Generation No. 1

1. ZACHARIAH¹ ROBERTS was born June 1842 in Indiana¹, and died February 23, 1915 in Hancock County, Kentucky^2,3. He married MARY JANE TOLER. She was born August 1843 in Kentucky⁴, and died July 24, 1900 in Hancock County, Kentucky⁵.

Notes for MARY JANE TOLER:

Subject:

Roberts/Toler

Date:

Fri, 29 May 1998 08:34:28 -0700

From:

"Patrick Hays" <gsdownr@geocities.com>

To:

<ann.r.roberts@worldnet.att.net>, <jmurphy@erinet.com>

Hello,

I found some new information on the Roberts and Toler families in an old Forgotten Pathways (Volume VIII, Issue 1). I would have posted this to the query forum, but I don't know

how that would go over copyright-wise. Anyway, here goes:

ROBERTS CEMETERY

Located on the farm of DORSEY THOMPSON at the top of a high hill SW of the intersection of Highway 662 and Estes Road (cemetery is not visible from the road). Copied by BRUCE

TOLER FERGUSON and WALTER D> TOLER of Owensboro, Kentucky in November 1990.

Z. ROBERTS June 16, 1842 Feb. 23, 1915

MARY JANE ROBERTS w/o ZACHARIAH Sept. 6, 1845 July 24, 1900

WORMLEY C. ROBERTS s/o Z. & M. J. Aug. 2, 1882 Dec. 23, 1889

NOTE: The full maiden name of the wife of ZACHARIAH ROBERTS was MARY JANE TOLER, older sister of JAMES HOLMES TOLER (1848-1940) and CAMDEN RILEY TOLER

(1851-1934) of Hancock County, Kentucky. There are two unengraved concrete markers a few yards away from the engraved tombstones listed above. JAMES THRASHER TOLER of

Lewisport, Kentucky states that he was a pallbearer at the burial of JOHN TOLER (another brother of MARY JANE TOLER ROBERTS, JAMES HOLMES TOLER and CAMDEN RILEY

TOLER). He further states that JOHN TOLER is buried in this same cemetery very close to the grave of his sister MARY JANE TOLER ROBERTS, and that no tombstone was ever

purchased for JOHN TOLER. Thus, it is believed that the aforesaid JOHN TOLER is also buried in this cemetery, and one of the remaining markers could identify the location of his

grave.

-Bruce Toler Ferguson

That is copied exactly as it appears in the magazine. I found this listing in switchboard:

Ferguson, Bruce T

1805 Lewis Ln, Owensboro, KY 42301-4430

Phone: (502)684-4110

If either of you contacts him, I have a couple of questions, concerning names. Why was Camden Riley Toler named after Camden Riley? Related? Who was James Thrasher Toler named

after, and how was he related to the Thrashers, if at all? And of course, who is Zachariah Roberts???

Thank you and have fun with this.

Patrick Hays

gsdownr@geocities.com

Hancock Co., KY

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3456/hancock1.html

Custer Co., CO

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3456/custer1.html

Fremont Co., CO

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3456/fremont1.html

Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3456/sachsenanhalt1.html

Children of ZACHARIAH ROBERTS and MARY TOLER are:

2. i. RICHARD A.² ROBERTS, b. March 27, 1876, Hawesville, Hancock County, Kentucky; d. September 25, 1946, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.

3. ii. WILLIAM Z. ROBERTS, b. May 1864, Hancock County, Kentucky.

iii. JAMES H. ROBERTS, b. July 1870, Hancock County, Kentucky⁶.

iv. THOELIA L. ROBERTS, b. Abt. 1873, Hancock County, Kentucky.

v. SOPHRONIA ROBERTS, b. December 1879, Hancock County, Kentucky⁶.

vi. MAGGIE J. ROBERTS, b. March 13, 1885, Hancock County, Kentucky⁷; d. December 23, 1947, Lewisport, Hancock County, Kentucky⁸.

vii. WESLEY T. ROBERTS, b. May 1889, Hancock County, Kentucky⁹.

Generation No. 2

2. RICHARD A.² ROBERTS (ZACHARIAH¹) was born March 27, 1876 in Hawesville, Hancock County, Kentucky, and died September 25, 1946 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana¹⁰. He married (1) LULA WOODS 1896. She died Bet. 1896 - 1899. He married (2) MARTHA ELLA HAYDEN September 25, 1899¹¹. She was born November 07, 1875 in Hawesville, Hancock County, Kentucky, and died April 05, 1959 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.

Notes for RICHARD A. ROBERTS:

Obituary The Evansville Courier Thursday September 26, 1946

Richard A. Roberts, 70, of 2205 West Ohio street, died Tuesday. He was a retired machinist, having worked for the L. and N. railroad since 1905.

