Roberts, Joseph M.

Notes:

Arrived in New York aboard the George Washington on May 2, 1844, at the age of 14. He was naturalized at the Lehigh County Courthouse on August 31, 1852
A visit to the Public Records Office in Caernarvon gave us the following information:
Evenezer Wesleyan Church Born Feb 19, 1830
Baptized Feb 28, 1830
Joseph, son of William and Sarah Roberts
Abode - Smithfield, Carnarfon (William)
Parish of Llanbeblig (Sarah)
Occupation: Stonecutter
Performed by Evan Hughey
DEATH : From the front page of the Allentown Morning Call, dated July 10, 1896
DEAD IN HIS CHAIR
The Final Summons Came With Suddenness To Mr. Joseph M. Roberts
The Agent for the Terminal Railroad at Gordon Street--Death Was Due to Asthma and Heart Disease--No Inquest Held
Joseph M. Roberts, ticket agent at the Gordon Street station of the Terminal Railroad, was found dead in the office yesterday a.m. The cause of death was heart disease. Mr. Roberts was 67 years old. His family says he has had heart trouble and asthma for years. He lived at 413 1/2 Gordon Street.
He frequently slept in the office as it was painful for him to walk home. One of the sons visited him Wednesday night. Mr. Roberts said he felt well. He told the son he would stay at the station over night and would be home for breakfast in the morning. At a quarter to 6 o'clock, Harry Hellman, the assistant agent got to the station for work. The ticket office was locked. Through the windows he saw Mr. Roberts. He was dead. A door was forced open. The body was cold. He had expired some hours before. Coroner A. J. Yost was notified. Dr. Yost made an investigation. He found that the cause of death was so plain that the expense of an inquest was unnecessary.
Mr. Roberts was born in London. He came to Philadelphia at the age of 14 and became a civil engineer. He was occupied with his profession for many years in Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe Counties. He came to Allentown 13 years ago. For a time he was in the butchering business. When the Terminal Railroad was opened he entered the freight service. Three years ago he took charge of the Gordon Street Station.
He is survived by his wife and six children, Mrs. Thos. J. Kramer, Mrs. Milton H. Knauss, Walter E., Orville T. and Horace, of Allentown, and Mrs. Ammon Schoenberger of South Bethlehem.
The funeral of Mr. Roberts will take place Sunday afternoon. The body was embalmed by Burkholder & Sourbier.

Family/Spouse: Walk, Sarah. Sarah (daughter of Walk, Thomas and Andreas, Catherine) was born on 14 Nov 1841; died on 05 Jan 1901 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA; was buried in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

OBITUARY:
From the Allentown Morning Call, July 5, 1942 Page 14
Horace Roberts - Stamp Stencil Co. Head, Dies
Resident here over half century, started firm 40 years ago
Horace W. Roberts, head of American Stamp and Stencil Co. died on Friday at his home, 911 Linden St., following a lengthy illness, funeral services will be held tomorrow.
For more than half a century, Mr. Roberts had been a resident of this city. He founded the firm which he headed 40 years ago. However, due to his health, his wife practically conducted the greater part of the business for the past 22 years. His place of business is located at 710 Hamilton St.
Mr. Roberts was born in Slatington, the son of Joseph M. and Sarah, nee Walk, Roberts. For a few years he was a telegrapher for the Central Railroad Co. and for other railroad companies, before beginning the Stamp and Stencil Business here. Mrs. Roberts will continue to direct the company's affairs, assisted by a grandson. Surviving besides his wife is one son, Walter A. Roberts of Washington, D.C. and Allentown, and a sister and brother, Mrs. A. A. Shellenberger of Bethlehem and Orvile T. Roberts, Allentown, as well as nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at the J. S. Burkholder Funeral Home Tuesday morning at 10:30. Friends and relatives may call there tomorrow evening from 7 to 8:30. Rev. Ralph Borneman will officiate at the funeral. Internment will be at Fairview Cemetery, Slatington.
NOTE: Allentown City Guide lists Horace as manufacturing rubber stamps in 1896 as well as Allen Printing Company in 1911.

Family/Spouse: Smith, Katy May. Katy was born on 20 Jun 1874 in Parryville, Carbon Co., PA; was christened on 19 Jul 1874 in Slatington, Lehigh Co., PA; died on 09 Jul 1956 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA; was buried on 13 Jul 1956 in Slatington, Lehigh Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 23 Jun 1872; Baptised by Rev. Abraham Bartholomew

Notes:

Died in Temple University hospital at he age of 49, shortly before John left for Europe in World War II. Cause of death: heart failure, coronary occlusion.
Vital Information Source:
Birth and baptism information is from the Roberts Family Bible, presently in the possession of Julia Roberts Guttman, John's sister. The pastor of the Evangelical Church (town not known) was I.J. Reitz. Witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. Paul Synder, Mrs. Roberts (Sarah), Mrs. Smith (Lucy Ann Schoenberger Smith, a.k.a. Lizzie) and the parents, Horace and Katie.

Known as "Mack", Walter showed an early interest in automobiles (he was arrested for speeding-15 miles per hour) and known in the late twenties as having more knowledge of the intricacies of carburetors than anyone else in the county. He was involved in automotive tune-up equipment from the earliest days. Along with a friend, Bill Slifer, he designed and manufactured such devices as coil testers. He sold and sometimes repaired equipment designed by the Wiedenhoff Corp. and later Allen Electric and Equipment Co., modern versions of which are sold today. Aware that mechanics must be taught proper use of this equipment, he organized classes in New York City and Long Island City. In conjunction with these classes, he published a series of pamphlets "Troubleshooting in High Speed Motors" for Kem Manufacturing Co. He also wrote a series of articles for Bus Transportation magazine.
OBITUARY:
Allentown Morning Call, Thursday, July 15, 1943
Following a brief illness, Walter A. Roberts of 746 North 11th Street, died at 2:15 o'clock yesterday in the Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, He was 49 years.
Mr. Roberts was an automotive tune-up engineer, associated with the Allen Electric and Equipment Co., Kalamazoo, Mich. and for over five years had his headquarters at Washington, D.C.
He was born at Lehigh Gap, PA, a son of Katie and the late Horace W. Roberts. Surviving are his wife, Blanche, nee Stephens, Joseph, Susan and David, Allentown, John, Reading, Julia, Camp-Wendy, Wallkill, N.Y., Lucy Ann, Mary Jane, James and Louise, at home.
Mr. Roberts was a member of the Evangelical faith. He was affiliated with the American Society of Automotive Engineers. He was co-owner with his son, Joseph H.S. Roberts, of the American Stamp and Stencil Co., originally founded by his father, Horace W. Roberts in 1896.

Walter married Stephens, Blanche Salome on 23 Jun 1912 in Wilmington, New Castle Co., DE. Blanche was born on 25 Nov 1893 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA; died on 24 Dec 1981 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA; was buried in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

J.A. married Chambers, R. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]