He talks of wood. It is some carpenter ~ William Shakespeare
Joseph Harrison Roberts (1874-1930)Joseph H. Roberts (Levi, Elisha, Isaac) was born March 1874 in Sevier County, Tn to Levi and Harriet (Kerr) Roberts. He married Mollie Belle Brock on December 2, 1897 in Sevier County, Tn. She was the daughter of Thomas Millard Filmore Maples and Martha Jane Brock. Joseph died on June 22, 1930 in Knox Co., Tn. Mollie was born on September 6, 1880 in Sevier Co., Tn and died December 18, 1933 in Knox Co. Tn. They are both buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Mollie Belle (Brock) Robertscirca 1895-1900
Joseph was just eleven years old when his mother died, he grew up working the land like those who came before him. When Joseph's father, Levi, died the land was left to Joseph and his siblings. Two years later Joseph bought his sibling's shares, and remained on the land for another two years. But farming was not what Joseph wanted to do, he was a carpenter and he wanted to build. So in 1900 he and Mollie and their two young children left the farm and moved to Knoxville, Tn where Joseph started his own construction business. According to a cousin, Jerry Roberts, some of the houses my grandfather built are still standing today. The stock market crash ended my grandfather's dreams, he lost his business, his home and his family was left with nothing. According to my father, they lived in a tent on a neighbor's land, Joseph died within a year of heart failure.
State of Tennessee
Sevier County
Deed Book
This Indenture made this 22nd day of August A.D. 1898 between Nancy A. Roberts, Grace E. Hurst and Mc Hurst, Laura B. Breeden and L.H. Breeden and I.N. Roberts of Sevier County and State of Tennessee of the First part and J.H. Roberts of the same place of the Second part. Witnesseth that for the purpose of partition the lands left us by our father, L.C. Roberts, we the parties of the first part do hereby grant, transfer and convey to the party of the Second part, the following described lot or tract of land designated as lot No. 4.
Beginning on a stake in the road and a corner to Lot No. 1, N 58 W 25 poles to a stake, N 22 E 15 poles to a cedar, N 411/2 E 22 poles to a stake & walnut, S 72 E 20 poles to a black gum, N 12 E 161/2 poles to a white oak, S 82 E 11 poles to a stake, S 2 E 9 poles to a stake & dogwood, S 70 E 22 poles to a white oak a corner to Hardin, N 25 E 31 poles to a stake a corner to Lot No. 3, N 45 W 30 poles to a red oak corner to Lot No. 2, N 53 W 32 poles to a stake in the Road, S 50 W 25 poles to the beginning - Containing 15 acres more or less. To have and to hold to the party of the Second part and his heirs and assigns forever, and parties of the First part for themselves their heirs and assigns warrant and defend the title to the same against all claims in and through us in witness we have hereunto set our hands and seal, the day and date above written.
I.N. Roberts
Mack Hurst
L.H. Breeden
Grace E. Hurst
Laura B. Breeden
N.A (her X mark) Roberts
Children of Joseph Roberts and Mollie Brock:
1. Hattie M. Brock was born May 10, 1897 in Georgia, and died September 22, 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio. She married William "Doc" McElroy, son of William McElroy and Juliette Maples. He was born March 14, 1897 in Sevier Co., Tennessee, and died October 10, 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio.
2. Millard Filmore Roberts was born July 12, 1899 in Sevier County, Tn. and died 1924 in Knox County, Tn.
Notes for MILLARD F. ROBERTS:
Millard Filmore Roberts was born July 12, 1899 and died May 19, 1924. He married Bonnie Ledford June 21, 1920, Knoxville, Tennessee; b. 1901, no issue from this marriage. He served in the army during WWI, Volunteered the 12th of July 1917, Company M, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, sailed overseas on 9 Sept 1917, in action at Chateau Thierry and Soissons, wounded 6 June 1918 and taken POW. Released 6 December 1918, returned to states 11 Feb 1919, Rank of Sergeant
Last Will and Testament of Millard Filmore Roberts
I, Millard Filmore Roberts, of Knox County, Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me at any time heretofore made.
