Descendants of

WILLIAM W. ROBERTS

&

CATHERINE WILLIAMS

WR1-William W. Roberts b7/13/1804 Trawsfynydl,Meironeth-shire,Wales-d6/4/1877 Courtland,Columbia,WI-m6/7/1836 Wales Catherine Williams (4/19/1811 Tfestiniog,Wales, daughter of Robert & Laura Williams of Wales) For nine years they lived in Wales. William worked in the slate quarries. He lost the sight of one eye in an explosion. The other eye became affected and for many years he was blind. In July of 1845, [Catherine's father and her father's brothers and sisters and several others set out with Grandfather William Roberts and Family across the Atlantic. It took them seven weeks to sail across the Atlantic. Some times they would get blown off course. They reached New York on August 26, 1845. Laura Williams (mother of Catherine) was too sick to travel further, so her husband, Robert Williams, and their daughter Jane remained with her while the rest pushed on eager to reach their new homes in Wisconsin. Laura died soon after. Robert and Jane then followed the others to Racine where they spent the winter. In the spring, Robert Williams and children William, Jane, & Ann? Settled in Courtland, Columbian Co., WI, near Cambria. His other children came later it appears. They were among the earliest settlers in Courtland and they soon organized a little church on "Welsh Prairie" (Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church, were quite strick and started in Wales with a doctrine of their own, in which Robert Williams was a faithful worker until his death in 1853. This little church became quite a center for musical enterprises. Musicians and speakers of importance met here. (Marge Kukuwich) There were no railroads in those days so the eary settlers were obliged to drive acorss the country over rough roads and Indian trails. Many traveled in covered wagons drawn by oxen driving their cattle with them. It took about eight days to travel from Racine to Portage. At first, they lived on the bluff in Caledonia Co. (History of Columbia Co., WI?) ] William was called Nian by the grandchildren which meant Grandfather, and Catharine was called Tiad meaning Grandmother. They are Welsh words. - 1880 WI, Columbia County Census states that William is 75 years old, and the household consists of Catherine his wife, daughter Gwen, a son Cadwalader, and granddaughter Katie J. Roberts.

Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church: Several families from Wales had settled around Racine, WI for a short time and then moved on to the Caledonia area. The families worshiped together and held prayer services in different homes. In the summer of 1848, a log building was erected 1/2 mile west of the present cemetery, where church services were held and also used as a school house. The church society was organized on May 30, 1848. It was known as the Rock Hill Church. (In 1853, Robert Williams died) In 1856 with the increased membership, the log building became too small and the congregation voted to build a church. They had worshiped in this log church for nine years. In the fall of 1856, rough timbers and stones for the basement had been hauled ready for building the church in the spring of 1857. The church was completed in the late summer. The building was plain, of medium height, painted white, and built over a basement of stone. It was "Incorporated," as it was a law of the land. Time and labor had been donated by the neighborhood as is gladly done by country folks. The church had two aisles and three rows of seats with several seats on each side of the pulpit. The cemetery was laid out in 1856. For some time in the early years no one had a wagon. They had low log sleds drawn by oxen. One man made a low wagon from the ends of a large stump and he also made the wheels. It was all wood with a rough box and seat drawn by oxen. Grease was scarce in those days and the squeaking could be heard a long way. They attended religous services regularly the best way they could. The church had ("Sciat") Class Meeting regularly. In the summers at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the children stood together and said their verses of scripture, questioned and catechized on their verses and the older people would speak of their religious experiences. The Communion Service was held once a month and was a blessed, helpful service. There was nearly as large a Sunday School as church service. The teachers taught the fundamentals of religion and how to live it. At the age of 2 1/2 years the small children sat on a bench without a back that was pulled out from under the regular bench for one whole hour, and were taught the Welsh alphabet and small Welsh words, would repeat their verse and put a penny in the collection to be sent each year for the black children of India. There we were taught to love and give to Missions. When Sunday School was over, that bench was pushed under the regular seat. The church had good singing and was a great part of the Welsh Church. With Mrs. Phillips soprano and Thomas Williams bass, often times there was a "Hwyl" or a go to the singing, repeating and repeating the song. On January, 1860 the Welsh Bible Society of Caledonia was organized. It was an Auxilliary of the American Bible Society of New York. The Bible Society furnished Bibles and Testaments for the families of the neighborhood. It gave Bibles and Testaments for use in the Sunday School. The records show that German and Bohemian Bibles were given. The Bible Society did much in placing God's word in every home and to all persons desiring one. In 1860 a blessed revival came to the Caledonian Church. A bigger church was built later and when it closed, money was received from the sale of the church to the Cemetery Association for the care of the cemetery. The remaining money was used for a memorial to the church to commemorate the religious life of the Welsh people of Caledonia, WI. The Gospel of Jesus Christ had been preached to its people since 1848 when the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was organized in the log church building 1/2 mile west of present cemetery. We have much to commemorate in these three churches. Those faithful servants of God, so earnestly telling us of the Way of Life and the Way of Death. The fervent, uplifting prayers of the fathers of the church, praying for the church and their children, and the wonderful singing of the Welsh hymns by the congregation. We thank God for these Welsh churches and the Christian community of yesterday and the bygone years. The committee selected a large gray granite stone and on it placed a history of the Welsh Churches of Caledonia, WI. It was erected in 1938 on the spot of two of the churches that had stood there. About it lies buried its deacons, its ministers, some of its children and some members of each church and congregation.

