My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William S. Roberts was born in McMinn County, Tenn., March 25, 1821, his parents being Benjamin and Judah (Meadows) Roberts, both of whom were supposed to have been born in Virginia. They were married in Middle Tennessee, on the Cumberland River, in Jackson County, and about 1819 moved to McMinn County, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father dying soon after the war at the age of eighty-five years, and the mother in 1840, when some fifty-five years old. They were earnest workers for the cause of Christianity, and had been church members for many years. Although usually voting the Democratic ticket, he was not deeply interested in politics. His father, Edwin Roberts, was a Revolutionary soldier, and was a participant in the battle of Brandywine. Benjamin was a successful farmer, and after the death of his first wife married a Mrs. Coffee. William S. Roberts was the eldest of three sons and four daughters, and after attending the common schools of Tennessee until he was twenty-two years of age, he left home and began depending on his own resources for obtaining a livelihood, being engaged in farming. His means at first were quite limited, but by determination and energy he has been quite successful, and now ranks among the leading agriculturists of the county. After residing in McMinn County until 1843 he moved to Bradley County, where he resided four years, then returning to McMinn County. In 1854 he drove through to Missouri with a two-horse wagon, and after renting land on the Sac River, in Polk County, for two years, purchased the farm on which he is now residing. In November, 1842, he married Catherine Walker, a daughter of Robert Walker. She was born in McMinn County[ Tenn., June 9, 1822, and eight of ten children born to her mar riage are living: Pinkney C, Sarah, wife of John Stanley; James P.; Franklin F., a physician of Bolivar, Mo.; Minerva L., wife of Bynen Lunsford, a miller of Benton County, Ark.; Tennessee, wife of Burr Rainey, a blacksmith and farmer; Amanda, wife of James Johnson, a farmer of Polk County; and Thomas E., who resides at home, and is now attending school at Bolivar Catherine and Larney are deceased. Mr. Roberts is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic fraternity, a member of the Masonic Benevolent Society, and he and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Church.

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This family biography is one of 132 biographies included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Polk County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Polk County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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