HON. JOHN ROBERTS.
In the days of the early settlement of Washington county, Richard
Roberts came to the county from North Carolina. His son Henry
Roberts grew to manhood, and became one of the most influential citizens
of the county, a captain in the militia, and many years a magistrate.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Basil Warren, of Washington county,
her mother a Miss Clark, whose father, Peter Clark, settled near Emory
previous to 1800, coming from Scotland. John, son of Henry Roberts
and his wife Elizabeth, was born five miles north of Abingdon, on
December 9, 1834. Coming of a family whose representatives served in
the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, he was early interested in
military matters, and previous to the late war was several years captain
in the militia service. He entered the Confederate States service in
April, 1862, lieutenant in Company I, 48th Virginia regiment, and took
part in all its engagements to Chancellorsville, including battles of McDowell,
Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, the seven days fighting
around Richmond, Cedar Run, second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg.
At Chancellorsville he lost left leg above knee. He had one
brother, David, killed in battle of Gettysburg, while serving under Gen.
Ewell, near Culps Hill. Another brother, Henry B., was in service before
eighteen years of age, commissioned captain in the Reserve Troops,
engaged in battle of Saltville.
Captain Roberts is a farmer and miller. He has been a notary public
for the last eight years, and is the present representative from Washington
county in the legislature.
His first wife was Margaret, daughter of John Chapman of Washington
county, whose wife was Mary, daughter of Stephen and Margaret Lyon,
also of this county. The issue of this union was one son, John Henry
Roberts. Secondly Captain Roberts married Susan, daughter of William
Rhea of Washington county, her mother a Miss Carmick. She died without
issue. Near Abingdon, in October, 1882, he married Mary H. Balzell,
who was born in this county, the daughter of David Balzell, whose
father, Lawrence Balzell, came to Washington county from France.
Her mother's maiden name was Sallie Hanby.
