b. November 19, 1808, in Washington County, Pennsylvania; d. August 24, 1878, in Pike County, Illinois. Roberts came to Illinois in 1836. He settled in Shawneetown first and then moved to Springfield. In 1839, Roberts succeeded William Carpenter as postmaster of Springfield, Illinois. He was in office for only a short time. Roberts moved to Pike County, Illinois, in 1848. He bought The Pike County Sentinel in April 1849 and changed the name to The Pike County Union. He sold the paper to M. H. Abbott in 1851. Roberts was supervisor of Martinsburg Township from 1854 to 1856 and again from 1859 to 1864. He was clerk of the legislature for several sessions, and in 1868 he was appointed collector of Internal Revenue for the district. Roberts served as justice of the peace from 1869 until his death.