Surviving are his wife Martha; two sons, Carl V., Dayton O., and Herman H., Louisville, KY.; a grandson, Walter Roberts, Evansville, and two other grandchildren.

The body is at Alexander Funeral home. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

Obituary The Evansville Courier Friday September 27, 1946

Funeral services for Richard A. Roberts, 70, of 2205 West Ohio street, who died Tuesday, will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the Alexander funeral home. Rev. Amos Boren will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill cemetery.

Notes for MARTHA ELLA HAYDEN:

The Evansville Courier Monday April 6, 1959

Mrs. Martha Ellen Roberts, 84, died at 10:40 am, Sunday at the home of a grandson, Walter H. Roberts, of 1113 South Weinbach Avenue.

Also surviving are two sons, Carl V., of Dayton, O., and Vernon H., of Louisville, Ky.; two other grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two nieces.

The body will be in Alexander Funeral Home after noon Monday.

The Evansville Courier Tuesday April 7, 1959

Funeral for Mrs. Martha Ellen Roberts, 84, of 113 South Weinbach Avenue, who died Sunday will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Alexander Funeral Home. The Rev. Henry W. Barr will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Children of RICHARD ROBERTS and MARTHA HAYDEN are:

4. i. LETTIA JANE³ ROBERTS, b. July 05, 1902; d. March 22, 1933, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan.

5. ii. VERNON HAYDEN ROBERTS, b. March 30, 1915; d. September 1974, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.

6. iii. CARL VARNER ROBERTS, b. May 27, 1911, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana; d. February 1980, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

iv. GEORGIA ETTA ROBERTS, b. February 07, 1900; d. June 29, 1920.

Notes for GEORGIA ETTA ROBERTS:

The Evansville Courier, Wednesday, June 30, 1920

Miss Georgia E. Roberts, age 19 years, died at 10 o'clock this morning at the home of her parents Mr. and Mrs. Richard Roberts, 922 West Pennsylvania street of tuberculosis.

The funeral services will be held at 9:30 o'clock Thursday morning at the home followed by burial at Oak Hill.

The Evansville Courier, Thursday, July 1, 1920

The funeral of Miss Georgia Roberts, whose death occurred Tuesday, will be held tomorrow morning instead of this morning as stated yesterday. Services will be conducted at 9:30 o'clock at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Roberts, 922 West Pennsylvania street. Burial will take place in Oak Hill cemetery.

v. JAMES W. ROBERTS, b. July 06, 1906; d. April 26, 1907.

vi. FOREST STERLING ROBERTS, b. March 01, 1906; d. June 29, 1911.

3. WILLIAM Z.² ROBERTS (ZACHARIAH¹) was born May 1864 in Hancock County, Kentucky¹². He married EMMA J.. She was born June 1874 in Kentucky¹².

Children of WILLIAM ROBERTS and EMMA J. are:

i. BESSIE J.³ ROBERTS, b. January 1895¹².

ii. HETTIE L. ROBERTS, b. February 1899¹².

Generation No. 3

4. LETTIA JANE³ ROBERTS (RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born July 05, 1902¹³, and died March 22, 1933 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan¹⁴. She met WALTER HENRY OHLROGGE. He was born February 20, 1903¹⁵, and died July 1984 in Wadesville, Posey, Indiana¹⁵.

Notes for LETTIA JANE ROBERTS:

The Evansville Courier, Saturday, March 25, 1933

Last rites for Mrs. Lettie J. Roberts, 28, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Roberts, 2205 West Ohio street, will be held at 10 o'clock this morning at the home of the parents. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Roberts died Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Child of LETTIA ROBERTS and WALTER OHLROGGE is:

7. i. WALTER HENRY⁴ ROBERTS, b. July 27, 1924; d. November 09, 1995, Newburgh, Warrick County, Indiana.

5. VERNON HAYDEN³ ROBERTS (RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born March 30, 1915¹⁶, and died September 1974 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky¹⁷. He married (1) FLORENCE. He married (2) MARIAN.

Child of VERNON ROBERTS and MARIAN is:

i. LYNN⁴ ROBERTS, b. probably Louisville, KY.

6. CARL VARNER³ ROBERTS (RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born May 27, 1911 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana¹⁸, and died February 1980 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio¹⁸. He married (1) VIRGINIA. He married (2) GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA GRAY January 26, 1935 in Warren, Warren Co., PA¹⁹, daughter of JOSEPH GRAY and GERTRUDE KERVIN. She was born November 25, 1909 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania²⁰, and died November 15, 1993 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio²⁰.

