The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 687

REV. JOHN T. ROBERTS.

Rev. John T. Roberts, who since 1909 has made his home in Yakima, Washington,
having retired from the ministry, was for many years a helpful factor in the
Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was active in various parts of the
country. In this city he took up the line of fire insurance, opening offices in
the Yakima National Bank building, and he has ever since successfully followed
this vocation, being now in his seventieth year. A native of England, he was
born in Shropshire, March 22, 1848, a son of Timothy and Elizabeth (Phillips)
Roberts. The father passed away in England and in the '50s the mother crossed
the Atlantic with her three children and located in Utica, New York. In 1863 the
family removed to Auburn, that state, and there Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts passed
away in August, 1866.

John T. Roberts was the second child in this family, his older sister being
Elizabeth, who married George B. Lewis, a resident of Boulder, while his
younger sister, Rose, died in 1868. He received his education in the public
schools of Utica, New York, subsequently entering Cazenovia Seminary of that
state and later Hillsdale College of Michigan and also attending the
Northwestern University of Chicago. Of a studious nature and serious in the
pursuit of his lessons, he was able at the early age of sixteen to take up
teaching and thus employed himself at that age. There is great credit due him
for his efforts in gaining an education, as he provided the means to pursue his
college course entirely by his own labors, working as a clerk in a clothing
store in order to provide the necessary funds. During the Civil war he stood
loyally for the Union cause and his patriotic spirit is evident from the fact
that at the early age of sixteen, in the fall of 1864, he enlisted in Company E,
One Hundred and Ninety-second New York Regiment, serving as a drummer boy and
being mustered out in February, 1866. Subsequent to this Mr. Roberts taught
school during the winters and during the summers provided the means for his
subsistence by herding cattle. In 1868 he united with the Illinois Annual
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church and in 1870 was ordained a deacon
in Shelbyville, that state. Two years later, in Decatur, Illinois, he was
ordained an elder by Bishop Andrews and traveled as a Methodist Episcopal
minister in Illinois for sixteen years or until 1884, when he was transferred to
Nebraska, becoming a member of the Nebraska Conference. In that state he was
active in spreading the gospel and converted many to his church, so continuing
for about twenty-five years, or until 1909, and being placed in charge of about
eight different churches in that commonwealth at various times. In the latter
year he made removal to Yakima, Washington, which has ever since remained his
home. He has now retired from the ministry and gives his attention to the fire
insurance business, having built up a gratifying patronage which assures him of
a good income. He also has acquired land, which he has developed and which is
devoted to fruit and alfalfa growing.

In 1876 Rev. Roberts was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Holloway, of Piatt
county, Illinois, and they have become the parents of the following children:
Logan hall, who was born July 10, 1877, in Buffalo, Illinois, is mentioned at
greater length on other pages of this work. Webster VV. enlisted in Company A,
Third Battalion of Engineers, U. S. A., loyally taking up the cause of his
country, but was discharged on account of ill health, his malady having been
incurred while serving in the army. Ethel I. married M. K. Peck and they reside
in Garrett Park, Maryland. J. Vincent is a well known attorney of Yakima,
assistant secretary of the Yakima Savings & Loan Association, and was connected
with Company D, Forty-Third Engineers, U. S. A., receiving his training at
Washington University.

Rev. Roberts has always taken a decided stand on the prohibition question and
has been an adherent of the prohibition party since it was founded. He has been
very active in the cause of temperance and was an active agitator for
prohibition in Illinois in 1870, helping to form the prohibition party in that
state. He has ever since continued in the cause and has been active in every
campaign since, helpfully assisting in making Washington a dry state. He is an
honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been connected with
various posts in the communities in which he has lived and now identifies
himself with Meade Post, No. 9, of this state. He is also a valued member of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen. Rev. Roberts has followed out the well known
saying, "there is something higher than making a living -- making a life," and
through his activities has greatly helped to guide the human race toward loftier
ideals.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.