MR. HUGH T. ROBERTS, DODGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Hugh T. Roberts has for more than thirty-five years been identified with the agricultural interests of Calamus township, where he owns two hundred acres of land, located on section 30. His birth occurred in Wales, in 1839. His parents, Thomas and Katherine (Jones) Roberts, passed their entire lives in the North of Wales, where they reared their family. In order of birth those beside our subject are as follows: Sattrick, who was born, reared and married in Wales, where he passed away in 1910; William, who died in the old country in 1907; Robert, who is married and resides in Wales; Owen, who has been twice married, his first union being with a Miss Williams, while for his second wife he chose Miss Ellen Jones, from the North of Wales, where they now reside; Edward, who married Ann Roberts and is residing near Randolph, Wisconsin; Thomas, who married Ellen Thomas and resides in Wales; Margaret, who became the wife of Henry Williams, and passed away in Wales; Catherine, the wife of John Roberts, of Liverpool, England; Elizabeth, the wife of John Jones, of Wales; and two who died in infancy.Edward and Hugh T. Roberts are the only members of their family who have come to America, with the exception of their brother Owen, who made them a visit in the summer of 1912. The first twenty-six years in the life of Hugh T. Roberts were passed in the land of his nativity. Being irresistibly drawn to America by the wonderful tales he had heard regarding the opportunities here afforded enterprising young men, in 1865 he took passage for the United States, with Wisconsin as his destination. He first located at Columbus, this state, where he worked for John Thomas for a time, but later entered the employ of Dr. Hughes. He subsequently began farming for himself on a place formerly owned by R. D. Jones. Thrifty habits and careful expenditures enabled him to acquire enough money to become a property owner and he invested in some land in Calamus township. He located on this place in 1875, but later removed to the place now owned by his son. He has extensively improved both properties during the period of his ownership, having in 1901 erected all of the buildings on the place where he now lives. His fields have been brought into a high state of productivity, and in connection with their cultivation he engages in raising graded cattle. He has also dealt rather extensively in horses, raising the Norman, Clyde and Percheron breeds. His land has always been largely planted to grain, but of recent years he has raised large quantities of peas for the canning factory.
Mr. Roberts was married in 1869 to Miss Margaret Jones, a resident of Calamus township, and a daughter of Hugh Jones, of Wales. She came to this country at the age of nineteen years with a brother, who located in Columbus, Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been born fourteen children, in the following order: Katherine, who was born in 1870, is the wife of R. H. Williams, of Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Margaret Ellen, who was born in 1872, became the wife of William Davis, and passed away in Randolph, this state, in 1900. Mary, who was born in 1874, is the widow of D. W. Richards, who died in January, 1912, at Calamus, Wisconsin, and was buried in Bethel cemetery, at Elba, this state. Thomas, of Calamus, was born in 1875, and married Anna Hughes of Oshkosh. Lizzie, who was born in 1877, died in 1893 and is buried in Bethel cemetery. Hugh Elias, a resident of Calamus, was born in 1878 and married Margaret Jane Evans. Edward, a resident of Whittier, California, was born in 1880, and married Catherine Williams. Ann Jane, who was born in 1882, is the wife of Spencer Griffiths of Emporia, Kansas. William C, of Columbus, Wisconsin, was born in 1884 and married Margaret A. Jones. Hannah, who was born in 1886; John J., whose birth occurred in 1889; Henry, whose natal year was 1893; and Elizabeth, who was born in 1896, are all living at home. Richard, the youngest of the family, was born in 1900.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are also rearing their grandson, Hugh W. Davies, the son of their second daughter, Margaret Ellen. He was born in 1900 and has made his home with his grandparents ever since the death of his mother.
In matters of religious faith the family are Methodists and belong to the Calvanistic church of that denomination. For many years Mr. Roberts applied himself with unremitting energy to the development of his farm, but owing to his advanced age he has largely withdrawn from active work but still directs the operation of his homestead. He is one of the estimable citizens of Calamus township where both he and his family are held in high regard.