Notes for CARL VARNER ROBERTS:

A MAN WHO COULDN'T STOP WRITING (Laurence S. Newman Jr. Associate Editor of The Journal Herald)

For more than four decades Carl V. Roberts has been a tough, dedicated Dayton newspaperman.

As a Daily News reporter he pursued the news one way - relentlessly. He never knew another way. As reporter and editor he wrote prolifically. Even in retirement it was impossible to separate the man from his typewriter.

As city editor for 11 years he was a throwback to Front Page, an old-style fighter who went to war each day with a dozen opponents. He believe his paper was obliged to dig into local news, to keep public officials honest, to follow stories tenaciously. That was the way to distinguish a newspaper and make it competitive.

In a day when a $2.50 raise was something to shout about, Roberts had a strange but talented crew.

He had an old-timer who swore he'd fill the paper with prize winners if only he could haunt Dayton's bars, with an unlimited expense account.

He had a harum-scarum police reporter who wrote a story one day that called two men, 32 and 34, middle aged. Roberts, then in his late 30s, protested to the entire newsroom. What the devil, he demanded, did that make him?

He had reporters who, just for fun, would bedevil a colleague rushing in on deadline by swiping the platen from his typewriter.

But despite their sense of independence, they seldom ignored an unending flow of CVR memos suggesting stories and features. They wouldn't dare.

This is the way Roberts helped put out a daily miracle - a paper that was competitive.

As uncompromising as he was on reporters, he was tougher on news editors who questioned stories he'd edited and approved. Once he had passed them, he felt, they deserved to run. Verbatim. Often on Page One.

Away from the paper Roberts was involved in a variety of community activities - as a long-time member and 15-handicap golfer at Walnut Grove, as a member of Box 21, as chairman of the Montgomery County building commission which directed construction of the County Administration building in the 1960s.

For years Roberts looked forward to a time he could play golf daily. In retirement he just might return to the days when he was a scratch player. It was unlikely, of course, but it was a goal.

But within months of his retirement, he lost his left leg. Two bypass operations failed to solve a circulation problem, and it had to come off.

He never did get out on the course, except in a cart to accompany his wife Ginny.

But he stayed active - as a weekly columnist and as interim director of the historical society.

It was an ordeal making it to his second-floor office, but he did it daily, in pain.

Then he fell and fractured a hip. And he injured his other leg.

Today, at 68, CVR is waging a lonely battle at Miami Valley Hospital, in Room 467B. He's been there six weeks, with another leg threatened. As if that weren't enough, there are abdominal complications.

Progress these days is measured in a few bits of solid food or a morning when he shaves.

Only family members can visit.

As tough as he still is, CVR could use a remembrance or two. It would be a nice touch to show him his community still cares. For old time's sake.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING - GOES TO DAYTON (January 2, 1934)

Carl V. Roberts left Warren on Monday afternoon for Dayton, O., where he is now permanently located in the Wirephoto department of the Associated Press, with headquarters at the Daily News building. Mr. Roberts has been an employee of the Associated Press for the last year and was in charge of the installation and service for the recent change made in the teletype printer systems of papers served by the Associated Press in Warren, Meadville, Oil City, Bradford and points in the southern and eastern part of the state.

Chronical Biography by Carl V. Roberts

January 1918:

Entered Centennial grade school, Evansville, IN

Active in school band. (Instruments trombone, trumpet, and drum)

Worked as a caddy on local golf course after school and during summer vacation.

Became member of Boy Scouts of America

September 1925:

Entered Francis Joseph Reitz high school, Evansville, IN.

High school courses included: algebra, geometry, physics, general science, Latin, English, journalism, civics and all history courses offered in the curriculum

Was business manager and chief feature writer on high school paper.

Wrote short story selected as best in school-wide competition.

Admitted to National High School Honorary Journalistic Society

Member football and track squads

Became Eagle scout and subsequently Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scouts of America

Passed Red Cross life-saving examination

Continued to work afternoons as golf caddy and evenings as usher in neighborhood theater, later assistant manager of the theater.

June 1928:

Was graduated from Francis Joseph Reitz high school, Evansville, IN in upper third of class and with honor citation for journalistic achievements, completing four-year course in three years.

June 1928:

Entered the employee of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co., at Evansville, IN., three days after graduation from high school. Accepted position as Transmission Man under J.E. Neighbors, Chief Testboard Man (F.H. Harris, Indianapolis, IN, District Plant Superintendent.)

Received training in operation and maintenance teletype equipment, and long lines telephone and telegraph equipment.

Learned rudiments of Morse telegraphy on own time.

