Person Page - 357

     Zachariah Spires was born on 31 August 1794 at Lincoln County, Georgia..¹ He married an unknown person in 1817.¹ He died on 27 April 1866 at Lincoln County, Georgia., at age 71.¹

     John M. Eubanks married Rebecca Roberts, daughter of John Arthur Roberts and Nancy Hargis, on 3 December 1832 at Lincoln County, Georgia..¹

     Manda Floyd was born in April 1876 at Florida.¹ She married Jeptha Augustus Roberts, son of James Monroe Roberts and Martha Elizabeth Castleberry, circa 1899.¹ Manda Floyd died in 1912.¹

     Herbert Crosby was the son of George Walter Crosby and Victoria Ann Roberts.¹

     Donald A. Smith married Martha Jane Roberts, daughter of Junior C. 'Jack' Roberts and Roxie Rosalia Tanzi.¹

     Emma Jean Roberts was the daughter of Lotus Roberts and Nona Irene Williams.¹

     Nona Irene Williams married Lotus Roberts, son of Jeptha Augustus Roberts and Lena Belle Gay.¹

     John Bradford Edwards was born on 13 December 1994 at Greenville, South Carolina.¹ He died on 26 February 1995 at Greenville, South Carolina.¹ He was buried on 28 February 1995 at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Greenville, South Carolin.¹

     Marion Jane Richards married Junior C. 'Jack' Roberts, son of Jeptha Augustus Roberts and Lena Belle Gay.¹

     James Thomas Roberts was born on 16 September 1889 at Coffee County, Alabama.¹ He was the son of James Warren Roberts and Sarah Francis 'Salley' Donaldson.¹ James Thomas Roberts married Nancy Jane Edge on 27 June 1908.¹ James Thomas Roberts died on 20 April 1965 at Enterprise, Alabama, at age 75.¹ He was buried at Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery.¹

     Jacob Roberts was the son of James Levi Jr. Roberts and Maria Linmar Gali.¹

     Mary Anne Ramsey was born circa 1823.¹ She married Green Washington Roberts Sr, son of John Arthur Roberts and Nancy Hargis, on 8 November 1836 at Lincoln County, Georgia..¹

     David Roberts was the son of David Montgomery Roberts and Caroline Mills.¹ David Roberts died circa 1835.¹

     J. D. Andress married Mary Winnie Crosby, daughter of George Walter Crosby and Victoria Ann Roberts.¹

     Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons was born on 25 December 1855 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ She married an unknown person on 3 December 1874 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ She died on 25 September 1940 at Monticello, Georgia, at age 84.¹
     

She was named for her paternal grandmother Martha Malinda Dennis. She islisted as Mattie in all of the records except the 1860/1880 MonroeCounty, Georgia censuses where she is listed as Martha. Five of hereight children lived to be adults. The names or birth dates of the threechildren that died is not known, but they were most likely born between1882 and 1892. Mattie lived and worked hard on the family farms inMonroe/Jasper County, from her marriage until 1922. Then she moved withher son Zeph to Monticello and lived with his family until her death.While living in town, she was active in civic and religious affairs andministered to the sick and needy. She was a strong willed, likable womanwho ruled the household which must have made for a difficult situationfor her daughter-in-law Bessie. She was always working on something andwhen someone visited her she would not let them leave without having themtake a small gift.

Her granddaughter Martha Roberts Hatcher said she was very fearful ofbeing left alone in the house and would not sleep in the bedroom byherself. This fear was most likely cause by the following incident:During the latter part of the Civil War, while her father was a soldierserving in Virginia, a Yankee soldier entered her bedroom while she wasasleep, crawled across her bed and took or kidnapped a female slave whowas sleeping in the room with her. The troops most likely tookeverything of value in the house as well as any slaves living there.¹

     Wiley Verner Roberts was born on 25 November 1875 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons.¹ Wiley Verner Roberts married Lula Kennon on 26 March 1899 at Jasper County, Georgia.¹ Wiley Verner Roberts died on 21 June 1967 at Augusta, Georgia, at age 91.¹
     

