Volume 14 , Issue 9

Oklahoma Pioneer - Edwin Roberts

This week we share with you another Oklahoma Pioneer from the book, History of Oklahoma, written, compiled by Joseph B. Thoburn. We are talking about one Edwin S. Roberts, who was reared to the age of fifteen years in his native Kentucky county, where he acquired his early education in the common schools. He was about fifteen years fold at the time of the family move to Macoupin County, Illinois, where he continued his studies in the public schools, and in 1887, shortly prior to attaining to his legal majority, he accompanied his parents on their move to Sedgwick county, Kansas.

Edwin Roberts came with other members of the family to Oklahoma in 1893, and he entered claim to a tract of land in the newly opened Cherokee Strip, in Woodward County, having been improved by him and developed into one of the excellent farms of the county. Mr. Roberts was a man of alert and vigorous mentality, of well fortified opinions and marked progressiveness. Roberts had been influential in public affairs of a local order. In 1903, he was the democratic nominee for representative of Woodward County in the Territorial Legislature, but his defeat was compassed by normal political exigencies.

In 1902, Roberts was associated with other representative citizens of Woodward County in the organization of the Farmers' BAn of Mutual, the Town of Mutual having been developed at the expense of the old Village of Persimmon, which was little more than a name.

In 1904, in Woods County, Edwin Roberts became associated with John J. and George Gerlach in the organization of the Avard State Bank, and of this institution he has since been cashier, its development and upbuilding as one of the substantial banks of this part of the state having been largely due to his energy, good judgment and progressive policies. Roberts had been none of the foremost in promoting the civic and material advancement of the thriving and attractive little City of Avard and had served continuously as its mayor since the admission of Oklahoma as a state in 1907.

Roberts had been also a member of the local board of education since 1904, and his loyalty and public spirit were of the most insistent and benignant type. He did not deviate front he line of close allegiance to the democratic party and was influential in its councils in Woods County. He was Affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Edwin Roberts had been twice married. On 20 June 1903, he wedded Miss Alta Grunewald, who was born in the City of Van Wert, Ohio, and whose death occurred at Avard, Oklahoma, on 7 december 1904. She is survived by twin daughters, Corene and Lorene, who were born 22 November 1904. On 18 June 1906, Roberts married Miss Eloise M. Taylor, who was born in Carroll County, Missouri.

Edwin Roberts had given a most progressive and popular administration during his period of service as mayor of Avard. Within his regime and largely through his influence have been installed the excellent municipal water, electric-light and telephone systems, streets had been carefully maintained in good order, and cement sidewalks installed throughout the town, these modern improvements being the more noteworthy in view of the fact that this vigorous little western city had in 1915 a population or less than 300.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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