Received training in company "out of hours" course B-3, Advanced Electricity

In autumn of 1928 was appointed Office Safety Supervisor and conducted "out of hours" classes in elementary and advanced First Aid.

Conducted "out of hours" course A-3, Elements of Electricity.

Duties at Evansville included testing and maintenance of telephone repeater equipment, central office power plant and teletype equipment.

August 1930:

Transferred to Kokomo, IN, office as Equipment Attendant under local supervision of H.A. Vest.

Made all acceptance tests on equipment installed in newly erected office and assisted in "switch over" operation when new office installation was completed.

In charge of office during vacation period.

December 1930:

Transferred to Terre Haute, IN, as Equipment Attendant, under local supervision of H. M. Wilde, Chief Equipment Man.

Received "out of hours" course B-1, Company Organization.

Duties included the following, in the order of assumption of those duties: (1) Installation of Morse and teletype equipment; (2) Testing and maintenance of telephone, telegraph, teletype equipment, including cross-connections, repeaters, relays, meters, motors, generators and storage batteries; (3) Assumed responsibility for maintenance of all power plant maintenance; (4) Assumed responsibility for all power plant maintenance and supervisory detail, including, all test and maintenance reports, time studies, work reports, parts replacement and procurement, salvage, performance data procurement, etc.

May 1933:

Left employee of A.T.&T. Co., under general force reduction based on seniority and dependency.

AT&T Earnings (approximate) $1100 - 2100 per year.

January 15, 1934

Employed by W.J. McCambridge, Assistant General Manager of The Associated Press, as teletype mechanic in New York rebuild shop under office supervision of Henry Elling.

Rebuilt teletype equipment, later transferred to table-wiring department, subsequently handled table-wiring instruction and inspection.

June 1934

Transferred to Knoxville, Tenn., as Field Mechanic, under supervision of W. E. McLeod, Traffic Department Representative for state of Tennessee.

Duties included handling of all bureau traffic matters, including supervision of bureau operation and maintenance. Represented the AP in negotiations with publishers in Eastern Tennessee area for conversion of maintenance program to local basis; trained local mechanics at all Eastern Tennessee points; made periodic maintenance and inspection trips to those points.

September 1934:

Recalled to New York for training in operation and maintenance of Wirephoto (wire picture transmission) equipment. Harold Carlson, instructor.

November 1934:

Transferred to Pennsylvania on emergency assignment as the AP prepared to take over maintenance of its teletype equipment in that state.

Handled conversion negotiations with publishers in 22 cities; installed all AP equipment in those cities; trained local mechanics, and responded to emergency maintenance calls.

Jan. 1, 1935

Transferred to Dayton, OH, as Wirephoto Technician, as the AP opened Writephoto station at Dayton Daily News. (Under supervision of D.A. Washington, Wirephoto Technician, locally.)

Duties included operation and maintenance of Wirephoto equipment and darkroom facilities, making equipment tests, and training Wirephoto Attendants.

August 1938

Traffic Engineer in sole charge of Wirephoto station, D.A. Washington remaining in charge of all teletype equipment. Duties - operation, maintenance, supervision.

January 1939

Assumed charge of all Wirephoto and teletype service in Dayton on retirement of D.A. Washington. (State Supervisor - J.M. Pfadt, Traffic Bureau Chief, Columbus, OH.)

Duties - maintenance and supervision.

Rebuilt all teletype equipment in Dayton and re-wired tables and offices at News station in general rehabilitation program.

January 1940

Returned to maintenance duties as The Associated Press signed contract with Commercial Telegraphers Union, containing seniority clause. As youngest Traffic Engineer in organization, was displaced by R.J. Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., who "bid" on and obtained the post.

April 1940

Accepted temporary post as Night Telegraph Editor of Dayton Daily News, retaining Associated Press post as well for six months.

October 1940 - July 1942:

Resigned from the Associated Press

A.P. Earnings (approximate) $1560 - 2872 per year.

Registered in first selective service registration; classified "3-A" with local order number 3592 in Dayton board No. 4.

Accepted permanent post with Dayton Daily News as a reporter.

In addition to occasional spot news photography (Speed Graphic) illustrated my written features for a time. Assigned to editorial work exclusively, duties in order of their assignment have been: (1) general reporting, interviews, and features; (2) Police reporter and feature writer; (3) Alternating as assistant on city and telegraph desks and feature writer (present duties.)

Dayton Daily News Earnings (approximate) $1800 - 2300 per year.

July 1942 - January 1946 - US Army Air Force:

Com missed second lieutenant July 1942. In publications work stateside throughout war. Discharged Major January 1946.

April 1946 - November 1946 - R.L. Polk & Co., Detroit Mich.:

Edited monthly customer-service type farm magazine; handled some other creative work for direct mail advertising. Resigned to return to newspaper field.

November 1946 - November 1947 - Self-Employed:

Started weekly suburban newspaper, contracting for composition and printing. Rising production costs cut deeply into increased advertising revenue accruing from steady increase in paid circulation. Returned to News after one year - continuing to publish my newspaper for two years before I folded it.

November 1947 - Present - Dayton Daily News:

On return to News in November, 1947, went on rim - worked telegraph editor's day off; occasionally subbed for news editor.

Early in 1948 I returned to city staff - worked roving-investigative assignment except for relieving assistant city editor one day a week, news editor occasionally.

In summer of 1949 I assumed assistant city editor's status but limited my desk work to relieving city editor in his absences, occasionally subbing for news editor. Normally had four days a week for my general assignment work. That work then (I now two men for it) was basically self-assigned, operating on tips from beats and my own sources. In addition, however, I handled the civic campaigns and other policy type stories. I also covered major spot stories-alone or sometimes topping a multiple reporter break. In the spot category were Senate crime hearings at Cleveland, major fires, air crashes, murder trials and the like. I covered the state legislature during its biennial session.

In July 1951, I became city editor, which post I now hold. I write a Sunday news analysis-review column; contribute an occasional editorial. I make up my own local news page; crop and size my own art; plan, assign, make initial selection an collaborate on layout for local picture story type picture page art. I am familiar with cameras and darkroom processes; have adequate working knowledge of composition and other mechanical processes.

Hobbies

Photography is principal hobby. In addition to occasional press shot and commercial work, began experimenting with 35 mm equipment in 1934. Now use Speed Graphic cameras - 4x5 with 6 inch Goers-Dogmar f4.5 lens; 4x5 with 6.5 inch Jos. Schneider f3.5 lens) - with emphasis on action photography and portrait studies.

Other hobbies are Gardening and Criminology

Sports hobbies include: Golf (75-85)

Swimming (proficient)

Pistol Shooting (recently acquired and limited to occasional practice sessions

with police officers on Dayton police range.)

Military Record and Report of Separation Certificate of Service

Organization: 4020th Army Air Force Base Unit, Wright Field, OH

Date of Relief from Active Duty: 3 May 46

Place of Separation: Separation Base, Patterson Field OH

Date of Entry on Active Duty: 31 July 1942

Military Occupational Specialty: Administrative Officer (2120) Publications Officer (5400)

Decorations and Citations: World War II Victory Medal per WD Cir 326 25 Oct 45

American Theatre Ribbon per WD Cir 326 25 Oct 45

Service Schools Attended: Admin Crse Patterson Field Ohio 24 Aug 42

Reason and Authority for Separation: RR 1-5 and TWX CGofAAF WARX 90158 26 Dec 1945

Carl V. Roberts 0 911 676 Major

Obituary

ROBERTS, Carl V., age 68, of 1705 Marilyn Ave., Kettering, passed away Monday at Miami Valley Hospital. Survived by his wife, Ginny, 1 son, Rick Roberts of Englewood, 3 grandchildren, Ann, Randy, and Traci, 1 nephew, Walter Roberts of Evansville, Ind. He retired from Dayton Newspapers Inc. He was a member of Walnut Grove Country Club, Eagles No 321, Box 21, US Golf Association, Interim Director of Montgomery County Historical Society, Past Chairman of Montgomery Building Commission and Author of 200 Years of Progress Dayton and Miami Valley. He was a Major serving with the US Air Force during World War II. Funeral services 10:00 am Thursday, Tobias Funeral Home, Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton Xenia Rd. at Grange Hall. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home 4 to 9 PM Wednesday.

Newspaper Article: With Daily News since 1940 Journalist Roberts' funeral Thursday

Funeral services for Carl V. Roberts, a Dayton journalist for more than 35 years, are set for 10 A.M. Thursday at Tobias' Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Road.

Mr. Roberts, 68, died about 12:15 am yesterday at Miami Valley Hospital.

He had been hospitalized since early January with circulatory and stomach problems. His left leg had been amputated in 1976 because of similar circulation problems.

After working several years for the Associated Press, Mr. Roberts joined the Dayton Daily News full time in 1940, after working part-time there for 2.5 years. He is remembered as a fair but tough newspaperman.

"Carl's concern for the reader and the people we write about had a major impact on my own standards," said Joe Fenley, Daily News managing editor.

Jack M. Osler, editor of the News' Leisure magazine and a 30-year friend of Mr. Roberts, called him "one of the best...a newspaperman through and through." He noted that Mr. Roberts was still writing a weekly newspaper column until late last month -- even though he had retired in 1976.