As the breezes gently blow over their resting place, We think we hear them softly singing together, Spirit with spirit - those old hymns of the church As they sang them in the long ago. "We said farewell, to the friends so dear, For a short time we must part - We shall meet, those loved ones gone And lost, awhile - 'just gone before.' "

Lois, Jerry, Lloyd, & Dorothy

WR12-Robert W. Roberts 8/14/1836 Wales-d2/10/1904 Lived in WI with parents and then went to around 1860. Wymore,Gage,Nebraska-mAnn ? b2/7/1845 Note: In 1900, Robert and his family were in Gage County, Barneston Twp., Nebraska. It appeared that he moved to Gage County sometime between 1880 and 1883.

WR13-Gwen (Elizabeth) Roberts b1840 Wales (Records of Marguerite Flower) - d6/6/1911 616 Hamilton St.,Portage,WI of apoplexy. Came with her parents to WI after the Civil War, Gwen worked many years in Portage at her trade in the Tailor Shop. Funeral held at the Welsh Church in Caledonia. Burial: Caledonia Welsh Cem. on Hwy 33 in Caledonia(Obit of Elizabeth Roberts) 1850 Census states she is living with her parents in Dist. 8, Town of Dekorra,Columbia Co., WI. - 1880 WI Census states that Gwen is living at the residence of her parents, William & Catherine Roberts. - Elizabeth Roberts died at at 616 Hamilton Street of Portage,WI, the home of her brother, J. W. Roberts. (Obit of Elizabeth Roberts,Portage Paper) -Her death certificate states she was a nurse.

WR14-James W. Roberts b9/10/1840 Meirsonyhd Shire,Wales-d3/13/1915 Columbia,WI (Source: Columbia Co., Wivol 8 p554)-m12/31/1873 Cambria,town of Courtland Mary Jane Jones (Source: Columbia Co.,Wivol 5 p172 remark 515) In 1862, James went to the Civil War. After marriage, James and Mary moved to Chicago. Resided later at 616 Hamilton Street of Portage,WI. At the time of Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts death she died at this address (Obit of Elizabeth Roberts,Portage Paper); later was the residence of Janet and Kenneth Wakerhauser, and later the home of Janet & Ned Brunt (Marge Kukuwich)

WR15-Laura Roberts b abt 1841 Wales-m12/26/1872 Cook Co.,IL Hugh Hughes (Source: Mary Kay Mabe,Web Site) Came to WI with her parents from Wales. Laura went with Jane to Chicago to work and afterwards married. Laura & Hugh resided in Chicago (1880 Columbia Co. Hist. Book)

WR16-William W. Roberts, Jr. b1844 Wales-d1/10/1875 Caledonia,Columbia,WI (Source: Columbia Co.,Wivol 1 p20 remark 58) of Lung Fever. (Excelsior Diary of Ivie Johnson) Will moved to Racine, WI from the old country with other his mother and father and other family members. Will and family remained near Racine for three years on a farm where Margaret and Amy were born. James & Mary Roberts came from a distance to his funeral. His sister, Lizzie, took his death very hard. (Excelsior Diary of Ivie Johnson)

WR17-Margaret M. (Maggie) Roberts b1845 Wales-d1862 Columbia,WI

WR18-Jane (Jennie) Roberts b abt 1848 WI-m1/9/1875 Cook Co.,IL Griffith Owens (Mary Kay Mabe: Web Site) Jane with her sister, Laura, went to Chicago to work and later married.

WR19-Elias W. Roberts b1849 WI-d1863 Caldonia Twp.,Columbia,WI

WR20-Cadwallader W. Roberts b10/18/1853 Portage,Caledonia,Columbia,WI - d4/21/1929-m12/31/1885 Randolph,Columbia,WI Mary Ann Hughes (Source: WI Marriage recd pre 1907 col. Co. v3 p0213 Columbia,WI v8 p230 remark 259) Cadwallader was a carpenter, he and his wife lived 40 years in Cook County, residence of 1148 North Mayfield Avenue, Chicago,Cook,IL. Died of chronic myocarditis, angina pectoris, and also had artery sclerosis. Burial: Elmlawn, Addison Twp.,DuPage Co.,IL (Death Cert. 18585 Cook Co.,Chicago,IL)

Credits: Records of C.W. Roberts, Jerry Roberts, Janet Brunt, Janice Oakley, Dorothy Bell, Marge Kukuwich, Harley Haskin, Margaret Watling, Mary Kay Mabe, Karolyn Roberts, Nancy Kreiers, & Marguerite Flower

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Friday, October 27, 2006