Portions of letter that I (George McRoberts) received from my sister Crystal Audrey McRoberts Alyea- Jan 1969.
Harry drew this map. I will number the places as I remember where the folks lived.
They lived in Rushville for a while, that was before I was born, and I think before Emery was born. I think he was born in Carrollton in the house our grandparents owned. Our grandparents had bought the home, but, grandpa died before they moved there. Uncle George told me they lived south of here from us in the place we knew as the George Alyea place. Just south of the Charles Alyea home. (D).
Uncle George said he was 17 years old (1892) when his father died. Our folks could have lived in the house at Carrollton before Grandma-Aunt Annie, Uncle George and Uncle Cliff moved there. The lot was from the alley south of house.. I'll try to draw a map. On the map Harry has drawn- Large map-
No.1- is where Dad and Mom lived where Emery and I were small-first house south of Depot in Carrollton.
No.2-is where they lived with Grandma McRoberts in same house.
No.3-is where Dad and Mom owned in Carrollton where Dad died (1921).
No.4-an old log house where they lived when Emery and I were very small.
No.5- Where we lived in Shelby County , IN (Show Halter House). We lived there a year or less.
No.6-We lived just west of Fountaintown, Shelby Co. about a year. I was seven years old.
No.7 The cabin on R.W. Low's farm. We lived there two different times. Virgil and Melvin were born here.
No.8-Lived here. Hohn R. Andis owned this at that time (Ed Muth Corner) Before we lived there , there was a tollgate near the corner. Scott school was on the other corner(north east) Emery attended his first school here. James Elliott was the teacher. I was not old enough, but Mom has said whenever I wanted to go I just walked in. It was alright with the teacher. We always liked him and visited him a few years ago.
No.9-The James Larrimore (Dr.) farm where you were born. Two miles northof Fountaintown. Brandywine Township, Hancock Co.,IN (1908).
A- is where Fern MCRoberts McConahay was born. It was known as the Dave Ward House.
C- is where Henry L. McRoberts lived and owned. The south house was of logs. He built the house just north of it.
(B). In later years Uncle Hiram and Annie Conner lived there. Emery and Bess and Fern lived there a while. Jesse Edward McRoberts the third son born to Henry L. and Louisa (Louie as she was called) McRoberts was born in New Palestine, Sugar Creek TWP, Hancock Co., IN, Dec 8 1867.
Martha Ann Farley was born June 14, 1872. She was the daughter of Caleb Nice Farley and Emily Caroline Smith Farley-was born in Greenfield IN. They lived on what is now Riley Ave.,close to the James Whitcomb Riley Home.
Caleb Farley was the first town Marshall of Greenfield coming there about 1862. He was a cooper by trade (Made barrells). Coming from Eastern Ohio along the Ohio River. He originally was from West Virginia.
Caroline was from Proctorville Ohio. Here father was a circuit rider. She went with him to lead the singing. Her father was -------Smith. Her mother was Zeulema Smith.
George, I do not remember the exact time you were born, but was sometime after dark and midnight. Dad took me and one of the boys- must have been Emery- down to Mrs. Dave Wards to stay rest of the night. Mrs. Sarah Ward went home with him and was with Mom when youwere born. Am not sure but believe Dr. Larrabee* was the doctor. I remember Dr.. Larremore coming to see you in a few days. He told Mom if she wanted a healthy baby NOT to keep him too clean.
Note by George McRoberts- *According to my mother, Dr. Oscar Heller MD brought me into this world, however my local record of birth as recorded in Department of Healthstates attending Physician was E.N. Miller MD address Fountaintown, IN. Recorded locally in Book no.11 page 19.
Must have been the first few months Dad and Mom were married they lived in Rushville. Dad worked in a furniture factory. They had a neighbor, Crystal Laufler- Mom liked the name so well so when I came along she named me Crystal after her friend and Audrey after Audrey Rupke Larrabee. The day I was born was cold and big snow on ground. They had duck for dinner. Grandma McRoberts cooked it. Dr. and Mrs James Larrimore at dinner with them. The next day Dad went in a sleigh to Westland annd got Aunt Effie (Mothers sister) to stay with them.
