The William J. Roberts Family

Link to our Lanhams

William J. Roberts 1829 → Ida Melvina Ellen Roberts 1865 → Ida married Larkin Patrick Williams 1851 → Altus Oleva Williams 1896 → Altus married Adrian Alford Colbath 1893 → Oleta Colbath 1917 → Oleta married O.S. Lanham (see The Oran Stroud Lanham Family 1916)

W.J.Roberts
Figure 1. William J. Roberts Family Tree,Tennessee,Sarah Elizabeth Jane WILSON
Note
More research is need for William’s ancestors.

William J. ROBERTS, was born in Tennessee [1], 12 December 1829 [2] [3], both his father and mother were born in Tennessee, and he married Sarah Elizabeth Jane WILSON ca 1855.[4] [2] Sarah E. was born 25 May 1837 in Tennessee [2] [1] and both her father and mother was born in Tennessee. It is not known at this time when they moved to Oklahoma Territory, but the 1900 Greer County, Oklahoma Territory census show them living in the Hess area at that time, and grand daughter Viola Burress was living with them. [5] William died 8 May 1905 and Sarah died 29 November 1924 [6] and both are buried at Hess, Oklahoma. [2]

WilliamJ.Roberts and Sarah E.J.cir1900
Figure 2. William J. Roberts and Sarah E. J. Roberts about 1900 [7]

The 1880 Collin Co., Texas census showed that William and Sarah had seven children living with them; John James, George, Robert., Ida Melvina Ellen, Martha Ann, Minnie M. and Lee Roberts.[8]

Census1880 WilliamJRobertsFamily
Figure 3. 1880 Collin County Texas Census
Census1880 WilliamJRobertsFamilyWithHeader
Figure 4. 1880 Collin County Texas Census (next page)

(i.) John James ROBERTS , was born 5 April 1859 in Texas, and married Sarah (Sally) Elizabeth BURRESS, on 15 April 1880. John J. died 4 January 1942, and is buried at Pinon, New Mexico, Mount Vista Cemetery. Sarah died 9 April 1922. John J. and Sarah had two daughters; Salome Oleva and Erma Irene Roberts.

Note
Salome raised Oleta Colbath after her parents died.

(ii.) George T. ROBERTS, was born ca 1862 [9] in Texas [8], no information, we believe he died at an early age.

(iii.) Robert J. (Bob) ROBERTS , was born in Texas, April 1867 in Collin County Texas. He married Francis A. York and they had a daughter Farrbell Roberts.[10] Francis died in 1942 and Robert J. died in 1944 in Walker, Garvin, Oklahoma.

(iv.) Ida Melvina Ellen ROBERTS, was born in Texas, ca 1865. The Greer co. census gave her date of birth as 1864, the tombstone indicates 1865. Ida married No. 1, a BURRESS, and they had one son; William and three daughters; Nora, Viola, and Theron Burress. She married No. 2, Larkin Patrick Williams. See [The_Larkin_Patrick_Williams_Family].

(v.) Martha Ann (Matt) ROBERTS, was born in 1872, and married J. W. (Dan) TUCKER , who was born in 1857. Martha Ann died 29 December 1959 in Altus, OK and Dan died in 1953 and both are buried at Hess, Okla.

MarthaAnnRoberts
Figure 5. Martha Ann Roberts

(vi.) Minnie May ROBERTS, was born in July 1875 in Texas. She married Albert R. BANKS on 25 Dec 1894 in , Wilbarger, Texas.[11] , Albert was born 03 Feb 1872 in Springdale, Arkansas.[12] Minnie died 1 November 1904 and she is buried at Hess, Okla.

The 1900 Greer county, Oklahoma census showed Minnie and her husband Albert Banks and their children lived next door to Minnie’s father.[13]

Census1900 WilliamJRobertsFamilyHeader
Figure 6. 1900 Altus, Greer, Oklahoma Census Header
Census1900 WilliamJRobertsFamily2
Figure 7. 1900 Altus, Greer, Oklahoma Census Shows William J Roberts family next door to Albert & Minnie Banks family

See the photo of Minnie, Albert, and their four children below.

1896MinnieRobertsBanksHessOK OletasFolks
Figure 8. Elmer, Arnsel, Minnie Roberts, two unknown children, and Albert Banks in Hess, Oklahoma [7]
Note
Although the handwritting on the photo states 1896, this year is unlikely given the dates the children were born per census information we have found later. The photo is more likely taken in 1905/6, given how old the children appear.
  • Elmer Banks, son, born 1896 in Oklahoma [14]

  • Arnsel A. Banks, daughter, born 1898 in Oklahoma [15]

  • Louis W. Banks, son, born 1901 in Oklahoma [16] [17]

  • Ernest T. Banks, son, born 1903 in Oklahoma [17]

  • Maybel M. Banks, daughter, born 6 Sep 1904 with mother born in Texas (Minnie was born in Texas, Margaret was born in Tennessee)

Note
It is possible Minnie died due to complications from child birth with Maybell because she died on 1 Nov 1904, about two months after Maybel was born.

By the 1910 census in Elmer, Jackson, Oklahoma, Albert had already married spouse (2) Margaret, born about 1877 in Tennessee, though from the census they haven’t had children together yet.[17]

Census1900 AlbertBanksFamily
Figure 9. Albert Banks family in 1910. Minnie is gone.
Census1900 AlbertBanksFamilyWithHeader
Figure 10. Albert Banks family in 1910 (next page)

Albert died 1961, and he is also buried at Hess, Okla.

(vii.) Lee ROBERTS , was born 1 Apr 1879 [18] in Collin county, Texas. We have some legal papers signed by him in 1904 and 1920. Lee died 01 Oct 1928 at Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas.[19]


1. Altus, Greer County, Oklahoma Census 1900-06-07
2. Oran Stroud Lanham’s Family History Research, October 1984.
4. Ancestry.com, Original data: Collin County, Texas. Marriage Index. McKinney, Texas: Collin County Vital Records Department.
5. 1900 Greer Co. Oklahoma Census
6. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, by Ancestry.com, 2012
7. Photos were in the possession of Oleta Lanham before she died. Her son has the originals now.
8. Ancestry.com, Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 4, Collin, Texas; Roll: 1296; Family History Film: 1255296; Page: 157A; Enumeration District: 023. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
9. He was 18 in the 1880 census, so subtraction gives 1862 as approximage birthdate.
10. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC7J-TXJ : accessed 29 October 2017), Robert J Roberts, Walker, Garvin, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 23, sheet 8B, line 96, family 114, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1903; FHL microfilm 2,341,637.
11. Texas Marriages, 1837-1973, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX7S-CXR : 5 December 2014), A. R. Banks and M. M. Roberts, 25 Dec 1894; citing , Wilbarger, Texas, , reference 2:HB8MKK; FHL microfilm 1,443,618.
12. 1900 Greer Co. Oklahoma Census
13. 1900 Greer Co. Oklahoma Census
14. 1900 Greer Co. Oklahoma Census
15. 1900 Greer Co. Oklahoma Census
16. 1900 Greer Co. Oklahoma Census
17. Albert Banks family in 1910 Elmer, Jackson, Oklahoma Census
18. United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZXC-HPG : 12 December 2014), Lee Roberts, 1917-1918; citing Ft. Worth County no 2, Texas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,953,360.
19. Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K37S-V9L : 5 December 2014), Lee Roberts, 01 Oct 1928; citing certificate number 46000, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,661.
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