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EDWARD TAYLOR ROBERTS
Vol. 3, p. 965

While a native of the Middle West, Edward Taylor ROBERTS is by
business training and inclination an Oklahoman, and in this state he
has found the opportunities which have enabled him to work out a well-
earned success. It has been his fortune and privilege to realize many
of his early ambitions, and he finds himself today, with powers
undiminished, in a position of prominence among his fellow business
men at Nowata, the possessor of a firmly established commercial
enterprise and of an excellent reputation for integrity in the
transactions of trade.

Mr. Roberts is a product of the farm, born in Montgomery County,
Indiana, on his father's homestead, a son of James Thomas and Lydia
A. (JAMES) Roberts, September 3, 1863. His parents were Kentuckians,
but were married in Indiana, whence they moved as young people and
where they followed farming until 1870, the father also giving some
attention to mercantile pursuits. In the year mentioned the family
removed to Liberty, Kansas, where James T. Roberts was engaged in
farming, stock raising and mercantile lines until 1881, and then
moved over the line into Indian Territory and settled on a farm
situated six miles southeast of the present site of Nowata. Through
the remaining years of his life he continued to devote himself to the
pursuits of the soil, winning a competence through steady industry
and honorable dealing. His death occurred in 1903, at which time his
community lost one of its respected citizens. Mr. Roberts was a
democrat, but took only a passive part in political affairs. Mrs.
Roberts died in 1904, at the age of sixty-six years, the mother of
seven children, of whom five are living, Edward Taylor having been
the second born.

Edward T. Roberts was seven years of age when the family removed to
Kansas, and there in the district schools of Montgomery County, his
education was secured. He was but eighteen when he came to Oklahoma,
and here his real training was secured on the farm and ranch near
Alluwe, in Nowata County, six miles from the Town of Nowata. In 1895
he came to this city, which by this time had become one of the
promising communities of the section, and established himself in a
furniture business in partnership with his elder brother, William E.,
an association which continued until 1897. Mr. Roberts then embarked
in business alone, as the proprietor of a furniture and undertaking
establishment, of which he remained the sole owner until 1908, when
his son, Joseph E., was admitted to partnership, and since that time
the concern has been conducted under the style of E.T. Roberts &
Sons, with its place of business at No. 138-140 South Maple Street.
This enterprise has a modern establishment in every way, equipped
with all appurtenances for the dignified, sanitary and reverent
handling of the dead, and in the furniture department may be found a
full line of high-class goods. Mr. Roberts, while engrossed largely
with his heavy business interests, finds time to give to civic
betterment, and has served on the school board for some nine or ten
years and on the council for one term. He is a democrat and known as
one of his party's stanch wheel-horses in this county. Mr. Roberts
fraternal connections are with Nowata Lodge No. 1151, of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Modern Woodmen of
America.

Mr. Roberts was married August 13, 1885, to Miss Luella CONNER, who
was born in Kansas, and to this union there have been born two
children: Della, who is the wife of J. Ruby MCNABE, of Newport,
Tennessee; and Joseph E. The latter was educated in the public
schools, the Nowata High School, and the Barnes School of Undertaking
and Scientific Embalming at Chicago, where he was graduated with the
class of 1910, having become associated with his father in business
two years before. He is a member of Nowata Lodge No. 1151, Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks, and is known as one of the energetic
and enterprising young business men of his community, where he is
generally popular with a large circle of acquaintances. He married
Miss Addie LOWERANCE, who was born in Nowata County, Indian
Territory, and are the parents of one daughter: Katherine May.

Typed for OKGenWeb February 11, 1999.