[I have gathered four obituaries for this Civil War veteran, who was my great-great-grandfather. Here's the first—unidentified, undated, and unattributed, it was found by me in 1994, in the form of a typewritten transcript tucked into our old Kreischer family Bible. This obituary may have originally appeared in a Syracuse, NY newspaper, but I have not yet found it. Lewis Roberts died in Watertown, NY on December. 24, 1915, according to numerous other sources. This obituary transcript was my first roadmap and source of clues for researching this man’s biography, which I have recently uploaded to my website:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mstone/lewishrobert...

When I first found this obituary, I didn’t even know who this man was. Each of the four versions of his obituary offers slightly different clues. Please contact me if you know any more about him or this family. Thanks.]


WELL-KNOWN VETERAN
Passing of Lewis H. Roberts in Watertown
at the Age of 86.

Watertown, Jan. 6 [1916].—Lewis Humphrey Roberts, a well-known and highly respected civil war veteran, aged 86, passed away recently at the family home, 8 Duffy Street, after a week's illness, due to pneumonia and a return of troubles resulting from wounds and Bright's disease contracted in the war. He was born of Welsh parents in Boston on February 26, 1831, the son of David and Catherine Roberts, in which city his early life was spent amid a coterie of noted American literary celebrities and statesmen. For a number of years he was organ blower for Rev. Dr. Lowell, father of James Russell Lowell, in his church. Mr. Roberts has traveled extensively, going to Wales when a young man and was at Liverpool in 1851 and saw Prince Albert and the Duke of Wellington lay the corner stone of the Victoria and Albert dock. Returning to his country, he for a time, lived at California and New York City, later going to Wisconsin, where he followed the occupation of a mechinist [machinist].

At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Roberts enlisted in the Seventh Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery, and during the service there rose from rank of private to sergeant major and later was in the great southwest campaign under Grant, being promoted to mounted orderly on the Staff of General Rosecrans. He was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville [sic; not true] and at the battle of Corinth he was struck in the head by a piece of shell, the result being nearly fatal. He was then discharged for disability and returned to Boston. Later he enlisted in the service and was detailed to Sackets Harbor, where he acted in the capacity of regimental bookkeeper for several years.

In August, 1868, he married Miss Ellen A. Roberts, daughter of Otis and Esther Roberts, and shortly after retired from service and moved to Galloups Island, where seven children were born to them, two of whom died when young men. At one time he was a member of the Joe Spratt Post of Watertown [G.A.R.] and later transferred to Joseph K. Barnes Post of Sackets Harbor and was a member at the time of his death. He was on a furlough for several years at the National Soldiers' Home, Virginia. He leaves to mourn the loss, besides his widow, the following children: Jerome L. Roberts of Brooklyn, Miss [corrected by hand to read “Mrs.”] Neille [sic; Nellie] Kreischer, of Syracuse, and Mrs. Etta Danks, Mrs. Clara Lapatra, and Mrs. Elizabeth Kelley of Watertown. Owing to the serious illness of the widow prayers were said privately at the family home and the funeral service was held at Faith Chapel. Rev. James H. Keeling officiated. Internment was made in the family plot at North Watertown Cemetery.


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[Here is the second obituary, which appeared in The Watertown Times, Friday afternoon, December 24, 1915, viewed by me in 1995 at Roswell P. Flower Library in Watertown, NY:]


Well Known Veteran Dead

Lewis Roberts Wounded at Chancellorsville and Corinth

Lewis Roberts, a well known Civil war veteran, aged 86 years, passed away at the family home, 8 Duffy street, after a week's illness, due to pneumonia and a return of troubles resulting from wounds suffered in the war.

Mr. Roberts was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 26, 1829 [sic; more probably 1831] and when still a youth moved with his parents to Wales. When a young man his family removed to this country, going to California, where they resided for several years. Later the family removed to Wisconsin, where Mr. Roberts followed the occupation of a machinist. At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Roberts enlisted in the 7th Battery, Wisconsin Light artillery. During the service, Mr. Roberts rose from the rank of private to sergeant-major [True, but not during the war; this included his post-Civil War service record]. He was seriously wounded at the battles of Chancellorsville and Corinth. [No evidence for this.] He was discharged for disability and went to Boston. He later entered the service and was detailed to Sackets Harbor, where he acted in the capacity of clerk for a number of years. He was married in 1868 to Miss Ella [sic; Ellen] A. Roberts, daughter of Otis and Mary [sic; Esther] Roberts, of Sackets Harbor.

Besides his wife, he leaves five children, Jerome L. Roberts of Brooklyn; Mrs. Etta Danks, Mrs. Charles [sic; Jerry] La Patra, Mrs. Elizabeth Kelly, of Watertown, and Mrs. Nellie Kreischer, of Syracuse.

Owing to the critical illness of the widow, prayers will be held privately from the family home Sunday morning at 10:30 and funeral services will be held from Faith [Presbyterian] Chapel at 11, Rev. James H. Keeling, pastor of the chapel, officiating. Interment will be made at North Watertown.


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[This is the third obituary: an undated, unidentified fragment of another newspaper obituary, probably from the Watertown Times, sent in photocopy form by Mrs. Barbara Citron to me in 1994, next to a nearly illegible (but distinguished) photo of Lewis Roberts, looking terribly natty with close-trimmed beard and mustache and hat; I believe these came from the Watertown library:]


[illegible]....Faith Presbyterian chapel [illegible] Rev. James H. Keeling officiating. Interment will be made at North Watertown cemetery.

Mr. Roberts was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 26, 1829 [sic]. His parents went to Wales when he was a child and there he spent his youth. He returned to this country and had since lived here. On the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Seventh Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery and performed heroic service. He rose to a sergeant majorship. [sic: not during the war, however.] At Chancellorsville and again at Corinth he was seriously wounded. [sic; grain of salt]

He was married in 1868 at Sacket Harbor [sic; it was Watertown] to Ella [sic; Ellen] Roberts, who survives him. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom survive. They are Jerome L. Roberts, of Brooklyn; Mrs. Etta Danks, Mrs. Charles [sic; it was Jerry] La Patra and Mrs. Elizabeth Kelly of this city and Mrs. Nellie Kreischner [sic: Kreischer], of Syracuse.

Owing to the serious illness of the widow, prayers will be said privately at the home at 10:30 o'clock, half an hour before the church service.

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I can't get the final obituary to upload (have been trying for almost a week, there seems to be a software bug). Sorry.