All the time Dad lived in Carrollton (up until he bought his own home where he lived last) he worked for a grocery and dry goods store anddrove a huckster wagon. He worked for Ballard Eusminger, Henry Noe and Charles Amos.
One incident when he worked for Charles: Emery went to the store (Close by) and bought two cents worth of stick candy and charged it to Dad and He hid it in the rose bushes at home. Of course, Charles Amos thought it so funny he had to tell Dad. I don't remember if he spanked Emery or if I got any of the candy, but I do remember the rose bushes.
We lived first house south of the Depot. James Barnett was Depot Agent. Emery and I played in the depot. We were very small. I just can remember when we lived in the log house (NO.4 on the map) I was sick and Mom gave me medicine. We lived back at the cabin on Mr. Wm Low's place two different times.Virgil and Melvin were born there. I remember the buildings and when the log barn burned. I also remember the large apple orchard, and oh yes, the Many snakes. I can almost shut my eyes and see them and hear them hiss. Mom killed many of them.
Dad was officer in Knights of Pythas lodge. He attended regular. They both attended Court of Honor Lodge. Omer Giles would stay with us children. He says he would read a book while the folks were gone. Mom and Dad always read a lot and outloud taking turns.
Later years Emery and Bess lived in the house that Mrs. Dave Ward had owned Fern was born there (Fern Olive McRoberts McConahay). Mrs Ward had married John Sedden. Seems he had changed the spelling of his name. They said at the time he was relation to Dad. I do not know how. Dad always said he was relation to Bud GRAY (Abraham). His father was Haden GRAY. Bud's mother was Phoebe.
For a few years before and at the time you were born, George, Uncle George and Aunt Cora Frye McRoberts lived in Rush Co. on the farm owned by Aunt Leah (Lear) Moore. The farm where our great grand parents had lived and owned. Uncle Ell (Henry Ellsworth McRoberts) had lived there many years before, but had moved to another house (south) on the same farm. I stayed with Uncle George and Aunt Cora for weeks at a time when I was twelve or thirteen. I remember the sweet apple tree that stood north of the house. How good the apples were. I wonder if our great grand parents planted the tree? I could go on and on as I remember going there when Uncle Ell lived in the old house.. He got mad at a calf-kicked it and broke his ankle so Dad went with horses and wagon, left mom and the boys at home, and took me with him. I sat in a high chair placed in the wagon. Dad planted the crop of corn.
Here is something else you might want. When the Christian Union Church was organized in Carrollton, Feb 12, 1887 these were charter members among many others. Jesse McROBERTS, Martha FARLEY, They were baptized by immersion June 6, 1887 by Rev G.W.Hagans. George McROBERTS, (Brother of Jesse), Anna MCROBERTS. Later Louisa McROBERTs joined. Mom and Dad later joined Mt. Lebanon Church. Methodest, Protestant church in 1905\06. They were active in Church. Dad was Sunday School Supt. many years. About 1911 you were three, we moved to Carrollton. Dad bought the property of the Murphy heirs. He later bought property joining just south. After a few years sold the second property.
They joined Carrollton MP Church by letter. George, you were born on Friday and on the following Sunday Virgil and Melvin were baptized by Rev. Solom Stainbrook in Brandywine Creek one half mile south of Mt Lebanon Church. It was a beautiful warm day.. Rev. and Mrs Stainbrook came to our home for dinner.
Uriah Low had deeds to the land Mr. Low bought of the Gray's so if he looks at the deeds perhaps he will find who the earlier GRAY'S were that owned the land. If you know what our great grandfather Gray's name was send it to me.
*My records indicate that Dr. Oscar Heller MD was the doctor, but was not available at the time. Dr. E.N. Miller MD was summoned and he brought me into this world.
