Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 819. ANDREW ROBERTS The subject of this sketch was born at Dundee in the county of Forfar, Scotland, August 12, 1821. He was the youngest son of David Roberts, of Bonaboal, a linen manufacturer and descendant of a Huguenot family who were driven from their home in Picardy owing the religious persecution which followed upon the revocation by Louis XIV, on October 18, 1685, of the edict of Nantes. The father of Andrew Roberts, born December 16, 1784, married Janet Arkley, a daughter of James Arkley, of Nether-Muir. They had three sons, the youngest being Andrew, who was left an orphan at the age of two years. He was adopted by a relative who brought him up under the strictest rules of the Presbyterian faith. Passing the early years of his life on a farm on the banks of Loch Fithie, he attended school until apprenticed to his brother David, who was in business in Forfar and a deacon of his corporation. In 1842 he took passage on the ship Norfolk for New York, where he was in business for nine years. Mr. Roberts was married in 1847 to Sarah Elizabeth Vandenhoof. In 1851, with his wife and son he sailed for San Francisco by way of Chagres and Panama (the old isthmus route) up the Chagres river to Gorgona and thence by mule across the portage to Panama, where they were detained until the arrival of the steamer Columbia on her way out from New York to take her place on the route between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. Reaching San Francisco Mr. Roberts rented a store on Clay street near the postoffice but soon after moved to Merchant street, where the May fire destroyed the building but he succeeded in saving a large portion of his goods. Another store was soon built on the ruins of the old one, which he kept until the June fire, 1852, when he was again burned out, losing everything. Soon after he met Patrick Raleigh and on his advice he moved to Portland, where they formed a co-partnership which continued until the fall of 1854. He then moved to Corvallis, then called Marysville, where he carried on a general merchandise business under the firm name of Roberts & Holgate. In 1866 he returned to Portland and engaged in the manufacture of clothing. In 1871 the firm of Fishel & Roberts was established, which became the leading clothing establishment in Portland. In 1882 Mr. Fishel retired and Mr. Roberts conducted the business alone until 1888, when he associated with him his son-in-law Philip S. Malcolm, who was married to his only daughter, but business still continuing under the name of A. Roberts until his death, August 24, 1898. Mr. Roberts lost his wife in 1866 and his only son was drowned on the 4th of June, 1872. These bereavements sorely afflicted him. Mr. Roberts was an enthusiastic Mason. He filled high offices in the various branches of the order and received the thirty-third degree for long and faithful service. As merchant, citizen and man he was universally respected in the community where he had so long lived. He never sought office nor publicity and much of his life was employed in unostentatiously bestowing charities and doing deeds of kindness for his fellowmen. Transcriber's additional notes Census: 1850, Aug. 12; Kings Co, NY; Williamsburgh, p 397 Andrew Roberts, 24, Scotland, tailor Sarah, 24, NY Peter, 1, NY Julia, 20, Ireland next family: Mary Vanderhoff, 52, NJ Peter, 55, NJ, letter carrier James, 13, NY, att. school Caroline, 10, NY, att. school Miss Scribner, 34, NY 1860, June 8; Benton Co, OR; Corvallis, p 8 Andrew Roberts, 36, Scotland, merchant, $2128 real estate/$2500 pers. prop. Peter, 10, NY, att. school Sarah E, 6, OR, att. school ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.