He was named for his grandfather (Wiley Roberts) but have no idea wherehis middle name, by which he was called, came from. Listed in JasperCounty, Georgia 1900 census. Lived in Monticello, Georgia close to hisbrother Z. T. and owned and ran a service station. He is not listed inthe 1910 Georgia census but is in the 1920 Jasper County, Georgia censusliving with his wife and two children. He is listed as owning anautomobile business. The business was Cornwell, Roberts, OxfordCompany. On December 6, 1924 he opened the first of its kind fillingstation close to the town square (Monticello News 12/3/1924). InNovember 1934 he ran for Monticello City Council and finished seventh outof eight men running for the five man council (Monticello News11/29/1934). On July 18, 1936 he opened a new station called RobertsFilling Station on Greene Street and in November 1936 he sold the stationto a Eugene Allen (Monticello New 7/16 and 11/5/1936 In January 1937 heand his wife moved to Augusta, Georgia, where he also purchased and ran aservice station. He is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Augusta.¹

     Lula Kennon was born in September 1877 at Georgia.¹ She married Wiley Verner Roberts, son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons, on 26 March 1899 at Jasper County, Georgia.¹

     William 'Will' M. Roberts was born in 1878 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons.¹ William 'Will' M. Roberts married Annie Elizabeth Cole circa 1901.¹ William 'Will' M. Roberts married Katie Lois Penifoy on 22 October 1925 at Jasper County, Georgia.¹ William 'Will' M. Roberts died in 1952.¹
     

He lived with his wife Annie and his three/six children in Monticello perthe 1910/1920 Jasper County, censuses. In 1910 he worked as a watchmanin an oil mill and as a farmer in 1920. His first wife died in 1925 andhe married Katie in late 1925. In March 1928 he ran for Jasper CountyCorner but lost by a vote of almost two to one (Monticello News). InNovember 1931 his 17-year old daughter Mattie Lou shot and killedherself. He and Katie were divorced on November 8, 1917/February 14,1938 (two court appearances). The case was held in front of a jury whomindicated they were both at liberty to marry again (Jasper County,Georgia Min. Book 9/1934-9/14/1940 p286-7, 311-21).

In the early to mid 1930's he was a Constable in Monticello and his nameappeared in several Monticello Newspapers in 1934 on the sale of land ofproperty for past due taxes. On November 16, 1934 he was found guilty ofillegally pointing a gun at another and fined $10.00 or 3 months in jail(Jasper County, Georgia Minute Book 8/1934 - 9/14/1940 p37). On11/9/1937 he shot Lubie Perdue five times and killed him. Both men hadbeen drinking during the day at Will's house. Will Roberts, who had beenappointed Constable, claimed self-defense when he tried to arrest LubiePerdue for boot legging. On 11/13/1937 he was found guilty of voluntarymanslaughter and sentenced to 15 - 20 years in prison. He was re-triedand on 2/18/1939 found guilty again. The Georgia Supreme Court on October14, 1939 reviewed the case and ruled: 'The evidence supported theverdict, and the general grounds of the motion for a new trial arewithout merit.' The court ordered him to pay a judgment of $190.20 foruse of the officers of the court. (Jasper County, Georgia Min. Books8/1934 - 9/14/1940 p37, 298, 426, 427, 430, 461; 9/15/1940 - 2/1951p58,59,365; case #12947 Georgia Archives in Atlanta: Georgia SupremeCourt September Term, 1939 p36). How long he stayed in jail is notknown, but he is listed as living in Monticello when his mother died in1940. He and some of his family moved to East Point, Georgia between1940 and 1944. He lived a hard life because of a problem with alcoholand a poor work ethic. He is buried beside his wife Annie in West ViewCemetery in Monticello.¹

     Patricia Ellen Roberts was the daughter of John Augustus Roberts and Linnie Karlene Jackson.¹ Patricia Ellen Roberts married Ralph Garland Cecil.¹

     Annie Elizabeth Cole was born in 1880 at Houston County, Georgia.¹ She married William 'Will' M. Roberts, son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons, circa 1901.¹ Annie Elizabeth Cole died in 1925 at Jasper County, Georgia.¹

     Katie Lois Penifoy married William 'Will' M. Roberts, son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons, on 22 October 1925 at Jasper County, Georgia.¹

