Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Moses M Roberts 1810-1839

Researching Benjamin Roberts children, we really didn't know what happen to Moses Roberts until recently, when cousin Sally found this that was written by Vernie Dawson Lee.

Moses Roberts, a son of Benjamin Roberts, and his wife, Rebecca (Ball) Roberts emigrated to Illinois and settled near Danville. He was a Methodist Episcopal Minister and Circuit Rider, riding through the country near Danville, Illinois. The following report was received from the Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, regarding Moses Roberts: "1836----Moses Roberts, a native of Jefferson Co. Ohio, was received on trial this year and appointed to Danville, Ill. Circuit. At the close of the year he was discontinued for want of health. The next year he was again received and appointed to Eugene Circuit, Eugene Vermillion Co. Indiana. He often preached at the Old 'North Arm' Church, five miles north of Vermillion, Ill., and was considered a great evangelist. In 1839 he was appointed to the Paradise Circuit and in the fall of 1840 he died of typhoid fever. The little settlement of Paradise is in Paradise township Coles Co., Illinois. He was a very promising young man, a good preacher, very zealous and making a fine impression on his hearers. When on the Paradise Circuit he had a great revival at Wabash Point resulting in the conversion of about eighty souls. He had too, during the year a debate with a universalist, in which he came off conqueror." It was near the Old Camp Ground Cemetery at Wabash Point, Illinois that the Methodists camped and had revival meetings.

Source: Written by Vernie Dawson Lee
Families of Ruebsamen, Spear, Dawson, Burley by Neil Ruebsamen

I was able to find this page that was in a Illinois History book, of Wabash Point, Coles Co. Illinois. Which describes what a circuit preacher rider went through during the late 1830s. It included Moses Roberts death location.