WI BIO - Dodge Co - ROBERTS, Joshua

History of Dodge County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1880, p 694

Joshua ROBERTS, merchant, Randolph [Westford Township, Dodge County, 
Wisconsin], the son of Robert and Elizabeth ELLIS*, nee OWENS, was born in 
January 1818 in North Wales, and according to the customs of that part of 
Wales, he takes his father's first instead of his last name for his surname. 
His principal business in his native country was that of slate quarrier. In 
1845 he went to London, where he engaged in general merchandising for five 
years. In 1850 he came to New York City, and there followed clerking in a 
dry goods store until 1869, thence to Randolph [Westford Township], Dodge 
County, Wisconsin, where he has been engaged in merchandising. He was a 
member of the Village [of Randolph] Board for one year, and has been School 
Treasurer since 1876.

In 1850 in London [England], he [Joshua ROBERTS] married [his first wife] 
Miss Catharine [OWEN], daughter of Griffith OWEN, by whom he had three 
children. [The children of Joshua and Catharine (OWEN) ROBERTS are]: (1) 
Elizabeth C., now Mr. LLOYD, of Columbia County [Wisconsin]; (2) Robert G.; 
and (3) Mary J. The first Mrs. ROBERTS [Catharine (OWEN) ROBERTS] died in 
1857.

In 1859 he [Joshua ROBERTS] married [his second wife] Mrs. Elizabeth 
[WILLIAMS], widow of William WILLIAMS, of Prospect, Oneida County, New York, 
by whom he has one daughter. The daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth ROBERTS 
is}; Maggie J. The second Mrs. ROBERTS died in 1872. Mr. [Joshua] ROBERTS 
and his family are members of the Welsh Calvinistic Church.

[* In some parts of Wales the custom of a son taking his father's first 
instead of his last name as his surname was practiced. Thus Joshua, son of 
Robert ELLIS, became Joshua ROBERTS, not Joshua ELLIS, as American naming 
custom would have dictated.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly