Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-19
OLDEST NATIVE-BORN
HARRISBURGER DIES
CONTINUED from First Page. ]

| ley, just above Rockville, long before
Harrisburg was founded. lie was a
man greatly interested in everything
pertaining to his native city and had
attained distinction as an engineer of
construction in the Pennsylvania rail
roads early days when he returned
to Harrisburg to devote his time to his
! business interests.
| Mr.. Roberts was the son of Col.
John Roberts, prothonotary of the
county and for many years one of the
leading citizens of the community. He
was q soldier N the war of 1912 and
a prominent attorney His son en-
tered his fathers office and later was
connected with the office of the county
recorder. Alexander Roberts, how
ever, turned from Blackstone to
science and studying engineering took
a place with the engineer corps that
was constructing the Pennsylvania
railroad across the mountains and in
| the Pittsburgh district. He had charge
! of important work at Altoona and
built many of the lines of the Penn
sylvania system in the vicinity of Pitts
| burgh. Ass sociated with him in engi-
neering work were men who later
| became famous in transportation, in
cluding Thomas A. Scott, later presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania.
| Owing to business interests here Mr..
Roberts gave up his work on the rail-
| road, greatly to the regret of the Off
Gals of the company who urged him
to remain, and returned to Harris
| burg. He married Miss Charlotte Il.
Geiger, a member of one of the old
families in the county in 1854 and be-
came actively interested in several en-
terprises. maintaining his interest in
engineering. For a time there were
few matters calling ror engineering
knowledge in this vicinity for which
he was not commissioned.
Railway Company Secretary
| When the Harrisburg City Passen-
! ger Railway company was organized
he became a stockholder and served
as secretary for many years, retaining
official connection with the company
until his death. This is the company
which gave Harrisburg its first street
car system and which is the parent
company of the trolley lines which
now cover the city and reach many
surrounding towns. Mr.. Roberts in
vested in a number of manufacturing
enterprises and aided in their develop
ment. He was connected with the
Harrisburg Burial Case and other
companies.
Probably no one in Harrisburg had
! a longer connection with religious
work. In 1S43 he became q member
of Market Square Church AMI took an
active part in the supervision of con-
struction of the present church. He
served as treasurer for many years.
and as trustee for fully thirty years
Mr.. Roberts was one of the most regu-
lar attendants at the services of the
church. He occupied the same pew
/ from the building of the church and
until a few years ago seldom missed a
/ service.
! Mr. Roberts is survived by two sis
ters, Mrs. James Lowell and Mrs. Anne
Roberts Purvis, widow of the late
James Purvis, well known here, who
reside at Holton, Kan. and three sons
John B. Roberts, Alexander Fl. Rob-
erts and George Roberts. of this city.
Knew Prominent Men
| Mr. Roberts took the keenest inter-
est in everything pertaining to the de-
Velopment of his native city and his
wide acquaintance and intimate knowl-
edge of the city made him delightful
conversationalist. He recalled many
of the men who were prominent fig
ures in the days of the Mexican war
and attended the Inauguration of
every governor for over sixty years.
His "reminiscences of the social life
of early days were most interesting
and there were few people who were
did not know.
FC. many years Mr.. Roberts kept up
his interest in music. He was an ac-
complished musician and contributed
literally to movements for advance
ment of the art in this city. Until a
comparatively few years ago Mr. Rob-
erts attended the oratorios of the Har-
risburg Choral Society and the recitals
given by noted artists.