Sacramento Valley Biographies

FRED ROBERTS

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, April 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


                                                     
        As manager of the Empire foundry, one of the leading manufacturing
enterprises of Marysville, Fred Roberts is identified with the industrial
progress of Yuba county. Possessing natural mechanical skill and ingenuity,
and executive ability of a high order, he has won well-merited success by
his thorough mastery of his calling, and by his honest and upright dealings
with all with whom he has business relations has gained the respect of the
community. Of Welsh descent on the paternal side, he was born, May 16, 1861,
in Manchester, England, a son of Robert Roberts.

        Robert Roberts was born and reared in Wales. Subsequently locating
in England, he followed the trade of moulder in Manchester for a number of
years. Immigrating to America in 1862, he worked at his trade in Boston
three years, thence came to California in 1865, making his home in
Marysville until 1870. In 1868 he was converted and joined the Marysville
Methodist Episcopal Church, and afterwards had charge of the church of that
denomination in Brownsville. He died at Marysville in 1871, at the early age
of thirty-six years. He married Ann Metcalf, who was born in Manchester,
England, and now resides in Honcut, Cal. She came of substantial ancestry,
her mother's maiden name having been Gardner. She is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the two children she bore, her husband, Fred,
the oldest child, is the only survivor.

         Crossing the ocean to Aspinwall with his mother when an infant,
Fred Roberts came with her from Panama to San Francisco, and then to
Marysville, arriving in the fall of 1866. His father dying when he was about
ten years old, then began life's battles on his own account, for a year and
a half herding sheep on a ranch. Entering the shop of the Empire foundry,
under his former employers. From 1882 until 1884 he resided in Portland,
Ore., working in the meantime in Honeyman's city foundry. Re-entering the
Empire foundry in Marysville, in 1884, Mr. Roberts was employed as a
machinist by Hoskins Brothers, the proprietors, until April, 1889. Under the
firm's successor, J. O. Rusby, he was foreman of the machine shop until
August 10, 1891. Mr. Rusby then sold out the Empire foundry and harvester
works to the present company, who retained Mr. Roberts as foreman of the
machinery department. December 19, 1895, the plant burned down, but the
foundry and machine shops were soon rebuilt, the first casting in them being
made in an incredibly short space of time, the date being January 6, 1896.
August 1, 1896, Mr. Rusby, who was superintendent and manager of the
company, resigned and was succeeded by C. M. Gorham. December 12, 1898, Mr.
Gorham gave up his position, and Mr. Roberts was selected as manager of the
business, Justus Greeley being president, and John C. White secretary of the
company.

          The Empire foundry, located at the corner of Fifth and F Streets,
is the oldest foundry and machine shop in this section of the state. It is
finely equipped with the latest approved machinery and appliances, and the
company carries on a general foundry business, including casting and
repair-ing, and making mining, milling and agricultural machinery, their
specialty being the manufacture of hydraulic mining machinery. This company
also manu-factures the world-famed Hoskins' Giants, which are very popular,
their "New Giant" being considered the best machine of the kind ever
introduced to the market. In it the center bolt is dispensed with, a feature
which saves the constant annoyance of trash lodging against the bolt,
increases the capacity of the machine, and lessens its weight. This company
likewise manufactures deflectors, and water gates, which regulate the flow
of water from the main pipe. The products of the Empire foundry are well and
favorably known in all parts of the Union, besides Alaska, to which
shipments are made.

           In 1882, in Marysville, Mr. Roberts married Adelaide Shepherd, a
native of Illinois, and they have four children, namely: Willard Frederick,
Edward Gardner, Elizabeth May, and Ervin Robert. Nominated on the Republican
ticket for county supervisor from the first district in the fall of 1902,
Mr. Roberts was elected by a good majority, and took the oath of office in
January, 1903, since which time he has served as chairman of the committee
on public buildings. Fraternally he is a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 9,
F. & A. M., of Washing-ton Chapter No. 13, R. A. M., Of Marysville
Commandery No. 7, K. T., of Islam Temple, N. M. S., of San Francisco, of
Marysville Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Woodmen of the World. In his
political affiliations he is a zealous supporter of the Republican party.
Mrs. Roberts belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 424-425.