WILLIAM F. ROBERTS, physician, Athens; son of Col. Thomas and Ann M. (Taggart) Roberts; was born in Winchester, Frederick Co., Va., June 4, 1834. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, during which he was made Colonel, and was for many years a prominent merchant of Winchester, and died in 1837, after which, his mother and family removed to Washington, D.C., and, in 1842, they removed to Zanesville, Ohio. In 1847, they came to Illinois, locating in Athens, where his mother now lives. During his early life here, he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, by which business he afterward obtained money to attend school. After getting a good education, he resolved to become a physician, and, in 1859 and 1860, he attended the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1860, and located at Greenview, in this county, and began practice. In 1861, he came to Athens, and during the late war, was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the 106th I.V.I., after which he was commissioned First Surgeon of the 28th Ill. Regt. Since the war, he has been diligently engaged in the practice of his profession, at Athens, with the exception of a short period at Greenview. He is considered a well-read and able physician. His wife was Ann E., daughter of Joseph B. and Catherine (Hall) Ayers, of this county. They wee married Oct. 14, 1856. She was born Jan. 29, 1840, and died May 16, 1879, leaving a family of seven children. In the spring of 1879, he embarked in the drug business, and is building up a fine trade.