Mr. Roberts, a native of Evansville, Ind., served as city editor of the Daily News between 1951 and 1962. After becoming a reporter again, he took over the paper's county coverage and became known as "the fourth county commissioner."

A reporting colleague remembers Mr. Roberts, seated at the press table, occasionally being consulted by county commissioners during meetings.

"He was an excellent, knowledgeable man. Very much respected for his very wide ranging abilities," said Commissioner Charles Lewis.

Mr. Roberts once served in a non-paying position as head of a Montgomery County building commission which supervised the $11-million construction project that included the county administration building, the children services administration building, two schools for retarded children, and two residential treatment centers.

He spent his last year with the paper preparing a bicentennial edition devoted to the history of the Miami Valley. He later used this as the basis of a book, 200 Years of Progress: A History of Dayton and the Miami Valley.

In 1977, he was named interim director of the Montgomery County Historical Society and was elected treasurer of the board of directors the following year.

An avid golfer, Mr. Roberts was past president of the Walnut Grove Country Club. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and he was a major when discharged.

Mr. Roberts, who lived at 1705 Marilyn Ave., Kettering is survived by his wife, Virginia; a son, Richard A., of Englewood; and three grandchildren.

Visitation is tomorrow at Tobias in Beavercreek from 4 PM to 9 PM.

Newspaper Article: Carl V. Roberts A newsman of intense, caring standards (Arnold Rosenfeld, Editor of The Daily News)

There's an old newspaper legend -- I don't know whether it's true or not, but it ought to be -- that the late H.L. Mencken left a sealed letter in a safe at the Baltimore Sun papers, where he had labored long and lovingly, to be opened only when he died.

All of that happened, and when an editor opened the envelope, he found the briefest of notes. "Don't," Mencken had written, "overplay it."

Carl V. Roberts, whose standards for this newspaper were high and stringent, would have agreed. Carl died early Monday morning in Miami Valley Hospital. He was 68, and he had fought a long and hard fight against a mounting array of physical problems over the past several years. His stamina amazed his friends.

Carl had been city editor, reporter, copy editor and columnist for The Dayton Daily News. He had set many of the standards to which he held us.

I knew Carl only for the last 10 years. You can hear a lot of stories about the younger Carl Roberts in our newsroom. Some have passed into legend. Most, I suppose, are true. He was a city editor in the grand tradition -- demanding, curious, infuriating, caring.

I knew him at a later time, and we had a different kind of relationship. It always struck me that Carl was a man who had been through the fire and passions and intensities of early life, and had emerged on the other side wiser, more solid, with a painfully-earned tolerance and understanding for life and its foibles. His toughness he reserved for himself.

His last assignment here was to put together our Bicentennial edition, to write and edit a historic account of the history of the Miami Valley. A cub reporter could not have brought more energy and enthusiasm to the project. Carl gave it the extra dimensions of love and authenticity. My most vivid recollections of that year-long assignment are of Carl's frequent visits in my office to share some valued nugget of information he had carefully mined from the record.

Even then Carl was just beginning to suffer some of the physical problems and pain that would become his life. He never let it get in his way. He was going to darned well finish that assignment. He did.

When Carl retired three years ago, we gave him a set of golf clubs. Unfortunately, there would be no more long, green fairways. He suffered inexplicable circulation problems, which finally required the removal of a leg.

Carl bounced back. He became acting director of the Montgomery County Historical Society, then devoted his energies to the weekly column he did for us. It was a lovely piece of work, authentic and very much a part of this place. He loved doing it, and he continued to the end. His last column, written in January from his hospital bed and dictated to his wife Ginny, is a small monument to his courage and need to get the job done.

Carl never complained. When he would come up here on his increasingly infrequent visits, he would join in kidding about his now non-existent golf game and the metal walker he was forced to use in order to get around. It sounds awful, but it is the kind of stuff newspaper people do instead of crying.

Carl went into the hospital long weeks ago, his problems deepening by the day. His friends watched helplessly. He had many friends, and he had a decent and honorable impact on his time and his place.

Over the years, this newspaper asked a lot of Carl Roberts. Big things or little, he did them all with the same care and intensity. He was a pro.

Newspaper Article: Longtime newspaperman Carl V. Roberts dies at 68

Carl V. Roberts, veteran newsman and former city editor of The Dayton Daily News, died at 12:15 am today following a lengthy illness. He was 68.

Mr. Roberts was a copy editor when he retired from the Daily News in 1976 and continued to contribute a weekly column to the paper until his death.

He was a former chairman of the Montgomery County Building Commission and he was a historian of the Miami Valley area.

