Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-08-23
Death Takes an Old Citizen.

After an illness, extending over
period of fifteen days, during the last
week of which lie suffered agonies in
Thomas Erwood Roberts.
aged eighty-one years, died at his
home on west Erie street, Mo Valley,
Iowa. Sunday afternoon. Aug 10, abou,
4:3O. The funeral arrangements ar,
as yet, in regards the attendance of the
various lodges to which he belonged,
incompleted, but the funeral services
will be conducted from his late home
Tuesday forenoon, at nine o'clock, ser
vices conducted by Rev Campbell, OF
the Baptist church, and subsequent in
interrment in Rose Hill cemetery.
The life and achievements of Mr.
Roberts would form the nucleus for
an exceedingly interesting story.
Born in Dover, New Hampshire,
September 10, 1919, of Quaker parent
age,he commenced to fight life's battles
for himself when but mere boy. At
the age of thirteen he left home and a
few months after he entered Lowell
University, from which institution he
graduated with highest honors, work
ing his way through. After GRADUATE
ing he entered one of the shops at
Lowell and learned the machinlsts
trade. After spending few years i'll
Lowell he went to Cincinnati, where
he engaged in the contracting business
Ills first railroad contract was highly
successful from a financial standpoint.
In the construction of railroad in
the state of Ohio he cleared several
thousand dollars, and this was the
commencement of his financial sue.
cess, which was destined to last until
the civil war lie was prominently
connected with the construction of the
North Carolina Central railroad and af-
ter the completion Oft, otliciatedas mas
ter mechanic of that road for several
years. after which he was rendered the
position as master mechanic of the
Wilmington Il Weldon railroad, with
headquarters at Wilmington, N q. lie
held the latter position for period of
eighteen years, and being man of
frugal temperament, he amassed, dur
ing that time, what was considered a
fortune. lie became owner and sole
proprietor of the Clarendon Iron
Works, having in his employ hun
dreds of men
During the carly struggles of the
war of the Confederacy his property
was conliscated by the avaricious Con.
federa,es and Mr. Roberts was forced
to continue the work in his shop un-
der the supervision of the Confederates,
turning out munitions for the use of
the army of the Confederacy. After
several months q prisoner he escaped.
Being rendered almost pennlless by
the seizure of his property he engaged
in various pursuits for several months
eventually going to Europe where he
spent two years. Returning to Amer
lea he came north and located in De-
troit, was soon appointed to the posi-
ton of master mechanic of the De.
tro:t, Lansing 4 Michigan railroad.
Upon the solicitation of Mr. Lawler,
then general manager of the F F. Il NJ
V, he came to Missouri Valley in the
early part of 1885, and since that time
has made this city his home. During
the fifteen years of his residence here
he has been an employe of the railroad
company. lie was a member of sew
eral lodges, joining the l 90 F when
twenty-one years and one week old.
lie was also member Of the Masonic
fraternity, and at the time of his death
was one of the oldest knights of Tenn
plar in the city. The ultimate cause
of his death appears to be from COM
plication of diseases. About two
weeks ago he was attacked with chol-
era morbus, which soon developed into
sickness of far more serious ma
ture. The casket will be open this
evening from six to nine o'clock and
all friends of the decedent can view
the remains by calling during the
hours mentioned.
i