ROBERTS, PEYTON, was born at Fountain Green, Hancock County, Ill., January 21, 1839, was educated at Hedding College, Abingdon, Illinois.

The Roberts family were from Wales, and left that country in the Fifteenth Century on account of religious persecution.  They settled in Switzerland, where James Roberts was born in 1754.  He and his brother settled in Wythe County, Va., in 1775. [Wythe County, Virginia, was not chartered until 1790.]  John enlisted in the English Army and was never heard of afterwards.  James entered the Continental Army, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.

His [Peyton's] great-grandfather, James Roberts, married Nancy McKelvey, a native of Ireland. They moved to Jonesboro, Tenn., in 1814 and to Breckenridge County, Ky., in 1827, and came to Hancock County, Illinois, in 1837.  [*See note, below.]

Peyton Roberts married Lizzie K. Cox, May 8, 1866.  They have two daughters; Emma, now the wife of Levi J. Hubble of Indianapolis, Ind., and Corrine, now the wife of Charles L. Miller of Monmouth, Ill.

The Cox family were descendants from the Anglo-Saxon race, and were high in authority in the days of the Feudal System of Government.  At the time that William the Conqueror superseded that system with the four great Earldoms, the severity of the laws under the new government against the participants in the abandoned rule was such that it became necessary for many to find homes in other counties.  One branch of the Cox family settled in Switzerland where Friend Cox was born in 1720. He came to America, and settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Nancy Schuck in 1746.  Their son John Cox, was born in 1747.  John married Miss Polly Collins in 1770.  Their son Benjamin married Miss Elizabeth Metcalf.  Their son Ralph E. Cox, married Miss Emily A. Paine, who where the parents of Mrs. Roberts.

Mr. Roberts came to Monmouth, January 4, 1864, and made it his headquarters during the two years he was special agent for an insurance company, since which time he has been engaged in the insurance, land and load business and has occupied continuously his present office since April 3, 1866.  He has been one of the active Republicans of the County and State, having served thirty years on the County Central Committee and six years on on the State Central Committee.  He is a stockholder in the Monmouth Mining and Manufacturing Company, Monmouth Plow Company, Second National Bank of Monmouth, and the National Bank of the Republic, Chicago.  He is a member of Monmouth Lodge No. 37, A. F. & A. Masons, Monmouth Lodge No. 577, I. O. O. F., Monmouth Lodge No. 397 Elks, Monmouth Lodge Knights of Pythias, Galesburg Commandery No. 8, Knight Templars, and the Medinah Temple Mystic Shrine Lodge, and Oriental Consistory Lodge of Chicago.

The History of Warren County, from which the above biography is excerpted, was Volume II of a two volume set.  Volume I was Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois edited by Newton Bateman, LL.D. and Paul Selby, A. M.

In the long procession of men and women who have lived in the world for a time and passed on, there are some whose lives stand out like guiding stars for humanity, and leave an impress for good that is ineradicable.  They prove the worth of a life rightly lived.  Peyton Roberts was one of these. He was distinguished for his nobility of character, his unblemished morality, his generous and kindly nature.  He achieved success worthily and honorably and entirely by his own efforts.  His battle with the world was heroic.  His conservative judgment, absolute integrity and unswerving honor in all things, won the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and formed the capital which made his business life a success.  He was proud of being a native of Illinois, proud of having lived his whole life in the State, almost every acre of which he knew and loved.

The Roberts family were of Welsh ancestry, and left Wales in the fifteenth century because of religious persecution.  They settled in Switzerland, where James Roberts, great grandfather of Peyton Roberts, was born in 1754.  James and his brother John came to Wythe county, Virginia in 1775. [Wythe County, Virginia, was not chartered until 1790.]  John enlisted in the English army and was never heard of afterwards. James joined the Continental forces, and was wounded at the battle of King's Mountain, in 1780.
He recovered, remained in the army, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
He married Nancy McKelvey, a native of Ireland, and their eldest son John was born in 1781. John lived in Campbell county, Tennessee, and there his eldest son, James Esmon, was born Aug. 28, 1807. The family moved to Breckenridge county, Kentucky, in 1827, and October 30, 1830, James E. was married to Sallie M. Cox, whose English ancestors settled in Switzerland in 1675, and came to Pennsylvania in 1712.  John Roberts and his family, with the exception of the eldest son, moved to Fountain Green, Hancock county, Illinois, in June, 1835.  James E. followed with his family in June, 1837.  His children were Elbridge, Bainbridge, Addison, Adaline, Peyton, Chauncey and Elmore. [*See note, below.]

