MRS. GWEN JONES ROBERTS. CAMBRIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
At the funeral of the late Mrs. Gwen Roberts of Columbus, Rev. E. S. Barnes made the following remarks :It is fit a particular notice of one whose past and former connections come before us in these services.
Mrs. Gwen Roberts was born 1802, near Bala, North Wales, where the very atmosphere was fragrant with learning and theology in connection with the Welsh Presbyterian church. She might truly have been born in that church, as from very childhood she was familiar with its teaching, delighted in its services, and held in it a membership.
She was married in 1827 to Mr. Richard Roberts, remaining in Wales until 1842. They then came to America, stopping for a while in Deerfield, near Utica, New York, but finally made a home near Port Leyden, Lewis County, on a rugged farm.
Here in 1847 Mr. Roberts died, leaving her with ten children, five boys and five girls. The oldest was nineteen and the youngest only three years of age. These were to be raised, deucated and fitted for life's battles. Many a stout heart would have quailed before such a prospect. But then was seen the grand heroic, in her character, and the power and reality of her Christian Faith. Most nobly did she rise to meet the demands of her position.
For nearly fifteen years did the pale little woman brave every difficulty, meet bereavement, press on still, till the youngest of the sons was able to assume business responsibilities for himself. Soon after, the family was scattered and the old home in Cambria Wisconsin, her sons preceeding her, she still caring for an invalid daughter, thoug it would have been pleasure for others to furnish any means for her use. Yet it was gratifying to her self reliant independence, to have and use her own means for any want or deed of love.
For the last eighteen years she found a home occassionally with her other children, mostly however, in the family of Dr. Davies, where she was greatly beloved and cared for with marked filial tenderness.
Four of the children have gone before her; six are left to illustrate her blessed work and influence in filling honored stations and useful lives.
The death of the late Humphrey Roberts, the youngest of the family was a crushing blow. The anxiety and effort induced an attack of pneumonia, which closed the scene, at the age of 81, ripe for immortality, she has left us. The same noble bearing of the herioc in Christian life was beautifully prominent to the last. It was the power and influence of a living Christ seen in the feeble human.