Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-21
The New Commissioner Of
Agriculture.

Agriculture of Maine, is one OF the best
known citizens Of Oxford County, the
folio wing sketch Of him, which appeared
In the Maine Farmer, will be Of interest
John A. Roberts OF Norway, who was
elected Commissioner of Agriculture by
the new Legislature, took the oath OF
Office Immediately after his election, and
will be in active charge OF his depart.
lnent and office as soon as he can attend
to the winding up of some OF his other
business affairs. Although he has been
q farmer for good many years and still
makes his home upon farm, Mr.. Rob
| erts' business for few years past has
been Grange insurance. As secretary
uf the Oxford County Patrons OF Hus.
bandry Mutual Fire Insurance Company,
he has been the manager OF that bust
| ness, with the principal office OF the
company in bis own home.
Mr.. Roberts was born in Gardiner,
Sept. 10, 1852. His father, who was a
York county man, moved to the town
Andover when John was three months
Of age. The new commissioner lived
upon farm until he was twenty -One
ears of age. he attended the common
schools and fitted for college in the OK.
ford Normal Institute at South Paris,
and graduated from Bowdoin College In
he class of 1877. he taught school and
was superintendent OF schools o few
years, then read law and was admitted
to the bar. He married Carrie A. Pike
Of Norway.
On account Of i'll health he decided to
get back to the soil, and bought small
farm in Norway, the farm upon which
heIhas since made his home. When he
purchased the place 1t carried two cows
and horse and did not produce enough
hay even to feed them.
Under his management the farm was
soon brought up so that it carried for a
considerable time as many cows as there
we're tillage acres of land. The princi-
pal feat ure of Mr.. Roberts farming was
dairying, including the retailing and
wholesaling Of milk, but the greater
part of his dairying experience was in
making butter for the local market.
Twenty five to thirty cows were main
tanned and 100 to $50 pounds OF butter
4 week were sold. Among the crop rails
ing features of his farming was the grow
ing of some truck for the local markets,
and in this he had largest success in the
raising of fiue celery.
At the present time the Roberts farm
is being carried on with considerable
success as q poultry farm by Mr.. Rob-
erts' son, Thaddeus b. Roberts. The
young man graduated from Bowdoin
College in 1904, and afterwards took
course in poultry husbandry at Cornell,
having decided to remain upon the farm
and follow in the footsteps of his father
al far az to make farming his life work.
Returning from Cornell, he told his
father of his decision, proposing that the
farm be converted into poultry plant.
As result the dairy was disposed of
and the farm is now large and success
full poultry farm, as 1t has been for
ABOUT four years. Since this change was
effected, Mr.. Roberts has given the
larger part of his time to the business OF
the Grange Insurance company.
Commissioner Roberts has had prom
inent position In Maine agricultural
affairs for many years. He was q men,
Der Of the old Maine Board Of Agricnl-
ture during the last year of its existence.
Ee was president of the Oxford County
aRTiCuituioi al OoSioSy OLA yOoio.
He was a member of the Maine legis-
lature as representative in 1893, and
served on the committee on library and
the committee on taxation. In 1907 he
was sent to the senate and served on the
committees on library, education and
agriculture. He was overseer OF the
Maine State Grange four years, and was
member of the legislative committee in
1901. He was appointed trustee Of the
University of Maine by Gov. Powers to
fill vacancy, and was resppointed for
full term.
At the time of his election to the COM
missionership, he was secretary of the
Oxford County Patrons OF Husbandry
Mutual Fire Insurance Co, which Is a
remarkably successful concern OF It's
kind. Mr.. Roberts has written over
million dollars of insurance in the past
year and the company is now carrying
between four and FIVE million dollars of
insurance all over the state.
To the editor Of the Maine Farmer the
new commissioner expressed himself as
anxious only to work for the best inter
eats of Maine agriculture in every possi-
BILE way, and determined to work with
every person and institution interested
in the great industry.