Introduction
EDWARD ROBERTS lived and conducted business in the City of Camden for more than 60 of his 88 years. His business interests included a nationally known wholesale produce business, a directorship of the First National State Bank, and a livery stable which later became an automobile repair garage. He also served for a time as the President of the West Jersey Ferry corporation, during the time when Captain John G. Hutchinson was superintendent. Edward Roberts died at his home, 401 Penn Street, on January 19, 1928.
Sleighing in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Horsemen Across the Delaware Crowd White Horse and Mt. Ephraim Pikes
With an excellent snow and a holiday Camden county horsemen enjoyed an ideal sleighing carnival. There wasn’t a piece of a street nor a road that scraped a runner and by 3 o’clock nearly every available vehicle on runners was pressed into service and the shabby old basket affairs drawn by mules, “skates” or any old beast vied with the elaborate, shining runners of the well-to-do horse owner wrapped in furs and guided by a liveried coachman. Cooper street, Camden, which first became popular with sleighers years ago when it was as wide as Broad street, Philadelphia, and had not yet known a paving stone, was, as usual, the attraction of those who had a display of fine bred horseflesh to make. In the morning a few came out and hardened the course, and in the afternoon the thoroughfare presented one grand pageant of fleeting hoofs, to which the tinkling bells of the sleighs provided accompaniment.
The White Horse and Mt. Ephraim pikes, where there are numerous hotels where hands can be warmed and attacks of grip driven away, were the popular roads for those who demanded more variety than Cooper street afforded, and these roads were also in excellent condition. On Cooper street and on the country roads could be seen the following well-known lovers of sleighing and judges of good horse flesh: Joseph Shinn, with a bright yellow sleigh and plumes, drove Baltzimer; Eugene Ingle was behind the high-stepping Prince Arthur. William C. Dayton drove a roan cob. Dr. Kitchener brushed all competitors with a fast black mare. E. Stockham Woodward, accompanied by his wife and daughter, were drawn by the crack team, His Excellency, with a record of 2.18¼, and Fleetwood, 2.23¼, in a Bailey sleigh; Ephraim Hiers [sic] drove Van, 2.20¼; Dr. William H. Iszard held the reins over the brown gelding Logan. From South Camden came Harry Davis with the favorite Out of Sight, and Phil Burch worried him with Reader. Representing far North Camden were John Matthis, driving Harry, a fast bay; Dr. H. Robinson with his black gelding, Frank, and James Baird behind Harry, one of the best of his stables. Some others who joined the tinkling whirl before nightfall were John O. Munter with Purk, Stokes Burroughs behind Cheap John, John Clements with Uncle Sam, Dr. Gunter looking for trouble with his pride, Delaware; William H. Clements with Annie Roney, W. K. Heston with Harry Wilkes, Jack Van Sciver and his bay Smoky, Samuel Kilpatrick with Pawnee Bill, H. W. Davis behind a fast gray mare, Edward Roberts with a team of pretty bays, Chris and Lewis; Joseph Burrough with a bay mare, Asa Roberts with his sorrel Frank, and Dr. A. H. Lippincott behind Bob.
The country roads were better than horsemen have seen them for years because there were no drifts. Friend passed friend on the road with surprise that they should have driven so far from home. Men from Mt. Holly exchanged greetings with Camdenites in the vicinity of Merchantville and Main street. Moorestown was the course for some interesting trial heats between horsemen from all directions. Among them were noticed William Pancoast, of Merchantville, driving Sante Fe; Charles Coles, Moorestown, with a team of bays; Morgan Butterworth behind a gray mare, Morgan Hatch, Delair, with a pair of bays; Benjamin Zelly, Mt. Holly, behind Ella Free; Frank Haines, of Rancocas, with William Sanders and mate. Among the turnouts, probably the most interesting was that of Joseph Burrough, of Merchantville, who drove a pair to a sleigh which is more than one hundred years old. On the front of the vehicle is painted its history and the names of those who have owned it. Another sleigh said to have been built in the eighteenth century was driven by Joseph Hinchman, of Merchantville.
Edward Roberts Dies in 88th Year
Camden Courier-Post —
Bank Director, Produce Merchant Had Eventful Career
Edward Roberts, widely known produce merchant and a resident of Camden for more than sixty years, died yesterday at his home at 401 Penn Street. He had been ill for more than a year following a stroke which he suffered in November of last year. He was 88 years old.
Roberts was one of the oldest directors of the First National State Bank, having served for about thirty-five years. He was treasurer of the Philadelphia Produce Exchange for thirty years and was well known to produce merchants all over the country.
Roberts was born in Moorestown in May of 1840. When he was six years old his parents moved to Alexandria, Virginia. He received his education at a boarding school near Lincoln, Virginia.
During the Civil War, Roberts served as collector of revenue taxes, a very dangerous position. In November of 1866, he founded a wholesale fruit and vegetable business at 220 and 222 Dock Street, in Philadelphia. The business, still in existence, bears his name. He opened a livery stable, at 323 Main Street, in Camden about 1884. The building was later changed to a garage, and a car dealership operated under Edward Roberts name around 1920. By 1923 William F. Hoddell was operating an auto repair business at that location.
Roberts was an active and well-known member of the Society of Friends. He regularly attended the meetings of the organization in their meeting house at Seventh and Market streets.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hannah A. Roberts, three brothers and one sister, two sons and a daughter. There are eight great grandchildren. His sister is Mrs. Mary Gillingham, Alexandria, Va., and his brothers are, J. H. Roberts, New York; R. M. Roberts, South Charleston, Ohio, and B. H. Roberts, of Newtown, Virginia. His daughter is Mrs. J. C. Darnell, and his sons are Edward Jr., and Asa L. Roberts.
The funeral will be held at the Friends Meeting House at Moorestown at two o’clock Monday afternoon. Burial will be in Moorestown.
Roberts Garage
Roberts Garage, 323 Main Street, Camden.