My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. ROBERTS, SR., coal-operator, post office Elizabeth, was born in Wales, Feb. 4, 1811; he emigrated to America in 1830, taking passage on the ship Cambridge, and was eight weeks in crossing the ocean. He located in Pottsville, Schuylkill county. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1832 he moved to Philadelphia, and helped to build the hospital and asylum at West Philadelphia. In 1835 he moved to Pittsburgh, and built many of the inclined planes used in the surrounding mines. He also acted as general superintendent of the mines owned by Kirk Lewis. In 1859 he formed a co-partnership with Simpson Horner, of Pittsburgh, and engaged in mining coal, locating their mines at Elizabeth and adjoining country. This partnership still exists, and the firm of Horner & Roberts is one of the largest and most prosperous, as well as one of the pioneer, coal firms of the county. They ship the most of their coal to New Orleans by the river on barges, which they built for that purpose. They own and operate large saw mills in connection with their coal interests, and also have a large general store at Elizabeth, which was established in 1877 and is under the supervision of Samuel S. Roberts, the junior member of the firm.

George W. Roberts, Sr., was married in 1832 to Ruth, daughter of Samuel Toms, a native of England, who settled in Pottsville, Pa., in 1830. He was a Baptist minister, and afterward supplied churches in Pittsburgh and surrounding towns. They have had eight children: Edwin, the eldest son, killed at Saw-Mill run at the age of ten years; Mary, Mrs. Noah Pangburn, who died in 1873; two others who died in infancy; the living are: S. Ann, Mrs. J. Redman; Samuel S.; Sarah J., Mrs. Edwin Lewis; and George W., Jr., who all live in Elizabeth. Mrs. Ruth (Toms) Roberts died in 1870. Mr. Roberts has held several borough offices. He and family are members of the Baptist Church, in which he held the office of deacon for about thirty years. In 1874 he, in company with his daughter, Mrs. Redman, paid a visit to his native country, remaining several months, and visiting the principal cities in England, Scotland and Wales.