Archibald Roberts came from Virginia and settled in Barnhill in 1817. His father was killed in that state by the Indians when the remainder of the family moved to Kentucky and afterward to Illinois. Archibald located in the south part of the township and there commenced the manufacture of hats. He afterward moved to Fairfield where he long continued in the same business but finally went to Mount Carmel and there died in 1863.

Aug. 22, 1822 David Monroe and Nancy Crews were married, Archy Roberts officiating. This was undoubtedly the first matrimonial venture in the township.

Nathan E. Roberts, Jr., druggist, Fairfield. One of the earliest pioneer settlers of Wayne County was Archibald Roberts, who came to Illinois from Virginia in 1818. By trade he was a hatter, at which he worked but little after coming to this county, occupying himself with the pursuits of the farm. He was a zealous Christian man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he sustained the relation of local preacher. He had a family of 10 children, of whom but two are now living.

Zadoc C. Roberts, son of Dr. Nathan E. and Mary (Bovee) Roberts was born Aug. 13, 1832 in Jasper Township, and has been a resident of Wayne County all his life. Nathan E., son of Archibald, was born in Kentucky in 1808 and removed with his parents to Shawneetown, Illinois about 1810; then to the southern part of Wayne in 1817 and married Miss Mary daughter of John and Phebe (Gardner) Bovee March 1, 1827.

Archibald, the son of Cornelius (who was killed by the Indians) was born in Virginia, became a very talented local Methodist preacher and is supposed to have been the first minister to preach a sermon in Wayne County.

His sons were Dr. Nathan E., a soldier in the Black Hawk war; William, Archibald R. and Charles. Daughters Laurana (Douglas) (Andrews), Eperson); Elizabeth (Kaniepp), Martha (Huey).

Archibald Roberts -- born March 1, 1784 in Virginia. While a young man emigrated to Cumberland County Kentucky where he married Sarah Pennington (born Oct. 1790, died Oct. 19, 1844). Moved to Gallatin County Illinois in 1812. Died Sept. 10, 1860. Their children: Nathan E., Washington M., Mary, Lourany, Infant daughter, John Gibson, William Fletcher, Daniel Wilson, Archibald Ruddle, Elizabeth Thompson, Charles Wesley, Martha Douglas. Archibald Roberts married second Mary Thorpe Lingenfelter. They had one child Mary Lois, married Larner Risley.

To the Memory of Rev. Archibald Roberts.

Rev. Archibald Roberts was born March 2, 1784 in state of Virginia, and while a young man emigrated to Cumberland County, Kentucky, where he was married to Sarah Pennington. From thence he moved to the then Territory of Illinois and settled in what is now Gallatin County, where he was, about the year 1812, awakened to a sense of his sinful and lost condition, without God's pardoning mercies. Those mercies he earnestly sought after and prayed for until he found peace, by believing in the great Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Soon after his conversion he felt that his Heavenly Father had called him to the high and holy work of the ministry, and though he felt the great responsibility of the same, yet as a true servant of God he shunned not the Cross, but went forward in the great work of preaching salvation to lost and ruined sinners and about the year 1825 he was ordained Deacon in the M. E. Church by Bishop Roberts, which calling he filled with acceptability in the Church until the day of his death, which took place Sept. 10, 1860 about five o'clock P.M.

Thus while the natural sun was receding behind the western hills, his sun set at peace with his God and all mankind. Father Roberts' last sickness was protracted and severe, and his sufferings great, but he bore them with a patience of a Christian, and when he could no longer speak and tell his companion and friends of his hope in God, he would give them the sign by pressing their hand with his. Thus died an aged servant of God, and and an old citizen of our Community, loved and venerated by all who knew him while living and mourned for now he is gone. He leaves a wife and a large circle of children and grandchildren to mourn his loss but they sorrow not as those who have no hope, but look forward to the resurrection morn, when they shall meet again in Heaven where death never comes.

Servant of God, well done,
thy glorious warfare's past,
the battle is fought,
the race is won,
and thou art crowned at last.