     Zephaniah Thomas Roberts was born on 17 July 1882 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons.¹ Zephaniah Thomas Roberts married Bessie Lee Simmons on 13 December 1908 at Jones County, Georgia.¹ Zephaniah Thomas Roberts died on 28 October 1944 at Monticello, Georgia, at age 62.¹
     

He grew up working on his father's farm in Monroe County, Georgia. Thefamily moved to Jasper County in 1896 to a farm located about a mile andone-half outside of the town of Monticello. He only completed five yearsof school, probably because his father needed him to work on the farm. Hegrew taler than the average man born in the late 1800's reaching a heightof five feet eleven inches. He was thinly built, with blue eyes and darkhair, which turned salt and pepper later in life. In 1942 his SelectiveService Registration Certificate listed him as weighing 157 pounds withsallow complexion.

Like most suitors of the day young Zeph visited Bessie's Aunt Jo andUncle Dock to ask for her hand in marriage. They refused to give theirblessing, but he told them that he and Bessie were going to marryanyway. Most likely Jo and Dock did not want to lose Bessie's workaround the house. Zeph resented their stand the rest of his life. Aftermarried in 1908 they lived and worked on his family farm. The farm mostlikely Grew cotton but in the 1930's after not farming the land foryears, timer was cut and sold off of the land. The 1910/1920 JasperCounty, Georgia census listed him as a farmer living in a rented homewith his wife and one child / wife, four children and parents. In 1921or 22, after his father died, the family, including his mother, left thefarm and moved to town. The move most likely took place because the bollweevil destroyed much of the Georgia cotton crop in the late teens, andthey were unable to make a good living. The farm was later sold in 1939for less money than his father paid for it in 1915. On December 15, 1922he purchased a house from the estate of E. H. Jordan on Mangam Street for$2000 (Jasper County, Deed Book S p452).¹

     Vallie Roberts was born on 16 April 1892 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons.¹ Vallie Roberts married Joshua Speir circa 1912.¹ Vallie Roberts and an unknown person were divorced on 2 February 1925 at Monticello, Jasper County, Georgia, She and her husband were living in Monticello in 1920 per the census withtwo children, William Arthur and John. John died before 1924. Herhusband Josua was a traveling salesman and had another wife or girlfriendin some other city. They were divorced on February 2, 1925. The casewas held before a jury in Jasper County Superior Court. The jury foundthat both parties were free to marry again and eleven year old Arthur wasawarded to Mrs. Speir (Jasper County, Georgia Superior Court Minutes Book2/1923 - 11/1927 p154, 201, 202, 275, 276). She suffered greatly fromthe experience and never remarried. She later moved to Atlanta and workedas a nurses aid helping older people who wanted to stay home. Sometimeslater she returned to Monticello and lived close to the town square. Sheis buried in West View Cemetery in Monticello.¹ She died on 16 December 1968 at Monticello, Jasper County, Georgia, at age 76.¹

     Joshua Speir was born circa 1892 at Georgia.¹ He married Vallie Roberts, daughter of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons, circa 1912.¹

     Jabus Bridges Roberts was born on 1 July 1894 at Monroe County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons.¹ Jabus Bridges Roberts died on 8 October 1918 at Europe World War 1 at age 24.¹
     

He was a 2nd Lieutenant in World War 1 and was killed in 1918 whileleading his command in action during the Allied advance south ofChampagne. He was first buried in France but later his body was returnedto Monticello on September 17, 1923 for burial in West View Cemetery.¹

     John Speir was the son of Joshua Speir and Vallie Roberts.¹ John Speir died before 1924 at Monticello, Georgia.¹

     Bessie Lee Simmons was born on 13 December 1887 at Jones County, Georgia.¹ She married Zephaniah Thomas Roberts, son of John Arthur Roberts II and Martha 'Mattie' Malinda Simmons, on 13 December 1908 at Jones County, Georgia.¹ Bessie Lee Simmons died on 22 February 1970 at Decater, Georgia, at age 82.¹

     Evelyn Roberts was born on 28 September 1909 at Jasper County, Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of Zephaniah Thomas Roberts and Bessie Lee Simmons.¹ Evelyn Roberts married John McEnttre in 1938 at Monticello, Georgia.¹ Evelyn Roberts died on 23 May 1965 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at age 55.¹