The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-07-11
JAMES ?. ROBERTS.
Lowell Man Died ia Chelsea Where He
Came for Vacation.


Chelsea, July III James p Roberts,
of Lowell, Mass, who came about a
fortnight ago to spend several weeks
IN his native town, died suddenly at the
hotel Monday the sth, from the effects
Of Bright's disease causing heart trouble
which seized him July 4th and contin-
uing at intervals until the end came
peacefully and without pain or struggle.
Mr.. Roberts was the Oldest child Of the
late James and AIehitable {Rutterl
Roberts, and was born in this town on
the farm known as the powder spring
farm, December 20, 1871. His early
boyhood was spent on the farm but his
tastes being Of a mechanical turn III
1857, at the age of 10 years, he left
Chelsea for Lowell, where he landed
without penny, but with determine
tion to build for himself a competency
and to become master In his life's
work. AT this early age he engaged
in railroading as locomotive fireman
and in due course was promoted to the
responsible position Of engineer which
vocation he followed until 1867, during
which period he worked for three diff
ferent roads, viz: the Boston s.. Albany,
Boston T. Lowell and the Boston l.
Worcester. The three years following
found him associated with the Lowell
Hosiery company in the capacity OF
stationary engineer. In 1870 he was
engaged by the City of Lowell to con-
struct the West Sixteenth Street pump
ing station Of the Lowell water works.
and upon his completion OF this plant
was elected its first engineer. This po.
sition he occupied for twentysthree
years, when he was engaged by the
Appleton mills to rearrange and recon
struet their entire motive power de
partment, which undertaking won for
him the distinction and well-earned
title Of authority on steam engines and
appliances" throughout New England.
His testimony as an expert on these
subjects had come to be recognized
and relied upon by the courts. lie was
employed by this company up To the
time Of his last illness On July /, 1877,
Mr. Roberts married Miss Harriet Fran
ces Clark, who with one son, Harry j.
Roberts, survive him. He Is also sur
viyed by brother, Hilas H. Roberts,
Of Roxbury, Mass, who, with the son,
was with him at the time Of his death.
He had been for twenty years mem
Der of Central Lodge, No. 62. f. &. A.
NJ, of Irasburg, was also member of
0berlin Lodge, No. 2S, |. O. o. f., Of
Lowell Mass, and having been through
the chain of the order. He also held
membership with Vermont Lodge, No.
25, Knights of Pythias. Of Lowell.
The funeral was held from the hotel
parlors yesterday afternoon at three
o'clock, the Rev. Frederick Daniels. pas
tor of the local Methodist church Off
eiating. A male quartette, composed of
w. S. Goss, W. II. Sprague, H. n. Mat
tison aud G. t. DensmoTe rendered three
selections, Nearer My God to Thee. .
Sometime Wen understand" and eThe
Honeland.v Space forhids full des.
cription Of the beautiful flowers that
silently attcsted the love and esteem In
(which he was held BY all whose pleasure
I and good fortune il was TO have known
I him, but among them were the follow
4 ing; "A harp Of roses and pansies, with
one broken string from friends and
lneighbors in Lowell; wreath of roses
and pinks from the Appleton Co; pill
low Of red and white roses with the
1 inscription "our chief from the men
who worked under him for the Appleton
/ Co.; a pillow OF cut flowers with the
inscription Husband" from Mrs. Rob
erts; a wreath of pinks with the in
scription Father from Harry J. Rob
ertsI large spray from oberlin Lodge
of Odd Fellows of Lowell; and sprays
| from j. A. r. Corwin and family Mr..
and Mrs +. Oscar Tracy, Judge and
Mrs. George L. Stone. Mr. and Mrs.
L. ID. Barnes, Mr.. and Mrs George A.
Tracy and Miss Sarah Gustin.
The interment was in the Boberts
family lot in Highland cemetary, the
local lodge Of Masons attending in a
body and executed the burial service Of
the order, H. J. Bryant conducting tho
sans, and Col H. o. Bixby acted al
marshal. The widow, though in feeble
health, accompanied by sister, Mrs
| w. p. Libby of Somerville, Mass, was
in attendance at the funeral.
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