Person:Allen Roberts (5)

Research Notes

• Was born while the family was living on the farm of Ohio Governor Duncan McArthur.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 .

   [Source: Clipping from unknown newspaper found (Jul 2011 by cos1776) in Portland, IN Library's Indiana Room. Hand dated 2 Feb 1911.]
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   ALLEN W. ROBERTS - For more than sixty years, there was, perhaps, no person in Richland township who was better known than was Allen W. Roberts. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, February 25, 1827. He came with his parents to Indiana in 1841, and settled two miles northwest of Redkey. His education was obtained in the rude pioneer schools, which awakened within him a thirst for knowledge, and he became a life-long student. He was greatly interested in the study of nature. He delighted in astronomy. He was a lover of philosophy' and a dilligent student of the Bible. In his boyhood he early developed a taste for hunting, and became an expert marksman. He spent much time in roaming through primeval forests, which he loved and in whose solitudes he found companionship.
   
   In those early times, the people of Jay and the surrounding counties were terrorized by stories of the "great serpent." Few indeed were there why saw it; and imagination perhaps, added much to its size and terrors. It was described as being more than thirty feet in length; but Mr. roberts, who had been one of the few who had had an opportunity of looking upon its mighty coils, declared that he did not believe that it was more than twenty-six feet long. It was never killed, and what became of it was never known. In regard to it, the people of this skeptical and incredulous generation seem to be divided in their opinions.
   
   Allen Roberts was a soldier of the Civil war, and did valiant service for his country as a member of the One Hundred Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. During the Atlanta campaign he was day after day under heavy fire, and at Lovejoy's Station his arm was completely shattered by a shell from Confederate mortars.
   
   He was married three times. His first wife was Mary Bray. After the war he married for his third wife, in 1865, Mary E. Blackburn. He engaged in the grocery business and for a number of years conducted a store in Redkey. He afterwards became pumper at the Panhandle water tank, which position he held for many years. The water was then pumped by horse power.
   
   Every pioneer neighborhood of importance conducted a "literary" or debating society. These meetings were held weekly at the school houses during the winters, and were of very great social and educational importance. We have sent to the legislature some of the men who were trained in debating and the usages of Parlimentary law in these back woods societies. Allen roberts was one of the leaders in these training schools of the pioneers, and some of his eloquent flights of oratory are still recalled with pleasure by the old time members, a few of whom yet remain.
   
   In the early '70s, when Redkey was but a village of some two hundred inhabitants Mr. Roberts and Dr. R. P. Davis each built a new residence. The Roberts house is the second house south of the Bank of Redkey, in which Mrs. Slick now lives. The Davis property is just south across the alley. The houses at that time were of the same plan and nearly alike. there was a considerable amount of friendly rivalry betweent the two men as to which should be considered as having the finer house. Each wshed to win the verdict of the popular opinion for his building. Mr. Roberts was teaching a Sunday-school class of boys. One day he came before the class with the question, "Well boys, who has the finest house in town?" Full and clear rang out the answer in concert, "Dr. Davis!" The result was somewhat disappointing, but had to be accepted. "Well," said he, "I presume that is correct, but who has the next finest?" Again rang out the united voices in an answer that could be heard all over the church, "Allen Roberts!" "That is right, " said the teacher; and then the Sunday school lesson went on.
   
   On one occassion in his early manhood he was badly frightened. He was riding after night along a lonely road when his horse suddenly became greatly frightened. The night was not very dark and he could see beside the road a strange creature. It seemed to be somewhat smaller than a cow. Fringe seemed to hang from its sides almost to the ground as if it were something with a shawl thrown over its body (which indeed, he afterwards suspicioned it of being.) As the rearing, plunging horse moved forward, it also moved forward. Allen was a religious man but the thought suddenly came to him that he must swear. He was trembling with fright, but he turned to the creature and exclaimed, "D-d-d-d-d--n you, I am not aftaid of you!" His horse sprang forward and with a mad rush carried him away from the object of his fright. Allen lived to a ripe old age, but through all the remaining years of more than half a century, he regretted that he had sworn that one oath of his lifetime.

2. ↑ Jay, Indiana, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M432).

