William J. Roberts Died Feb. 26, 1924

Mr. William J. Roberts Passes Away

Mr. William J. Roberts, father of Attorney Guy V. Roberts of Marshall, and the father of several other living children, died at his old home on Walnut creek, Tuesday morning, Feb. 26, 1924. Mr. Roberts was the brother of Stephen Roberts, who died several years ago. Stephen Roberts was the father of Dr. Frank Roberts, J. Will and Stephen Roberts of Marshall. Mrs. John Jarrett was a niece of the deceased William J. Roberts.

Mr. Roberts was 84 years of age, born 1840. He was 11 years of age when Madison county was cut off from Buncombe and Yancey counties and organized. The deceased was the son of Moses Roberts, who died many years ago. We understand that the Roberts family have lived on Walnut Creek and owned the land in that section for about seven generations. Mr. Roberts, the deceased, lived in we might say four periods of history and progress of the country. He lived 21 years of the period before the civil war, when one human being could own another and sell him and trade him like any other personal property or chattel. He lived through the awful conflict of the civil war and the years of reconstruction.

Mr. Roberts was born about the time of the advent of railroads and telegraphy. If we shall stop long enough to reflect for a few moments, we are bewildered when we think what progress the country has made in every avenue during the life time of this man. At great cost of life, property and money, about four million negro slaves were freed, and more than twice that many white people were liberated whose condition was not much better than that of the slave. When Mr. Roberts was born Chicago was only a village, probably not larger than Marshall. Other cities have grown up in the same proportion. The Mississippi River was practically the western boundary of civilization. It would take volumes to briefly state the wonderful changes that took place during the life time of this man. Therefore but few natives, living in Madison county, that have experienced the changes that Mr. Roberts passed through. He was a member of the Walnut Creek Baptist church.

There are but few living now that will live as many years as Mr. Roberts saw.

Life has been defined as an arrow passing through the air over the gulf from one mountain peak to another. The arrow soon makes it course, then what? The News-Record extends its kindest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the deceased.

Lead editorial, page 4, Marshall News-Record, March 7, 1924, John A. Hendricks, editorial writer.