James Montgomery Roberts, son of James Esmon Roberts and Nancy Shipley, was born in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1854.  He died December 6, 1923, at Hollis Township, Peoria County, Illinois, burial at Majorville Cemetery, Hancock County.

On December 21, 1877, James signed an affidavit at the office of the County Clerk for Hancock County, applying for a marriage license for himself and Kezia Brown.  He presented a note signed by both his father and Kezia's father, stating that they consented to the marriage.  James was of legal age but "Kissey" was three weeks shy of her 17th birthday.  The clerk issued Hancock County license #6021 and Rev. Theodore P. Henry performed the marriage two days later, on December 23.  Marriage Documents

Kezia Brown, the daughter of William S. Brown and Amy Strange, was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, near Burlington.

We know from census records that James and Kezia initially lived with his parents, then bought their own farm.  Reported as a farmer in 1900, James subsequently became a veterinary surgeon.  He wasn't included in the Prairie Farmer's Reliable Directory in 1918.  Eight Roberts children were born, most likely in Fountain Green Township.  One son died in infancy, two daughters died in their teens.

Mrs. Kezia Roberts, aged 82, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Freeman Dorothy, in Blandinsville, at 5:30 a. m. Wednesday, December 29, 1943, after only a two weeks' illness with flu which developed into pneumonia.

Mrs. Roberts, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Brown, was born near Burlington, Iowa, January 15, 1861.  She was united in marriage with James Montgomery Roberts December 23, 1878.  The husband passed away in 1923.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Freeman Dorothy of Blandinsville and Mrs. Clarence Hainline of Colchester, three sons, Grover Roberts of Blandinsville, Edward F. Roberts of Chicago and William E. of Peoria; two brothers and three sisters, eighteen grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.  One grandson, William Keith Roberts of Peoria, is a Japanese war prisoner.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2:00 at the Methodist church with Rev. P. L. Powell officiating.  Interment was in the Majorville cemetery.

The children of James Montgomery Roberts and Kezia Brown were:

i.	Unnamed infant Roberts, born and died before June 1, 1900, buried in the Roberts Family Cemetery.  See reference #20.
ii.	Maud May Roberts, born August 6, 1881, died December 5, 1955.  Burial at Glade City Cemetery, Blandinsville, McDonough County, Illinois.
iii.	Bessie Louisa Roberts, born February 21, 1884; died May 4, 1902; burial at Majorville Cemetery.
iv.	Childa Ann Roberts, born October 11, 1886.  She died January 16, 1901, of "quick consumption".  Interment at Majorville Cemetery.
v.	Jesse Grover Roberts, born October 10, 1889; died October 22, 1972, burial at Glade City Cemetery, Blandinsville.
vi.	Edward F. Roberts, born July 24, 1891.
vii.	William E. Roberts, born May 30, 1894.
viii.	Hattie Roberts, born March 23, 1897, died October 15, 1984, burial at Glade City Cemetery, Blandinsville.

James E Roberts, 55, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 1000,
born TN
Nancy, 49, female, born TN
_ancey L, 19, male, farmer, born IL
Elenore [Elmore], 17, male, farmer, born IL, attended school within the year
John, 12, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Isabell, 10, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Ellen, 9, female, born IL, attended school within the year
James M, 7, male, born IL
Theodore L, 5, male, born IL
Eliza, 2, female, born IL

Roberts, James, 61, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 4000, value of personal estate 300, born TN, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Nancy, 42, female, white, keeping house, born TN, could not write
John, 22, male, white, farm laborer, born IL
Ellen, 18, female, white, born IL
Montgomery, 16, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Lafayette, 14, male, white, born IL
Louisa, 12, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year

Roberts, James E, white, male, 73, married, farmer, born TN, father born VA, mother born TN
Nancy J, white, female, 53, wife, married, keeping house, born TN, father born VA, mother born TN
J M, white, male, 26, son, married, farmer, born IL, both parents born TN
C, white, female, 18 [might be 17 or 19], daughter, married, keeping house, born IA, father born VA, mother born OH
Lafayette, white, male, 24, son, single, at home, born IL, both parents born TN
John R, white, male, 26, nephew, single, at home, born IL, father born KY, mother born IL

Roberts, James M, head, white, male, May 1854, 46, married for 22 years, born IL, both parents born TN, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read write and speak English, paying on a mortgage on his farm home, farm schedule 154

Keziah, wife, white, female, Jan 1861, 39, married for 22 years; mother of 8 children, 7 living; born IA, father born VA, mother born OH, could read, write and speak English

Maud May, daughter, white, female, [month illegible] 1881, 19, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, servant, months not employed - 3, could read, write and speak English

Bessie L, daughter, white, female, Feb 1884, 6, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, at school, attended school for 7 months, could read, write and speak English

Cloie A, daughter, white, female, Oct 1886, 14, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, at school, attended school for 7 months, could read, write and speak English

Jessie Grover, son, white, male, Oct 1889, 10, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, at school, attended school for 7 months, could read, write and speak English

Edward H, son, white, male, July 1891, 8, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, [school attendance not indicated]

William E, son, white, male, May 1894, 6, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, [school attendance not indicated]

Hattie A, daughter, white, female, Mar 1897, 3, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA

Roberts, James M, head, male, white, 57, married (1st) for 33 years, born IL, both parents born TN, spoke English, veterinary surgeon, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write, rented his home

Kizzie, wife, female, white, 49, married (1st) for 32 years; mother of 8 children, 5 living; born IA, father born VA, mother born OH, spoke English, could read and write

Grover, son, male, white, 20, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, spoke English, laborer, farm, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1909

Edward, son, male, white, 18, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, spoke English, could read and write, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1909

William, son, male, white, 15, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, spoke English, could read and write, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1909

Hattie, daughter, female, white, 13, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IA, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Roberts, _____ [illegible], head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 65, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born TN, spoke English, "veternary", "veternary surgen", working on own account

Kessie, wife, female, white, 59, married, could read and write, born IL, father born VA, mother born OH,spoke English

(Kezia was a boarder along with a number of other residents)

Roberts, Kezia, lodger, female, white 69, widow, age at first marriage - 17, could read and write, born OH, both parents born OH, spoke English