   Year: 1850; Census Place: Richland, Jay, Indiana; Roll: M432_153; Page: 358B; Image: 165.
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   Name: Allen M Roberts Age: 24 Birth Year: abt 1826 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1850: Richland, Jay, Indiana Gender: Male Family Number: 57

   
3. ↑ Roberts, Allen W., in Indiana. Adjutant General's Office. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1865-1869)
   7:299.

   INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. ENLISTED MEN OF COMPANY "H."
   Name and Rank: Roberts, Allen W.
   Residence: Halfway
   Date of Muster, 1864: March 10
   Remarks: Discharged. [no date given]
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   [cos1776 note: There were a lot of young men who served from Halfway with Allen W. Roberts, including Amos Hall whose brother Thomas Hall married Allen's cousin Emily Sutton.]

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 19915410, in Find A Grave
   [Includes headstone photo].
5. ↑ Jay, Indiana, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M693).

   Year: 1860; Census Place: Richland, Jay, Indiana; Roll: M653_269; Page: 106; Image: 106; Family History Library Film: 803269.
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   Name: Allen Roberts
   Age in 1860: 33
   Birth Year: abt 1827
   Birthplace: Ohio
   Home in 1860: Richland, Jay, Indiana
   Gender: Male
   Post Office: Quincy and Halfway
   Household Members: Name Age
   Allen Roberts 33
   Mary Roberts 29
   Mary E Roberts 5/12

6. ↑ Jay, Indiana, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M593).

   Year: 1870; Census Place: Richland, Jay, Indiana; Roll: M593_327; Page: 154A; Image: 311; Family History Library Film: 545826.
   -----
   Name: Allen W Roberts
   Age in 1870: 33
   Birth Year: abt 1837
   Birthplace: Ohio
   Home in 1870: Richland, Jay, Indiana
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Post Office: Red Key
   Household Members: Name Age
   Allen W Roberts 33
   Mary Roberts 22
   Mary E Roberts 10
   William E Roberts 2

7. ↑ Jay, Indiana, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T9).

   Year: 1880; Census Place: Red Key, Jay, Indiana; Roll: 287; Family History Film: 1254287; Page: 493B; Enumeration District: 158; Image: 0293.
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   Name: Allen W. Roberts
   Age: 53
   Birth Year: abt 1827
   Birthplace: Ohio
   Home in 1880: Red Key, Jay, Indiana
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
   Marital Status: Married
   Spouse's Name: Mary Roberts
   Father's Birthplace: Virginia
   Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
   Occupation: Keeps Water Tank Rr
   Cannot read/write:
   Household Members: Name Age
   Allen W. Roberts 53
   Mary Roberts 33
   Byrd Roberts 7

8. ↑ Jay, Indiana, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T623).

   Year: 1900; Census Place: Richland, Jay, Indiana; Roll: 380; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0070; FHL microfilm: 1240380.
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   Name: Allen W Roberto [Allen W Roberts]
   Age: 73
   Birth Date: Feb 1827
   Birthplace: Ohio
   Home in 1900: Richland, Jay, Indiana
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Father in Law
   Marital Status: Widowed
   Father's Birthplace: Maryland
   Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
   Household Members: Name Age
   George W Campbell 46
   Elizabeth Campbell 40
   Mamie Campbell 12
   Madge A Campbell 7
   Allen W Roberto 73

9. ↑ Indiana, United States. Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920: [database on-line]. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2004).

   Name: Allen W. Roberts
   Date: 27 Jan 1905
   Location: Redkey
   Age: 77 Yr
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Source Location: County Health Office, Portland
   Source notes: The source of this record is the book H-5 on page 29 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration.

10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 .

    Indiana Archives and Records Administration Ancestry.com. Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. [1]
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    Name: Allen W Roberts
    Gender: Male
    Race: White
    Age: 77
    Birth Date: 25 Feb 1827
    Birth Place: Green Co Ohio
    Death Date: 27 Jan 1905
    Death Place: Redkey, Jay, Indiana, USA
    Marital Status: Widowed
    Spouse: Mary E Roberts
    Father: Samuel Roberts
    Mother: Hannah Davis