The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-17
DEATH OF MIR. ROBERTS
PIONEER CITIZEN OF MoNTaoM-
 FRY PASSES AWAY.
Just After Witnessing His Ninetieth Birthday MT. Israel Roberts
 Feel Into Everlasting Sleep. An Excellent Citizen.

An Excellent Citizen.
 MT. Israel Wilds Roberts, aged 90 years, the oldest citizen of Montgom- cry, died at the residence of his son-in- law. Mir. G. w. Barnett. i09 South Hull Street at ' o'clock yesterday morning.
 For many months MT. Roberts had been in falling health. but he strug- gled to live to see his ninetieth birth day. This came Saturday and on that day he grew worse and became uncon- scious and remained so until the end came yesterday.
 MT. Roberts has been a citizen of Montgomery for sixty-two years, dur ing which time he had endeared him. self in business. social and religious circles and in public life to all with whom he came in contact. He was d good man, true and loyal to his Crea- tor and to his fellow men. His death causes general regret. MT. Roberts was born in Kenebunk, Maine, July 13. 1911. When IS years of age he~went to sea and for five years he followed the life of @ mariner. visiting many seas and climes and obtaining a general knowledge of the world.
 In 1882 MT. Roberts came South and located in Columbus. Ga., where he re- mained for seven years. In 1889 he came to Montgomery and had been a citizen here ever since.
 He organized the first hardware store in Montgomery, under the firm name of Hall, Moses and Roberts. This firm was a branch of the Columbus firm of the same name. MT. Roberts amassed large wealth but when the war came on. he went security for some friends. He was called on for the securities which he paid. He was an honest man and he turned over ev- cry cent of his vast fortune and all his available property to make good his promise.
 Mir. Roberts never engaged actively in politics. He was a Whig before the war and a Union man during the war. He did no service in the war between the States. but performed valiant ser- vice in the Creek Indian wars. Since the war MT. Roberts had always been Republican in politics. He was ap- pointed postmaster of Montgomery by President Hayes and he served in that capacity to the entire satisfaction of the people. He also served some time as cashier at the custom house in Mo- bile after the war and was at another time employed in the State Auditors office. He was an Alderman of Mont gomery in 1S45 and 1S46. And also served as County Commissioner.
 MT. Roberts was a very religious man. For nearly sixty years he had been deacon in the First Presbyterian Church of this city. He was a faithful attendant and was always in his pew until about four years ago, when his health became so bad that it was im- possible for him to attend services longer.
 In 1885 MT. Roberts was presented by the officers of the church with hand some suit of clothes as testimonial of their love and esteem for him. He wore the suit only once, and then put it away reverent!y, expressing the wish that when his soul had passed away that his body might be dressed in this gift he held so dear and had laid away. He took great delight in celebra ting his birthdays. There were most happy occasions to him, when all his old time friends gathered about the table with him. Each year they became fewer and fewer. He often expressed the wish to live to see his 90th birthday. Although his health was failing. he appeared cheerful. His 90th birthday came Saturday, and with it came the appsoach of the death angel MT. Rob- erts grew worse on his natal day, and sank into unconsciousness and remain ed thus until his spirit crossed over the river.
 This pioneer citizen was of English percentage. He was a descendent of Richard Conant. who went to Cape Ann in 1863. His paternal ancestor, Roberts, in 1660 settled in New Hamp- shire. His grandfather, Roberts, lived to be 9i years of age. His maternal grandfather, Wildes, lived to be S2, his mother SS, and he had two sisters who lived to be S9 years of age.
 Mir. Roberts is survived by two sons Messrs. H. H. Roberts of Montgomery and John H. Roberts of Birmingham, four grand children, one son and three daughters of MT. G. W. Barnett of Montgomery. He was an uncle of Captain Wids of Boston. who won such distinction as the commanding officer of one of the ships in Admiral Dewey s fleet which destroyed Admiral Monte- jos ships in Manila Bay.
 The funeral Of Mir. Roberts will take place from the First Presbyterian Church at 9:30 o'clock this morning. The folio wing gentlemen will act as actice and honorary pail bearers:
 Active-J. W. Durr, Jr. Frank P. Glass, A. H. McNeel, F.. A. Graham, D. Macdonald, Sloan Young, Edgar Winter, W. H. Hubbard.
 Honorary-Warren D. Brown, F.. P. Morrissette. John W. Durr, ST.. Judge W. M. Buckley, Judge John B. Fuller. Mir T. w Pulliam