In 37 years of newspaper work for the Daily News before retiring, he had covered all major news beats. He was remembered by a generation of Daily News reporters as a rewarding tutor with exacting standards while city editor from 1951 to 1962.

In 1962, Mr. Roberts left the city editor's post. After a short stint as a special writer, he began covering Montgomery County government. His probing curiosity and mastery of detail transformed the assignment.

"Instead of asking questions, he was soon answering them," recalled County Commission President Charles M. Lewis, who served his first term in the 1960s. Part-time commissioners frequently turned to him for legal evaluations, and precedents. Frustrated news competitors began calling Mr. Roberts "the fourth county commissioner."

Commissioners at one point asked Mr. Roberts to accept appointment as county administrator. He refused. But he did accept an unsalaried post as a member of the County Building Commission that oversaw some $15 million in capital improvements, including the 13-story county administration building. Mr. Roberts was chairman when he resigned from the building commission in 1969.

His last assignment for the Daily News was preparation of a 1976 Bicentennial edition. It related the history of the Miami Valley. In 1978, he published his own history of the valley, 200 Years of Progress.

An outgoing, vigorous man, Mr. Roberts was an avid golfer. Circulatory problems that led to amputation of his left leg shortly after his retirement in 1976 halted this hobby.

But in 1977, he accepted a temporary appointment as director of the Montgomery County Historical Society. His offices were on the second floor of the ancient "Old Courthouse" at Third and Main streets. Throughout the severe 1977-1978 winter, Mr. Roberts hobbled painfully up the often icy outside steps and the winding inside staircases to reach his post.

He resigned as director in 1978, but was elected treasurer of the board of directors.

Charles E. Glover, president of Cox Enterprises, which owns the Daily News and other Cox newspapers said:

"Carl Roberts was my city editor for seven stimulating years. I think of him every time I watch Lou Grant."

"He had a pure appreciation of what good newspapering is all about -- honesty, fairness, and integrity. He pursued the news with a passion, and Lord help the poor reporter who didn't share Carl's fervor for objectivity and thoroughness. I owe him a great deal."

Born May 27, 1911, in Evansville, Ind., Mr. Roberts began as a part-time newsman for the Evansville Courier while in high school. Later, he worked for the Associated Press in New York, and was in charge of the Dayton AP operation until he resigned to join the Daily News in 1939.

In 1942, Mr. Roberts entered the Air Force as a lieutenant. He was discharged as a major at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1946, and returned to the Daily News as a reporter.

In ensuing years, Mr. Roberts covered the Ohio legislature and such headline stories as the Kefauver Crime Committee hearings of 1951.

Mr. Roberts is a former president of Walnut Hills Country Club, and lived at 1705 Marilyn Ave., Kettering.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and his son by a previous marriage, Richard A. Roberts, of Randolph Twp.

Notes for GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA GRAY:

Warren High School 1928 Dragon Year Book

"This small, dark-complected young lady has proved to be very versatile in many activities, especially dramatics. Not only this, but she is a very capable student, we expect much of her in the future."

Girls Athletic Association (1,2,3,4); Spanish Club (3); Dramatic Club (2,3,4); "Her Aunt from California" (4); Christmas Carols (3); Junior Chamber of Commerce (3,4); "Diogenes Looks for a Secretary" (4); "Seven Keys to Baldpate" (4)

OBITUARY

ROBERTS, Gertrude P., age 83, of Dayton, died Monday, November 15, 1993. She was a retired secretary from Parker Advertising after 37 years of service and a member of American Business Womens Association. Survived by her son & daughter-in-law, Richard A & Carol Roberts, Englewood; grandchildren, Ann Roberts & husband, John Smith; Randy Roberts & wife, Michele; Traci Roberts, Jennifer & Jill Breidenbach; great grandchildren, Matthew Roberts, Jason & Sydney Lewis; a niece, Sally Falkinburg & Nephew Tom Slate. Mass of Christian Burial will be said 9:30 am Wednesday at Maria Joseph Living Care Center Chapel, 4830 Salem Ave. Fr. John Byrne officiating. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday at Baker-Hazel Funeral Home, 5555 Philadelphia Dr. at N. Main St.

Child of CARL ROBERTS and GERTRUDE GRAY is:

8. i. RICHARD ALLEN⁴ ROBERTS, b. May 25, 1936, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

Generation No. 4

7. WALTER HENRY⁴ ROBERTS (LETTIA JANE³, RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born July 27, 1924, and died November 09, 1995 in Newburgh, Warrick County, Indiana. He married EVELYN R. VELSTEINHAUSER. She was born Abt. 1925, and died November 17, 1989 in Newburgh, Warrick County, Indiana.

