I love big families! This is a long one, though. Stay hydrated! ❤️
- William Eppie Roberts (1884-1960)
- Wesley Everett Roberts (d. young)
- Milas Sylvester Roberts (1886-1960)
- Pearl Lavinia Roberts (d. young)
- Linus H. Roberts (1890-1976)
- Early Clarence Roberts (1893-1965)
- Jettie Mae Roberts (1896-1976)
- Ray Ransom Roberts (1899-1966)
- Roy Albert Roberts (1902-1973)
- Clyde Edwin Roberts (1905-1979)
- Bessie Marie Roberts (1908-1989)
I have found plenty of evidence that Martha indeed had eleven children, and I have been able to name all nine that survived to adulthood. The names of the two who died in infancy come from Brenda Johnson, granddaughter of Bessie Marie Roberts Thoma Cobb.
William Eppie Roberts
In March 1904, William married Minnie B. Mungle (d. 1953) in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The couple had at least three children: Freida, Helen (1919-1986), and William George (1922-2002).
By 1910, the elder William and Minnie were located in Fresno County, California, where he worked for the Union Oil Company, possibly as a pumper.
When William registered for the draft in 1942, it was noted he was paralyzed on his right side. By that time, he and Minnie were in San Luis Obispo County, California. William died there 7 November 1960 and was laid to rest in Atascadero Pine Mountain Cemetery.
Milas Sylvestor Roberts
I've often seen his first name spelled as Miles, but do think Milas is correct. Even though the former spelling is on his gravestone.
Milas was born 27 October 1886 at Marble Hill, Bollinger County, Missouri. He married Mary E. Wood (d. 1974) in Fresno County, California on Christmas Eve 1910. The couple had at least five children. Four of them were Freeland Sylvester (1911-1995), Robert E., Donna (1923-2003), and Beverly Jean (1935-2022).
Milas, like William, went West and entered the oil industry. The January 1920 U.S. Federal census records him in Coleman County, Texas. City directories put him back in Fresno County, California by 1928. His occupation in April 1950, at the age of 63, is noted as "Gauger, Oil Fields."
Milas died 25 August 1960 in Fresno County. Burial was in Grangeville Cemetery at Armona, Kings County, California.
I'm fairly certain Linus's middle name was Hezekiah, though I've yet to find that exact spelling in any of the records accessed. He was born 14 April 1890 in Whitewater, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
Linus and Octa had two children, William Dorris (1914-1983) and Dorothy Beatrice (b. 1918), before my great-aunt died at just 40 years old. Linus later married Julia A. Phillips Hart (1882-1973).
Like his two older brothers before him, Linus went West to California and made his living as an oil worker. He and Octa were located in Fresno County by 1916. Linus might've retired from the oil industry sometime after 1942, though. The 1950 Fresno County, California Federal census noted his occupation as "Farmer."
Linus died in Fresno County 17 August 1976. Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery.
Early Clarence Roberts
Early Clarence "Earl" Roberts was born October 1893 in Scott County, Missouri. Though I have yet been unable to locate him in 1920 or 1930 census records, a 1934 marriage record puts Early in Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon. (He, too, went West.) Klamath Falls is just ten miles from the California - Oregon border, but more than 500 miles from where his three older brothers settled.
Early Clarence "Earl" Roberts was born October 1893 in Scott County, Missouri. Though I have yet been unable to locate him in 1920 or 1930 census records, a 1934 marriage record puts Early in Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon. (He, too, went West.) Klamath Falls is just ten miles from the California - Oregon border, but more than 500 miles from where his three older brothers settled.
The woman Early married was Colorado native Anona G. (Roper) Voorhes. The couple had no children.
On his 1917 World War I draft registration card, Early was described as short and slender with black hair. Though he followed his brothers West, Early was not an oil man. Instead, he was a mill and factory worker.
Earl died 21 October 1965 in Klamath Falls at the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital. Cause of death was respiratory failure and shock due to 3rd-degree burns on over 90% of his body. A niece notes that Early died in a house fire.