Peyton Roberts was born at Fountain Green, Hancock county, Illinois, January 21, 1839.  His boyhood days were spent upon the farm, his evenings occupied in eagerly devouring every book he could secure.  He attended school in the village of Tennessee, and in order to obtain money for a college education, learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked in the evenings and on Saturdays.  When he had earned and saved six hundred dollars in gold, he entered Hedding College at Abingdon, Illinois.  He made his home with the family of Henry Frey, and did the chores for his board.  During his college course he secured the agency for a fire insurance company, and by soliciting business after school hours, and clerking on Saturdays, paid the entire expense of his education.

On January 4, 1864, he went to Monmouth and made that city his headquarters during the two years he acted as special agent for an insurance company.  On April 3, 1866, he began a general insurance and loan business, opening an office on the south side of the square, which he occupied continuously for forty-two years, until the time of his death.  His industry and ambition soon built up the largest business of its kind in western Illinois.  To secure the agency of an insurance company was a difficult matter in those days, but with characteristic vim, Mr. Roberts went east and applied in person for a number of the strongest companies.  Many of these remained with him throughout his life, making him the oldest agent in point of service in the State.

During his forty-four years residence in Monmouth, he was interested in and worked for every movement tending to the betterment and development of the city.  He gave much time and energy to founding Monmouth Hospital and was its first president.  He was one of the founders of the Second National Bank of Monmouth, and of the bank of Biggsville, and a stock holder in the former from the time of its organization until his death.  He was a stock holder of the National Bank of the Republic of Chicago, of the Monmouth Mining and Manufacturing Company and the Monmouth Plow Company.

He was one of the active Republicans of the State, having served thirty years on the county central committee, and six years on the State Central Committee.

He was a devoted member of many of the secret orders and found much happiness in their work.
He was made a member of the Masonic Order on April 11, 1864, by Abingdon Lodge No. 185, transferring his membership later to Lodge No. 37, A. F. & A. M., at Monmouth.  He was also a member of Galesburg Commandery No. 8, Knights Templar, Medinah Temple Lodge of the Mystic Shrine of Chicago, Oriental Consistory of Chicago, Monmouth lodge No. 577, I.O. O. F., Monmouth Lodge No. 397, B. P. O. E., Monmouth Lodge No. 277, O. E. S., and Maple City Lodge Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Roberts was known as the friend of the poor, the widow and the orphan, for scores of these went to him for assistance, and not one was turned away without being helped.  Many of them placed their business affairs unrestrictedly in his hands, and although this meant much labor and often times great expense to him, the work was always done gratis.  His numberless acts of kindness and generosity will never be known except to those he helped.  His sunny, happy disposition, his breadth of view, his keen intellect and wise judgment, were inherent in a man whose life was the gospel of brotherly love.  One of his associates said of him: "I never saw Mr. Roberts discouraged or looking on the dark side of things.  When business men would get together and deplore unsettled conditions and hard times, Mr. Roberts was always looking on the bright side.  He was a continual inspiration to all of us."

Although prevented by ill-health from taking part in the civil war, Mr. Roberts was a close student of all matters relating to it, and possessed an extensive private library on that subject.  He was familiar with the details of all the important battles and enjoyed visiting the battle fields, and recalling the scenes he knew by heart.

Peyton Roberts was married May 8, 1866, to Elizabeth Katherine Cox, and to them three children were born; Emily, the wife of Lee J. Hubble; and Corinne, the wife of C. L. Miller.
The third daughter died in infancy.  Mr. Roberts' love for and devotion to his family were the most beautiful traits of his character.  Although he was as affectonate and tender as a child, he possessed the courage, strength and force which contribute to a fearless life.  During the last few years of his life, although in rapidly failing health, he gave unremitting attention to business, often saying he wished to die "in harness."  This was realized.  On the evening of January 12, 1908, he returned from an absence of two weeks at Excelsion Springs, Missouri, for the benefit of his health.  A large amount of mail had accumulated during his absence, which he took to his home.  This he read through and arranged in the order in which he wished to take it up the next morning; then with a smile, he lay down upon his couch and passed into his last deep sleep, as sweetly and gently as he had lived.  The funeral was held in the Presbyterian church on January 16, and was in charge of the Masonic brothers he loved so well.  The following tribute is taken from the Monmouth Atlas of that date: The Maple City, fraternal brothers and scores of warm, personal friends paid their last tribute of love and respect to the memory of Peyton Roberts, one of Monmouth's foremost citizens. And this tribute to the dead was most fitting; it was typical of the man whom city, brothers and friends mourn today - quiet, simple and unostentatious, yet sincere and heartfelt.  All that was mortal of a beloved man they consigned to the tomb, but in the citadel of everlasting friendship and honor his memory remains sacred.

