The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-02

Robert and Mary Roberts. After
spending two years in Liverpool, in
1856 he emigrated to Norwich, N. Y,
and thence, in the summer of 1857,
he came with his brother, William
r. Roberts, to MankatO, where he
made his home until twelve or fir-
teen years ago, when he moved 10
San Francisco. He attended school
from 1858 until 1862, except one or
two terms, when he taught country
schools.
Was in the Army.
In August, 1862, Mr.. Roberts en-
listed i'm Company E. Ninth Mime
sofa volunteers, and served for two
years. He was in the battle of Gun
town, and after that was taken sick
and confined in hospital, and fl
nally was discharged for inability. He
was subsequently placed upon the
pension rolls. He became corporal
in his company.
Returning to MankatO, Mr.. Roberts
followed the plasterer's trade for
some time, and in 1877 he was mar
ried to Ella S. Conger. The same
year he accepted the position of bus
mess manager of the Mankato Man
ufacturing company and continued as
such until the summer of 1886. The
late H. X. Lee was president of this
company, which was subsequently
purchased by the present owners.
For a time he was engaged in the
mercantile business.
Held Several Offices.
Mr.. Roberts was elected a mem
Der of the city council in 1869 and
served three years. He was deputy
county treasurer for two years un-
der William Jones, the then treas
urer. In 1894 he was elected county
commissioner from the Mankato dis
trict and served until 1897, when he
resigned, and was succeeded by w.
w. Paddock, who was appointed to
fill the vacancy. 1t was at this time
that Mr.. Roberts moved west.
The deceased belonged to the Ma
sons. He is survived by his wife and
the latter's nephew, Roy Hudson,
who is an attorney at Oakland. Mrs.
George M. Palmer of this city is a
niece of the deceased, and Register
of Deeds Fowler was related to him
by marriage.
Was in San Francisco Earthquake.
Mr.. Roberts resided in San Fran.
cisco until the time of the earth
quake and fire, and then moved to
Oakland. He lost little in the
great catastrophe. He was well to
do, and spent the latter years OF
his life comfortably, doing loaning
business.
Mr.. Roberts leaves a great many
friends in Mankato. He was honest,
thrifty and possessed sound judg,
ment, and made good public Off
cial as well as successful bust
ness man. He was a good friend
and neighbor and good citizen, and
his death brings sorrow to all who
knew him. He possessed a kind
heart, and was good husband, and
loved his home above all other
things. His numerous sterling quail
tiles commended themselves to ALL
The plan of Scott Hepner, well
known farmer near Dover in the
erection of a thirteen room house
with all modern conveniences includ
ing billiard room, on his farm, his
aim being to keep his sons at home
has been widely commented on. The
article in reference to him has been
widely copied and attracted consid
cradle attention, and has caused
Registrar Reed of the university
farm school in Minnesota to give
out the following interview on this
line:
"All the most intelligent men in
the country are trying to devise
means to keep the farms occupied
to remedy the congestion OF cities
and to make more persons producers
instead of consumers" And the far
mer should help in this. | know Mr.
Hepner personally. He is an intelli
gent, broad-minded farmer of the
highest type. Probably he would get
along better in a town than the
average farmer that goes there.
Enjoys Fruits of Labor.
But he has too much sense. He
goes about enjoying the fruits of his
labors in the right way He is
building house as modern and con
venient as any to be found in cities
He is putting in a billiard room, g
reading room and plumbing, heating
and ventilating systems. When he
gets around to it he probably will
put in a bowling alley and a swim
ming pool, and then, if he needs more
recreation, fix up some tennis courts
and maybe golf links.
Minnesota farmers, practically
without exception, nowadays, have
money enough to do anything they
wish. They ought to initiate Mr.
Hepner and make their farms attrac
tive. They would then spend their
declining years in the scenes with
which they are familiar, and can en-
JOY themselves, and their children
would ramain on the farm with them