Ray Ransom Roberts
Ray was born 27 March 1899 in Chaffee, Scott County, Missouri. In 1920, he married Iva D. Nothdurft (1901-1993) in Cape Girardeau County. The couple had at least four children: Kathleen Linett (1921-1999), Wilda (1923-1983), Donald R. (1932-2020), and Arlan L. (1935-2019).
By 1930, Ray was working at the shoe factory in Cape Girardeau, and possibly remained occupied there for more than thirty years. The five-story building was located on Main Street, just a couple blocks from the Mississippi River. From the Southeast Missourian archive: "In 1935, International was making about 12 million pairs of shoes a year with a peak workforce of 1600...The building was abandoned in 1984 and demolished in 1990."
Roy Albert Roberts
Roy was born April 1902 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. At age 22, he married Ella Dee Devore (d. 1979). The couple had at least four children, two of them being Arthur I. (1925-1980) and Virgie E. (1931-2013).
Roy moved his family to St. Louis, Missouri shortly after 1940, where he engaged in factory work for a time. Roy died in St. Louis 30 November 1973. Burial was in Fee Fee Cemetery.
Clyde Edwin Roberts
Clyde was born 11 July 1905 in Whitewater, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In February 1925, he married Robbie Lee Johnson (1909-2005). The couple had at least four children. Three of them were Jessie Marie (1928-1974), Paul Edwin (1929-2013), and Mildred Geraldine (1934-2005).
Clyde Edwin Roberts died at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau 15 September 1979. Burial was in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery. Per his obituary, Clyde was employed by the aforementioned International Shoe Co. for 8 years.
Bessie Marie Roberts
The last child born to Justus and Martha Roberts was Bessie Marie. She came into the world on 4 September 1908. At age 17, with her father's consent, Bessie married Otto A. Thoma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Thoma. The young couple had one child.
After marriage, Otto obtained a diploma from the National Radio Institute. Then he and Bessie moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Otto worked as a radio electrician. In 1934, Otto's father died and the young Thoma family returned home to Cape Girardeau County, Missouri so Otto could take over his father's farm. Less than two years after the death of Adam Thoma, Otto, too, was dead.
Thursday, 17 October 1935, pg. 1 [via Newspapers.com]
STRANGE ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
Otto A. Thoma Found Dead in Field, Supposedly Overcome by Tractor Fumes.
Otto A. Thoma, youngest son of the late Adam Thoma of Welch township, was found dead early Friday morning in a field by the side of a tractor, which he had driven all night in preparing land for wheat sowing. The motor was still running. The discovery was made by Henry Keller, who had come to relieve Thoma in operating the machine. Dr. Davault of Allenville and Dr. Haskell, medical officer at the CCC camp in that vicinity, were called but could do nothing aside from stating that death had ensued. Coroner Moore was called and after investigating the circumstances, decided that death was caused by monoxide gas. Such gas poisoning cases in closed buildings are not uncommon, but we never heard of a fatality resulting in the open. However, it may be that the unfortunate man, worn out from the night's work, got off the tractor and sat down on the ground, perhaps went to sleep, with the exhaust close to his face, the fumes being driven towards his mouth by wind. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at Trinity M. E. church near Round Pond, of which his father was one of the founders, Rev. G. A. Prietz of Gordonville conducting the services.
Deceased was the youngest son of his parents, and after the death of his father he came home from St. Louis, where he had been in the electrical business, to take charge of the home farm, as his two brothers had farms of their own, close by. He was 32 years old, married, and leaves his wife, a young daughter, his mother and two brothers, Henry and John.
About five years after Otto's passing, on 21 September 1940, Bessie married John Albert Cobb (b. 1906). She would bury her second husband 17 years later. John's death came just 9 days before he and Bessie's wedding anniversary.
Bessie remained in Cape Girardeau County for at least a couple more decades. She died at age 80 on 14 July 1989 at Bond Nursing Home in Lutesville, Bollinger County, Missouri. Burial was beside husband John Albert in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.
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| Image by Ruth Smith (2015). |