Children of WALTER ROBERTS and EVELYN VELSTEINHAUSER are:

i. ROSEMARY⁵ ROBERTS, m. MEYERS.

9. ii. PATRICIA ROBERTS.

iii. CHRISTINE ROBERTS, m. OWEN.

8. RICHARD ALLEN⁴ ROBERTS (CARL VARNER³, RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born May 25, 1936 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He married (1) ALISON ANN HOLMES September 22, 1959 in Richmond, Wayne, Co., Indiana, daughter of CHESTER HOLMES and EVELYNE STEWART. She was born November 11, 1939 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana. He married (2) CAROL A. DEITZ November 1984, daughter of DIETZ and JUNE. She was born January 10.

Children of RICHARD ROBERTS and ALISON HOLMES are:

i. ANN RAE⁵ ROBERTS, b. March 26, 1960, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio; m. (1) JAMES MATTHEW THOMPSON, March 28, 1981, Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio; m. (2) JOHN MARK SMITH, August 31, 1985, Fairborn, Greene Co., Ohio; b. May 20, 1959, Goldsboro, North Carolina.

10. ii. RANDALL SCOTT ROBERTS, b. September 24, 1961, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

11. iii. TRACI LYNN ROBERTS, b. March 20, 1964, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

Generation No. 5

9. PATRICIA⁵ ROBERTS (WALTER HENRY⁴, LETTIA JANE³, RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) She married TIM SIMMONS.

Children of PATRICIA ROBERTS and TIM SIMMONS are:

i. MATT⁶ SIMMONS.

ii. LAUREN SIMMONS.

10. RANDALL SCOTT⁵ ROBERTS (RICHARD ALLEN⁴, CARL VARNER³, RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born September 24, 1961 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He married MICHELE HOLLIDAY March 23, 1985 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. She was born September 25, 1964 in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio.

Child of RANDALL ROBERTS and MICHELE HOLLIDAY is:

i. MATTHEW COLSON⁶ ROBERTS, b. December 1987, Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio.

11. TRACI LYNN⁵ ROBERTS (RICHARD ALLEN⁴, CARL VARNER³, RICHARD A.², ZACHARIAH¹) was born March 20, 1964 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. She met JAY LEWIS.

Children of TRACI ROBERTS and JAY LEWIS are:

i. JASON COLBY⁶ LEWIS, b. July 27, 1989, Los Angeles, CA.

ii. SYDNEY ANN LEWIS, b. September 30, 1990, Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma.

Endnotes

1. Hancock County Kentucky 1900 Federal Census, 109, Lewisport Prect., District #3.

2. See Notes for Mary Jane Toler.

3. Kentucky Death Index (http://ukcc.uky.edu/~vitalrec/, Zechariah RobertsDate 160223Age 073Place HANCKVolume 010Cert 04692Deathvol 16.

4. 1900 Kentucky Census Soundex, Vol. 27; E.B. 42; Sheet 8; Line 20.

5. See Notes for Mary Jane Toler.

6. Hancock County Kentucky 1900 Federal Census, 109.

7. Hancock County Kentucky 1900 Federal Census, 1900.

8. Hancock Co., Ky. Cemetaries Vol. 1, 56.

9. Hancock County Kentucky 1900 Federal Census, 109.

10. Death Certificate, I the undersigned Coroner of Vanderburgh County, State of Indiana, on the 25th day of September, 1946 held an inquest on Richard A. Roberts whose body was found on the 25th day of September 1946 at No. 2205 W Ohio St in Pigion Township County, and State aforesaid. After viewing the body and taking the evidence in the case, I do find that the said Richard A. Roberts came to his death by reason of Arterio Sclerotie? Heart Disease. That at the time of his death he was 5 feet 11 inches high 70 years 5 months 28 days old, was light complexion grey eyes, grey hair and of American nationality. That when seen by me he was dressed underware and had on his person, so far as I could ascertain Nothing of Value.Given under my hand at the place of holding said inquest, this 25th day September, 1946.Edward H Kuhn Coroner V.C.Clarence R. Mc? Deputy.

11. Joseph Harp Family Bible (possession of Patty Simmons), Source of marriage date.

12. Hancock County Kentucky 1900 Federal Census, 101.

13. Joseph Harp Family Bible (possession of Patty Simmons).

14. Obituary.

15. Social Security Death Index.

16. Joseph Harp Family Bible (possession of Patty Simmons).

17. Social Security Death Index.

18. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from M through Z, Date of Import: Jun 21, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.112.4.56823.197

19. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Book 16, Page 224.

20. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from M through Z, Date of Import: Jun 21, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.112.4.56924.40

.