Submitted by Dick Osha
Dick wrote:
I compiled this for the Wayne Co Hist Soc in connection with the
family gift of Dr. Roberts' dispensatory and balance scale.
EBENEZER BALDWIN ROBERTS
WAYNE COUNTY VETERAN
DRUGGIST AND DOCTOR
Ebenezer Baldwin Roberts, "E.B." or "Eb," was born in Fairfield, Wayne County, Ill., on June 6, 1840, the 7th child (of 10) of Nathan Elliott Roberts, Sr., and Mary (Bovee) Roberts. Nathan, a physician, lay preacher and evangelist, was the oldest of the 12 children of Archibald Roberts and Sarah (Pennington) Roberts.
E.B.'s grandfather Archibald was the 11th child (of 12) of Cornelius Roberts of Virginia, who was scalped by the Cherokees in 1788 while hunting ginsang on Black Mountain in Lincoln County, Va. (now Harlan County, Ky). Archibald, a hatter by trade, brought his family to Gallatin County, Illinois, about 1810, and entered land in the present Barnhill Township area of Wayne County in 1817.
He became a local Methodist Episcopal preacher soon after his conversion in 1812 and in 1825 he was ordained Deacon in the M.E. church by Bishop Roberts (no known relation). Archy was one of the first preachers in this part of the state and it is thought that at Archy's house the first Methodist society in southern Illinois was organized. The History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois, published in 1884, at page 100, indicates that "Archibald ... is thought to have been the first minister to preach a sermon in Wayne County." At page 210, this same reference states, "It is a matter of some doubt as to who preached the first sermon in the township [Barnhill] but it is thought to have been Archy Roberts."
In 1819, at the first Circuit Court ever in Wayne County, "A.Roberts" gave surety for the first sheriff, Andrew KuyKendall (ibid, p141).
It is presumed that farm labor occupied E.B. until May 1861, when, shortly before his 21st birthday, as reported in the Prairie Pioneer of Fairfield, Ill., he left Fairfield in a group of 20 young men for Springfield to join the Union Army. His records show that he had been enrolled at Fairfield by Capt. Whitson Cooper and was mustered in at Camp Anna, Ill., as a private on May 28, 1861, in Capt. Cooper's Company (later designated Co. G), 18th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.
The brief history of the regiment includes reports (Aug. 5, 1861) of its movement "into the swamp" and (Aug. 14, 1861) that "half the regiment was sick, poisoned by malaria." At that time, the regiment had no medical facilities. On Feb. 6, 1862, the regiment took part in the advance (up the Tennessee River) on Fort Henry. Company G was landed about 10 miles north of Fort Henry, and marched through flooded swamp to Henry, then cross-country east to Fort Donelson. Fort Donelson surrendered on Feb.16, 1862; for more than 10 days these men had marched, stood, and slept in freezing swamp -- often waist-deep in water -- with no cold-weather gear. In November 1862, the record showed that, of the originally mustered 930 officers and men, 65 had been killed in battle, 30 had died of battle wounds, 117 had died of disease, 34 had been discharged because of wounds, 129 had been discharged for disability, etc., 22 had deserted and 23 had been discharged for absence over two months.
On March 31, 1862, with "chronic rheumatism of four months standing", E.B. became one of those discharged for disability, having been unfit for duty 60 days of the last two months. (Regimental records list his discharge as May 4, 1862; the March 31 date was entered retroactively after May 4.) His discharge took place at Camp Pittsburgh, Tenn., and was signed by Nathan Crews, then Company Commander. As a result of his illness while in service, Ebenezer was also quite deaf upon his discharge and remained so.
E.B. worked as a farmer upon his return home and, on April 12, 1864, married Miss Sarilda Jane Hilliard, a week after her 18th birthday. Between 1865 and 1889, the Roberts had 9 children: Charles Elliott, Mary Nancy, Dora Sarilda, Martha Jane, Franklin Ebenezer, Emma Louella, John Fletcher, George Baldwin and William Hilliard.
Martha married William H. Daubs, who later was Mayor of Fairfield (1899-1901, 1901-1903). Frank E. was Wayne County Superintendent of Highways for 27 years, retiring in 1947.Emma married Ed Yohe, cashier and principle stockholder of the Mt. Erie State Bank.
Soon after their marriage, Sarilda Roberts came into her inheritance and assisted her husband in establishing himself in the drug business in Fairfield. In Aug. 1871, E. B. sold his drug business to one of his younger brothers, Nathan Elliott Roberts, Jr. Nathan greatly expanded the business, entered other businesses in Fairfield and Orlando, Fla., and established and published the Fairfield Republican newspaper.
On Feb. 8, 1872, The Wayne County Press announced, "Dr. E. B. Roberts is practicing medicine at Massilon." Sometime in the next two years Dr. Roberts moved his practice to the village of Mt. Erie and remained there until his death on May 11, 1903.
An October 1889 "Personal Sketch of Grand Jury Members" in the Wayne County Press, notes, "E.B. Roberts is a native of Wayne County, 49 years old, and lives in Mt. Erie township, where he practices medicine and farms. He is married and has seven children, uses tobacco, favors the bond suit, stock law and a new courthouse. He is a Republican, favors the M.E. church, and served in the 18th Reg. Ill. Vol. He has served as town clerk and constable of Mt. Erie township, is a member of the F.M.B.A., and is opposed to license."
E. B. and Sarilda Roberts are buried in the McKendree church cemetery southeast of Mt. Erie. E. B.'s copy of the book The American Dispensatory (1870) and his balance scale for measuring drugs are in the museum of the Wayne County Historical Society, donated by his great-grandchildren.
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