I hereby will, devise and bequeath to my father and mother Joseph H. Roberts and Mollie Roberts all my property, real, personal or mixed, of whatsoever kind or character, and wheresoever located, of which I may or shall die seized or possesses, and all claims, demands, accounts or choses in action, belonging to me or to my estate after my decease, to belong to the said Joseph H. Roberts and Mollie Roberts absolutely in their own right, one half each.
Having full confidence in my father Joseph H. Roberts to make an equitable and just division of any assets belonging to my estate according to the provisions of this my will, I here by appoint Joseph H. Roberts as executor of this my will, and excuse him from making bond therefor.
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name on this February the 17th, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Two (1922) at Knoxville, Tennessee.
Millard Filmore Roberts
Signed by the said testator, Millard Filmore Roberts, as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
Robert D. Taylor
W.R. Henderson
Probated in Minute Book No. 7 Page 12
3. Raymond A. Roberts was born October 10, 1901 in Sevier County, Tn and died February 23, 1963 in Knox County. He married Ada Payne of Sevier County. She died in November, 1975 in Knox County. Raymond and Ada are buried in Shiloh Cemetery in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Notes for Raymond A. Roberts:
Raymond A. Roberts Volunteered for service in WWl, Army of Occupation in France, Rank of Private.
9 Jun 1919
4. Harrison Joseph Roberts was born March 18, 1903 in Sevier County, Tn. and died in 1995 in Knox County. He married Beulah Craig.
5. Lucille Roberts was born June 25, 1906 in Sevier County, Tn. She married Sam Witt.
6. Hazel Roberts was born February 2, 1910 in Sevier County, Tn. She married Neil Hardin.
7. Martha Roberts was born June 16, 1912 in Knox County, Tn and died March 14, 1920 in Knox County.
8. Carl Franklin Roberts was born February 17, 1915 in Knox Co., Tennessee, and died October 27, 1995 in Terrell, Kaufman Co, Texas. He married Aileen June Strayer July 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, daughter of Carl A. Strayer and Francis Bush. She was born June 29, 1915 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and died June 02, 2005.
Notes for Carl F. Roberts:
Carl Franklin Roberts was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and spent his early life there. After his mother's death in 1933 he moved to Cleveland, Ohio where his sister, Hattie Brock McElroy lived. He was a cook with the Merchant Marine for a short time and then joined the Cleveland Police Department. He retired from the Cleveland Police Department and he and his second wife moved to Terrell, Texas where he died and is buried.
9. Lydia Anne Roberts was born April 9, 1918 in Knox County, Tn.
10. Paul Roberts was born June 7, 1920 in Knox County, Tn.
11. Pauline Roberts (twin) was born June 7, 1920 and died June 10, 1920.
Family Photo circa 1918
Left to Right (standing) Harrison, Millard, Hattie and Raymond
Left to Right (sitting) Joseph H. Roberts (holding Martha) Lucy, Hazel
Mollie B. Roberts (holding Carl)
To be continued ...
State of Tennessee
Sevier County
Deed Book
This Indenture made this 22nd day of August A.D. 1898 between Nancy A. Roberts, Grace E. Hurst and Mc Hurst, Laura B. Breeden and L.H. Breeden and I.N. Roberts of Sevier County and State of Tennessee of the First part and J.H. Roberts of the same place of the Second part. Witnesseth that for the purpose of partition the lands left us by our father, L.C. Roberts, we the parties of the first part do hereby grant, transfer and convey to the party of the Second part, the following described lot or tract of land designated as lot No. 4.
Beginning on a stake in the road and a corner to Lot No. 1, N 58 W 25 poles to a stake, N 22 E 15 poles to a cedar, N 411/2 E 22 poles to a stake & walnut, S 72 E 20 poles to a black gum, N 12 E 161/2 poles to a white oak, S 82 E 11 poles to a stake, S 2 E 9 poles to a stake & dogwood, S 70 E 22 poles to a white oak a corner to Hardin, N 25 E 31 poles to a stake a corner to Lot No. 3, N 45 W 30 poles to a red oak corner to Lot No. 2, N 53 W 32 poles to a stake in the Road, S 50 W 25 poles to the beginning - Containing 15 acres more or less. To have and to hold to the party of the Second part and his heirs and assigns forever, and parties of the First part for themselves their heirs and assigns warrant and defend the title to the same against all claims in and through us in witness we have hereunto set our hands and seal, the day and date above written.
I.N. Roberts
Mack Hurst
L.H. Breeden
Grace E. Hurst
Laura B. Breeden
N.A (her X mark) Roberts
Children of Joseph Roberts and Mollie Brock:
1. Hattie M. Brock was born May 10, 1897 in Georgia, and died September 22, 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio. She married William "Doc" McElroy, son of William McElroy and Juliette Maples. He was born March 14, 1897 in Sevier Co., Tennessee, and died October 10, 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio.
2. Millard Filmore Roberts was born July 12, 1899 in Sevier County, Tn. and died 1924 in Knox County, Tn.
Notes for MILLARD F. ROBERTS:
Millard Filmore Roberts was born July 12, 1899 and died May 19, 1924. He married Bonnie Ledford June 21, 1920, Knoxville, Tennessee; b. 1901, no issue from this marriage. He served in the army during WWI, Volunteered the 12th of July 1917, Company M, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, sailed overseas on 9 Sept 1917, in action at Chateau Thierry and Soissons, wounded 6 June 1918 and taken POW. Released 6 December 1918, returned to states 11 Feb 1919, Rank of Sergeant
Last Will and Testament of Millard Filmore Roberts
I, Millard Filmore Roberts, of Knox County, Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me at any time heretofore made.
I hereby will, devise and bequeath to my father and mother Joseph H. Roberts and Mollie Roberts all my property, real, personal or mixed, of whatsoever kind or character, and wheresoever located, of which I may or shall die seized or possesses, and all claims, demands, accounts or choses in action, belonging to me or to my estate after my decease, to belong to the said Joseph H. Roberts and Mollie Roberts absolutely in their own right, one half each.
Having full confidence in my father Joseph H. Roberts to make an equitable and just division of any assets belonging to my estate according to the provisions of this my will, I here by appoint Joseph H. Roberts as executor of this my will, and excuse him from making bond therefor.
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name on this February the 17th, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Two (1922) at Knoxville, Tennessee.
Millard Filmore Roberts
Signed by the said testator, Millard Filmore Roberts, as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
Robert D. Taylor
W.R. Henderson
Probated in Minute Book No. 7 Page 12
3. Raymond A. Roberts was born October 10, 1901 in Sevier County, Tn and died February 23, 1963 in Knox County. He married Ada Payne of Sevier County. She died in November, 1975 in Knox County. Raymond and Ada are buried in Shiloh Cemetery in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Notes for Raymond A. Roberts:
Raymond A. Roberts Volunteered for service in WWl, Army of Occupation in France, Rank of Private.
9 Jun 1919
4. Harrison Joseph Roberts was born March 18, 1903 in Sevier County, Tn. and died in 1995 in Knox County. He married Beulah Craig.
5. Lucille Roberts was born June 25, 1906 in Sevier County, Tn. She married Sam Witt.
6. Hazel Roberts was born February 2, 1910 in Sevier County, Tn. She married Neil Hardin.
7. Martha Roberts was born June 16, 1912 in Knox County, Tn and died March 14, 1920 in Knox County.
8. Carl Franklin Roberts was born February 17, 1915 in Knox Co., Tennessee, and died October 27, 1995 in Terrell, Kaufman Co, Texas. He married Aileen June Strayer July 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, daughter of Carl A. Strayer and Francis Bush. She was born June 29, 1915 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and died June 02, 2005.
Notes for Carl F. Roberts:
Carl Franklin Roberts was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and spent his early life there. After his mother's death in 1933 he moved to Cleveland, Ohio where his sister, Hattie Brock McElroy lived. He was a cook with the Merchant Marine for a short time and then joined the Cleveland Police Department. He retired from the Cleveland Police Department and he and his second wife moved to Terrell, Texas where he died and is buried.
9. Lydia Anne Roberts was born April 9, 1918 in Knox County, Tn.
10. Paul Roberts was born June 7, 1920 in Knox County, Tn.
11. Pauline Roberts (twin) was born June 7, 1920 and died June 10, 1920.
Family Photo circa 1918Left to Right (standing) Harrison, Millard, Hattie and Raymond
Left to Right (sitting) Joseph H. Roberts (holding Martha) Lucy, Hazel
Mollie B. Roberts (holding Carl)
To be continued ...