Seldom has the Maple City witnessed such tribute of sorrow as was paid the memory of her late resident this afternoon at the Presbyterian church, in the silent cortege which followed the body to the cemetery, and in the simple, but effective Masonic ritual with which the body was lowered into its last resting place - the tomb.

Everywhere, in accordance with the wish of the family, which would have been the wish of the deceased himself, the utmost simplicity prevailed.  The services at the church, conducted by Rev. D. E. Hughes, assisted by Dr. W. R. King, were simple in the extreme. Dr. Hughes referred with feeling to the life of the deceased, but briefly for the life of the departed needed no eulogy.

And yet the scene at the church, and as the funeral cortege wended its way to the cemetery, was almost without parallel in the Maple City.  The deceased had been a wellknown member of the Masons and other lodges.  All were represented at the funeral. From Galesburg came a large delegation of Knights Templar in the full regalia of their rank.  In this commandery Mr. Roberts had been an esteemed member.  His home Masonic lodge, No. 37, was present en masse, paying with sorrow the last tribute within its power.  The Knights of Pythias and Elks, also mourning the deceased as a brother, were represented, as were the Eastern Stars, and other orgaizations of which Mr. Roberts had long been a member.

From the church at the close of the services the funeral party, composed of the family, scores of friends and the representatives of the different orders, wended itsway to the cemetery.  There the Masons were in full charge and the casket was consigned to the tomb with the beautiful Masonic service.  The pallbearers were all Masonic brothers and were Rufus Scott, Frank W. Harding, D. D. Dunkle, V. H. Webb, John S. Brown and Arnold Bruner.

* Note the discrepancy between what was published in the biography and the second, more explicit text.  As stated in the biography, James and Nancy (McKelvey) Roberts were married and moved as follows: 1814 to Jonesboro, Tennessee; 1827 to Breckenridge [Breckinridge] County, Kentucky; 1837 to Hancock County, Illinois.  James Roberts would have turned 83 in 1837.

The second text reported that James and Nancy were married; their son, John, was born in 1781; John lived in Campbell County, Tennessee; "the family" moved to Breckenridge [Breckinridge] county, Kentucky, in 1827; John and his family, with the exception of James Esmon, the eldest son, moved to Fountain Green, Hancock County, Illinois, in June, 1835; James Esmon followed in June 1837.

Left to inveterate Roberts family researchers is the task of determining:

1.) Did James and Nancy go to Jonesboro?  Jonesboro is located in Maury County in the midsection of the state (indicated by M on the map at right).

2.) Or did they go to Jonesborough?  Jonesborough is located in Washington County in the far eastern end of the state (W on the map), not far from Campbell County (C on the map).

3.) Did James and Nancy make the trip to Illinois, in the mid 1830's?  Or did "the family" refer to John's family?  It's this writer's impression that the questioned paragraph in the biography was the result of unattentive editing.

Peyton's parents, James Esmon and Sally (Cox) Roberts, were longtime residents of Fountain Green Township.  Peyton was most likely born in Fountain Green Township, on the family farm located approximately a mile east and a bit south of the village.

Peyton and Lizzie were married in McDonough County (in Bushnell, according to one source).  Marriage Documents  (89k, 37k)

James Esmon and Sally (Cox) Roberts lived in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, for a few years before moving to Hancock County, Illinois, where Peyton was born in 1839.  Lizzie, born about 1841, was living with her family in Breckinridge County in 1850 and 1860; the family was also counted there in 1870, while in the meantime Lizzie (alone?) had gone to Illinois and married Peyton.

After reviewing the research of Billy Cox, it appears that Ralph Enoch Cox, Lizzie's father, and Sally Cox, Peyton's mother, were brother and sister, which would mean that Peyton and Lizzie were first cousins.  Given the separation of time and the distance between the two immediate families, it would be interesting to know how that courtship evolved, regardless of whether or not they were cousins.

Peyton died January 12, 1908, at his home in Monmouth, and was buried there.  Lizzie died October 2, 1929, also in Monmouth.

It's sad to note that this branch of the Roberts family ended with the deaths of daughters Emily and Corrine.

