The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-03-28
REPUBLICAN
LEADER DEAD
Sam J.Roberts Passes Away
At Lexington.
!Aia
Was Active In Politics Of the
State and City--.Native
Of Ohio.

Lexington, KY, March 24.--Samuel
Judson Roberts, editor and owner of
the Lexington Leader, who was one
of the most widely known and influ-
entail Republicans of the State, and
who for thirteen years was the Unit
ed State Collector of Internal Reve-
nue. for this district, died Sunday af-
ternoon at his residence in this city
from the effects of blood poisoning,
which primarily resulted from inflam-
nation of an ingrowing nail on a big
toe nearly month ago. Mr.. Roberts
was possibly the most widely known
and ::,e most active u,sl a, municipal
affairs of any here, there being few
adult residents who did not know of
him, and therefore the death of no
citizen could have attracted more
universal notice than his.
While always an ardent and active
Republican MI. Roberts broad interest
in all things pertaining to the inter
est Of Lexington people, his gentle
and genial disposition and unfailing
good temper had made him highly re-
spected by the entire community, and
perhaps without single bitter per-
sonal enemy. He understood with
marvellous acuteness the people of Lex
ington and vicinity and his newspa-
per was striking illustration of his
ability to please and satisfy even
those readers from whom he differed
on political and other questions. The
Leader is probably the only daily
newspaper in Kentucky which regular.
ly carries column in which the news
of the negroes Is recorded as deferen-
italy and with the same expressions
as those used In the news of the
white people, but at the same time
the paper is welcomed into the homes
of the most aristOcratic families Of
the Bluegrass and is an organ of Lex
ington's fashionable society. Mr.. Rob.
erts himself had gained high social
position here, and as a politician was
the handspring of the Republican par
ty of this city and county and of Gen.
trail Kentucky.
To his astute appreciation Of the
people and skill in managing men was
due in a large measure all of the Re-
publican and Fusionist victories which
were such surprises in this county
and city in recent years.
Mr.. Roberts was born February IL,
1858. and had been a resident of this
city for twenty-five years. Of Welsh
parentage he was a native of Canton.
O., where his father, Edward Roberts
a Baptist Minister. had died during
Mr.. Roberts early childhood. His
mother later married her first hus-'I
bands brother, and both she and her
second husband are still living at
Canton. Mr.. Roberts began newspa-
peer work when quite young as re-
porter on the Canton Repository. La
ter he worked on the Cleveland Lea
der, and became its city editor. In
the spring of 1888 he came to this
city and in connection with number
of local Republicans he founded the
Kentucky Leader. now the Lexington
Leader, the first issue of which apr,
peared on May /, 1885. From the
first Mr.. Roberts had unfailing faith
in his papers success and he gradu-
ally acquired the interests of his par
tners until he became its sole owner.
In the fall of 1888 he was married
to Miss Anna Trout. of Canton. and
bringing his young wife to this city
she soon became keenly interested in
his newspaper work and has since
taken an active part in the manage
ment and control of the Leader.
MIR. Roberts served term as presi- |
dent OF thee Kentucky Press Assoc
citation and in 1911 he was appointed
by Gov. A. r. Wilson as member
of the Kentucky Election Commits
sion. and held this position until
last year. He is survived by his
wife, who is a sister Of the wife OF
City Commissioner w. II. McCorkle;
q sister. Mrs. Working, OF Canton,
whose son. Robert Judson Working.
is a student at Kentucky State Uni
versity; a half-brother Grant Rob-
erts. who is Deputy Collector of In
teernal Revenue. posted at Frank