddfather Joseph Roberts was born in Virginia, but after several changes, died in Gibson County, Ind., being accidentally killed by a gun shot.
Norman Roberts went in boyhood from South Carolina to Georgia, thence to Kentucky and from there to Indiana. He traded to some extent on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, going as far as New Orleans, but eventually went to Schuyler County in 1830, and from there to Warrick County, Ind., in 1831. In 1852, he came to Sangamon County to engage in farming. Finally he went o Macon County, Ill., where he died, near Niantic, in 1890. He was twice married, the first ceremony occurring June 13, 1821, and his first wife, Temperance Lockhart, bore him seven children of whom William P. Roberts was one. His second wife, whom he married September 18, 1840, was Mrs. Opha (Whittinghill) Lockhart. To this union four children were born. Her husband, James Lockhart, was a brother of the first Mrs. Roberts. The second Mrs. Roberts died February 6, 1870, ages sixy-three years, seven months and twenty-nine days.
William P. Roberts went to the typical log school of his period, sitting on slab benches and laboring under the usual number of disadvantages incident to that period, but he managed to lay a good foundation for a solid education that has been of practical value to him. coming to Sangamon County with his father, he has made it his home ever since, and was a farmer of whom the State may be well proud. Until 1902, he operated his fine 340 acre farm in Illiopolis township, but in that year he retired, still owning his farm, which is just a few feet east of the town line of Illiopolis.
On January 28, 1858, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Rev. Nathaniel G. Averitt, in Macon County, Ill., to Nancy E. Boyd, born in Morgan County, Ill., March 12, 1841. Her father became one of the early settlers of Macon County, later removing to Missouri, he being Milton Boyd, and his wife bore the name of Polly Bobbitt before her marriage to him. Mr. Boyd was born in Kentucky, October 15, 1809, while his wife ws born in Missouri. Mr. Boyd came to Sangamon County, but his last days were spent in southwestern Missouri where he died, February 5, 1898.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, five of whom survive: Mary A., wife of William J. Kaylor, living on a farm north of Illiopolis; Tampa Florence, wife of Alva Jeffords a farmer of Illiopolis township; Ida B., wife of Edward Baker, a farmer of Illiopolis Township; George H., a farmer of the same township, as is Harvey C., who also conducts the Farmers' Elevator Co. There are nineteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren in the family.
Mr. Roberts is a consistent member of the Christian Church to which he accords a hearty support. As a Democrat, he has conscientiously cast his vote, and given his support to those measures which he believed were for the best interests of his community. All his life, Mr. Roberts has endevored to live according to his religous creed and is a true Christian man, hard working and thrifty, who knows how to save his money and invest it profitably. Such sound, practical farmers as he has been, are a welcome addition to any communty, and his success not only reflects credit on him, but advances the standing of his locality, and encourages others to follow his example, and by earnest endeavor place themselves beyond the fear of poverty in their old age.
--------------------
1910 Sangamon Co. IL Census, Illiopolis Twp.
ROBERTS, William P., head, 79 married 52 years, b IL, father b NC, mother b. KY
Nancy E., wife, 69, married 52 years, 9 children, 5 living, b IL, father b KY, mother b MO

(01) Joseph D. ROBERTS:

(03) Emma Francis ROBERTS:

(04) Martha Ellen ROBERTS:

(09) Infant ROBERTS:

Marriage Notes



As with any research or transcribed records, errors could have been made. Please contact the author if verification of errors can be proved.

Revised: April 29, 2004
Copyright © 2004 Mary Ann Kaylor. All rights reserved.