The Roberts daughters:

i.	Emily Roberts was born January 1, 1866.  She was named as Sallie E. in the 1870 census, Emma in 1880, and Emily R. in all years thereafter.  She died July 18, 1941, in Los Angeles, California.  Emily R. Hubble is the name on California death records.  (We can't help but wonder if Emily was originally named for her grandmother, but eventually chose to be called something other than Sallie.  It wouldn't be the first time we've encountered these circumstances, not by a long shot.) Emily married Levi Jones Hubble about May 28, 1896, in Warren County, Illinois.  He was born about 1866 in Missouri, probably in Greene County, the son of Martin J. and Mary J. Hubble. Captain Martin J. Hubble was the author of Personal Reminiscences and Fragments of the Early History of Springfield and Greene County, Missouri, Related by Pioneers and their Descendants at Settlers Dinners Given at the Home of Capt. Martin J. Hubble March 31, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, first published in 1914. Emily's and Levi's time in Indianapolis (if that was accurate) was apparently of brief duration, because they were residents of Monmouth in 1910, 1920 and 1930.  They had no children.  Census records
ii.	Corrine Roberts was born about 1870.  She married Charles Lester Miller about December 31, 1895, in Warren County, Illinois.  They were divorced prior to January 1, 1920.  No children were born of this union.  Corrine died after April 1, 1930, burial location undetermined.  Census records
iii.	Infant Roberts, born and died before 1900.  In both 1900 and 1910 Lizzie reported she was the mother of three children, two living.  This little one was also mentioned in Peyton's obituary.

Household of Jas E Roberts
Males 0 through 4 - 1 [Peyton]
Males 5 through 9 - 3 [Elbridge, Bainbridge, Addison]
Males 30 through 39 - 1 [James]
Females 0 through 4 - 1 [Adeline]
Females 30 through 39 - 1 [Sally]
Total - 7
Persons employed in agriculture - 1

James E Roberts, 42, male, farmer, value of real estate 600, born TN
Nancy, 23, female, born TN
Elbridge, 19, male, laborer, born KY, attended school within the year
Bainbridge, 17, male, laborer, born KY, attended school within the year
Addison, 15, male, laborer, born KY, attended school within the year
Adeline, 13, female, born KY, attended school within the year
Paton, 11, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Chauncey, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Elmore, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
John, 2, male born IL
Nancy, 1, female, born IL

Ralph E Cox, 40, male, merchant, value of real estate 500, born PA
Emily A, 26, female, born KY
Elizabeth C, 8, female, born KY, attended school within the year
Josephine B, 6, female, born KY, attended school within the year
Dewitt C, 2, male, born KY
Mary E, 4/12, born KY

R E Cox, 50, male, merchant, value of real estate 1000, value of personal estate 8000, born PA
Emily, 36, female, born KY
Lizzie K, 18, female, born KY
Josephine B, 16, female, born KY, attended school within the year
De Witt Clinton, 12, male, born KY, attended school within the year
Mary E, 10, female, born KY, attended school within the year
Alva, 6, male, born KY
Leander, 8, male, born KY
Squire Shelby, 21, male, farm hand, born IN

Roberts, Peyton, 32, male, white, insurance agent, value of real estate 2500, value of personal estate 2500, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Lizzie K, 27, female, white, k house, born KY
Sallie E, 2, female, white, born IL
Cox, Dewitt C, 21, male, white, insurance agent clk, born KY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
[Cox], Mollie E, 18, female, white, born KY

Roberts, Peyton, white, male, 41, married, fire & life ins agent, born IL, father born TN, mother born PA
Lizzie K, white, female, 38, wife, married, keeping house, born KY, father born PA, mother
born KY
Emma, white, female, 12, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY
Corrine, white, female, 10, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY

Roberts, Peyton, head, white, male, Jan 1839, 61, married for 34 years, born IL, father born VA, mother born PA, insurance agent, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his home free of mortgage

Lizzie K, wife, white, female, Sept 1841, 58, married for 34 years; mother of 3 children, 2 living; born KY, father born PA, mother born KY, could read, write and speak English

Hubble, Emily R, daughter, white, female, Apr 1868, 32, married for 4 years, mother of 0 children, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY, could read, write and speak English

Levi J, son-in-law, white, male, Aug 1866, 33, married for 4 years, born MO, father born TN, mother born MO, insurance agt, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Roberts, Elizabeth K, head, female, white, 67, widow; mother of 3 children, 2 living; born Ky, father born PA, mother born KY, spoke English, own income, could read and write, owned her home free of mortgage

Hubble, Emily R, daughter, female, white, 40, married (1st) for 13 years, mother of 0 children, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY, spoke English, could read and write

Lee J, son-in-law, male, white, 43, married (1st) for 13 years, born MO, father born TN, mother born MO, spoke English, agent, insurance, could read and write

Roberts, Lizzy K, head, owned her home free of mortgage, female, white, 78, widow, could read and write, born KY, father born PA, mother born KY, spoke English

Corinne, daughter, female, white, 49, single, could read and write, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY, attendance ? office, public schools, working for wages

Hubbele, Levi J, son-in-law, male, white, 53, married, could read and write, born MO, both parents born MO, spoke English, adjuster, fire insurance co, working for wages

Emily R, daughter, female, white, 51, married, could read and write, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY, spoke English