Person Sheet
NameCharles Rhoads Roberts
Birth29 Nov 1873, Allentown, PA
Death1 Jan 1943, Allentown, PA
FatherMoses Roberts (1848-1911)
MotherAlice S. Rhoads
Misc. Notes
One of the authors of
CHARLES R. ROBERTS, only child of Moses and Alice S. (Rhoads) Roberts, was born in Allentown, but in childhood lived in Pittsburgh Pa., Providence. R. 1., and Massachusetts. Mr. Roberts received the first five years of his education in the excellent schools of East Weymouth, Mass., where he ranked first in scholarship among all the school children in the town of 10,000 inhabitants. In September, 1887, he entered grammar school and graduated from the Allentown high school in 1892. Keenly interested in history, literature and languages, he continued these studies privately and while engaged in business life for the next few years in clerical positions with the Penna. Paint and Ochre. Co., Consolidated Steel & Wire Co., and Phoenix Silk Manufacturing Company. In September. 1895, he was on the staff of the Providence Telegram, and in 1896 was in the wholesale house of Callender, McAuslan & Troup Co., of Providence. R. I. In 1896, he returned to Allentown, became interested in politics, was clerk of common council from 1902 to 1904, secretary of the Republican city committee and successfully conducted the literary end of the mayoralty campaign in 1902, and of the judicial campaign in 1903. On Aug. 15, 1904, he was appointed clerk in the Allentown post office. He was one of the founders and the, first secretary of the John Hay Republican Club. At the age of sixteen he became interested m local history and continued along this line until he had accumulated a vast store of information and data on this section of the state. In 1903, he organized the Lehigh County Historical Society, which now has a membership of nearly 200, and has been its secretary continuously. He has written a number of papers on historical subjects, among them: "The Allen Family," 'Lynford Lardner and Grouse Hall," "Pennsylvania Germans in Public Life in the Colonial Period," "Allentown in the Revolution," "Revolutionary Patriots of Allentown and Vicinity," etc., etc.; is the author of "History of Egypt Reformed Church," and of "Historic Homes in Lehigh County," which latter series of papers appeared in the Pennsylvania German Magazine; translator of the records of Egypt Reformed church, 1734 to 1834 published in the Penna. Archives. Sixth Series, and editor-in-chief of the History of Lehigh County, published in 1914.
Mr. Roberts is a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution; Pennsylvania German Society, and a member of its executive committee; Bucks County Historical Society; third vice- president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies; historian of the Newhard family, member and past master of Greenleaf Lodge, No. 561, F. & A. M.; P. H. P. of Alien R. A. Chapter. No. 203, and at present D. D. G H. P. of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania for the counties of Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe. and Pike; member of Alien Council, No. 23. R. & S. M.; Alien Commandesy. No. 20, K. T.; Rajah Temple. A. A. 0. N. M. S.; Constantine Lodge, No. 1189, I. O. O.. F.; and the Lehigh Country Club.
He is a member of St. John's Reformed church and a member of its choir for a number of years. In business life he was treasurer of the North Allentown Improvement Company, and is treasurer of the Lehigh Valley Publishing Company. He resides at 520 North Sixth Street, Allentown.
Extensive obit.
CHARLES R. ROBERTS, only child of Moses and Alice S. (Rhoads) Roberts, was born in Allentown, but in childhood lived in Pittsburgh Pa., Providence. R. 1., and Massachusetts. Mr. Roberts received the first five years of his education in the excellent schools of East Weymouth, Mass., where he ranked first in scholarship among all the school children in the town of 10,000 inhabitants. In September, 1887, he entered grammar school and graduated from the Allentown high school in 1892. Keenly interested in history, literature and languages, he continued these studies privately and while engaged in business life for the next few years in clerical positions with the Penna. Paint and Ochre. Co., Consolidated Steel & Wire Co., and Phoenix Silk Manufacturing Company. In September. 1895, he was on the staff of the Providence Telegram, and in 1896 was in the wholesale house of Callender, McAuslan & Troup Co., of Providence. R. I. In 1896, he returned to Allentown, became interested in politics, was clerk of common council from 1902 to 1904, secretary of the Republican city committee and successfully conducted the literary end of the mayoralty campaign in 1902, and of the judicial campaign in 1903. On Aug. 15, 1904, he was appointed clerk in the Allentown post office. He was one of the founders and the, first secretary of the John Hay Republican Club. At the age of sixteen he became interested m local history and continued along this line until he had accumulated a vast store of information and data on this section of the state. In 1903, he organized the Lehigh County Historical Society, which now has a membership of nearly 200, and has been its secretary continuously. He has written a number of papers on historical subjects, among them: "The Allen Family," 'Lynford Lardner and Grouse Hall," "Pennsylvania Germans in Public Life in the Colonial Period," "Allentown in the Revolution," "Revolutionary Patriots of Allentown and Vicinity," etc., etc.; is the author of "History of Egypt Reformed Church," and of "Historic Homes in Lehigh County," which latter series of papers appeared in the Pennsylvania German Magazine; translator of the records of Egypt Reformed church, 1734 to 1834 published in the Penna. Archives. Sixth Series, and editor-in-chief of the History of Lehigh County, published in 1914.
Mr. Roberts is a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution; Pennsylvania German Society, and a member of its executive committee; Bucks County Historical Society; third vice- president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies; historian of the Newhard family, member and past master of Greenleaf Lodge, No. 561, F. & A. M.; P. H. P. of Alien R. A. Chapter. No. 203, and at present D. D. G H. P. of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania for the counties of Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe. and Pike; member of Alien Council, No. 23. R. & S. M.; Alien Commandesy. No. 20, K. T.; Rajah Temple. A. A. 0. N. M. S.; Constantine Lodge, No. 1189, I. O. O.. F.; and the Lehigh Country Club.
He is a member of St. John's Reformed church and a member of its choir for a number of years. In business life he was treasurer of the North Allentown Improvement Company, and is treasurer of the Lehigh Valley Publishing Company. He resides at 520 North Sixth Street, Allentown.
Extensive obit.
Spouses
1Mary Uhler