Cass City Chronicle, Dec 20, 1919, pg 4

Wm. Roberts, 81, pioneer lumberman
and hotelman of Sanilac county
and Sandusky, was laid at rest in the
Catholic cemetery in Emmett Mon-
day, after impressive and solemn
rites at St. Joseph's chapel at Sandusky.
Msgr. Patrick R. Dungan of
Flint delivered the sermon at the
high requiem mass and was assisted
by ten priests from all parts of Eastern
Michigan. Mr. Roberts' death
came Friday night at his home at
Sandusky after a brief illness. In
1869, Mr. Roberts built the Marlette
Exchange hotel when that village
consisted of only a grist mill and
saw mill. In 1871, the great fire that
swept the Thumb wiped out much of
his timber holdings. He later established
hotels at Peck and Emmett
and in 1887 he purchased the Adams
hotel in Sandusky. He operated this
hotel until 1892. In 1907, he built the
Roberts business block, after a fire
had destroyed nearly a block of Sandusky
stores