My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH FRANKLIN ROBERTS, railroad conductor, post office Turtle Creek, was born at West Newton, Pa., April 16, 1851, a son of John Roberts, who was a native of Wales, but reared in London, England. John was a tin-worker, and when twenty-six years old came to this country and located at West Elizabeth, Allegheny county, where his wife, Elizabeth, died. He afterward married Anna Catherine Keck, who was born in Germany and came with her father, Michael Keck, to this country when she was six years old. For a time Mr. Roberts kept a large store at West Newton, and afterward engaged in farming near there. In 1863 he removed with his family to Turtle Creek, where he died in 1876, aged sixty-three; his widow died in 1885, aged fifty-eight. They had ten children, seven now living, of whom Joseph F. is the third. Rosetta, the eldest, died when six years old, and Charles Samuel and Daniel at four years and fourteen months, respectively. The others are named as follows: George Oliver, Matthias Mansell, Mary Melvina (Churchfield), Margaret Ann (Gilliland), Homer Clark and Sarah Ellen (Church). In 1870 Joseph Roberts engaged as brakeman on the Brinton coal train on the Pennsylvania railroad, and after six weeks’ service was given charge of the train. With the exception of two years each at East Liberty and Brinton, as yardmaster, he has occupied the same position ever since. He is a member of the Conductors’ Brotherhood of the Pennsylvania railroad, relief department, and of the Royal Arcanum. His first vote was cast with the democrats, but he afterward became a republican, and is a supporter of the prohibition movement. In 1876 he married Margaret Kidd, who was born in Scotland. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are Andrew Kidd, John Franklin, Homer Clark and Isabella Bowman. Mr. Roberts and family are members of the M. E. Church.