ROBERTS. ROBERTS. 51- called, and while in the Legislature, he was recognized as one of the leading members of his party. He commanded respect, and won merited encomiums for his strength and force as a debater, and the tact and talent exhibited in the man- agement of the many important cases in which he took a lively interest. ROBERTS, JAMES H., son of John and Joanna (Hutchins) Roberts, was born in Gilford, Belknap county, N. H., April 15, 1 S3 1. His early educational advantages were limited, a very few terms of the district school comprising all his opportunities for obtaining an education. The prominent characteristic of his youth was untiring energy. This was indicated by the fact that he determined to leave the home farm life, and seek his fortune in Boston, when, to do so, he was obliged to earn the money for his expenses at the rate of eight cents per day. At the age of fifteen he entered the employ of Denio & Roberts, machinists and safe manufacturers, becoming profi- cient in all departments of their extended business. He remained in their employ until 1862, when he accompanied Gen- eral Butler to New Orleans as division armorer. After his return from the war, he asso- ciated himself with his former employers in business — the firm being known as Denio, Roberts & Co. — and continued with them until the firm disposed of their inter- ests to the American Steam Safe Company, when the two senior partners retired from business. In 1 87 1 he established the present well- known house of James H. Roberts & Co , manufacturers and dealers in machinery, Boston, where he has since remained. While an active member of the firm of which he was the head, he found time to devote his energies to various objects, ren- dering his life a very busy one. Mr. Roberts was married November 8, 1862, to Mrs. Sarah Jane Chase, the daugh- ter of William and Clarissa Rollins. They have no children. The public career of Mr. Roberts began in 1862, he instituting that year the widely- known " Bay State Lecture Course." This course was in many respects the most noted in the country, embracing in its list of lecturers, readers, and musical artists, the most distinguished in the United States and Europe. His pronounced temperance principles are well known, as he has been an active member of the various temperance organi- zations for many years. He has served with great acceptance upon many of the most important committees, and held some of the highest offices in these societies. Mr. Roberts represented his district in the lower branch of the Legislature in 1869, but only for the purpose of using his influ- ence towards the re-enactment of the pro- hibitory law which had been repealed. This having been accomplished during that ses- sion, he declined to allow the use of his name for re-election to the House of 1870, and retired from public office at that time. For several years he was a member of the Republican state central committee, but becoming dissatisfied with the attitude of his party upon the temperance question, he withdrew, and has become of late one of the most aggressive leaders of the Prohibi- tion party. For several years he has maintained, largely at his own expense, a series of fe JAMES H. ROBERTS. Sunday evening and afternoon temperance meetings, held in Music Hall, 'Fremont Temple, and People's Church, Boston. Mr. Roberts is still in the full vigor of life, and, as ever, actively engaged in benev- olent work and the many agencies of moral reform in which he has hitherto been a conspicuous leader.
