Clarence Burton Roberts

Clarence Burton Roberts, a member of one of the oldest families in the Chester Valley, passed away at the home of his niece and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Casselberry, at Oaks, Montgomery County, about six-thirty o'clock, Wednesday evening of last week. He had suffered a fall about two months ago and was confined in Phoenixville Hospital for about three weeks, but had returned to the home of his niece and the immediate cause of his death was a heart condition which he had suffered since having a slight stroke eight or ten years ago while visiting a brother in Carnegie, PA. He had also suffered from failing eyesight and had been unable to read for several years.

He was born on the Roberts farm, in Chester Valley, near New Centerville, now owned by Ralph M. Hunt and one of the most beautiful estates in the Valley, son of William and Susanna Havard Roberts, on February 11, 1860, and following the death of his parents, conducted the farm until it was sold in 1922, when he went to live with his niece. He was a great reader, and one of the best informed men on the history of Valley Forge and its surroundings, in the country. Many historians and other writers visited him in his home to obtain information which is was always glad to give. He was a stalwart Republican and took a great interest in the affairs of Tredyffrin Township, having at one time served as tax collector. A year ago, the Tredyffrin-Easttown History Club, wishing to place a marker at some historic spot on the Roberts farm, asked to meet with them on the farm and mark the spot which he willing did.

Mr. Roberts was unmarried and in his youth attended the Friends' School in Tredyffrin Township, Fairview School and Friends' Central School in Philadelphia. He was a member of Thomson Lodge, No. 340, F. and A.M., of Green Tree, Montgomery Chapter No. 262, R. and M., of Ardmore, and Ascension Commandery, No. 97, Knights Templar, of Ardmore and of Valley Friends Meeting.

Of a family of nine children, the only surviving member is a sister, Mrs Sue R. Thomas, of Fairview Village, Montgomery County. The late Dr, Charles J. Roberts, of Berwyn, was a brother [see biography in the TEHS Quarterly and an article by his son, George B. Roberts], and Captain Harold A. Roberts and George Burton Roberts, of Berwyn, are nephews.

Interment was in the cemetery of the Valley Friends Meeting house, new New [sic] Centerville, on Saturday.

(typed from a newspaper obituary on which someone wrote the year - 1941 - as time of death)

J. K. K.