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Simeon "Sim" Roberts

The following news article appeared in the newspaper, The Earlington Bee, (Earlington, Kentucky) on Thursday, June 25, 1896. The article is about my Great Grandfather, Simeon Roberts. Sim Roberts was the Father of my Grandmother, Benetta Roberts, who was married to my Grandfather, Beriah M. Clark. The news article notes that my Great Grandmother's last name was JENKINS. The marriage certificate lists her name as BRINKLEY, with the name JENKINS lined out on the certificate. The marriage certificate also shows a different date than this article mentions.

"The subject of this sketch was born in Orange county, North Carolina, November 4, 1841 and has two brothers and two sisters still living. His early days were spent in helping his father who besides being a blacksmith, also worked a good deal at carpentry. On November 11, 1859, he married a Miss Adeline JENKINS. Ten children have been the result of this union, of whom eight are living. In 1860, he left his native State and came to Kentucky and settled in Union county. In 1863, he joined the Federal army, enlisting in the Thirty-fifth Mounted Infantry, under Col. STARLING. He served his country eighteen months and was honorably discharged at Louisville. Good fortune attended his military career, as is evidenced by the fact that he was never wounded nor captured. After leaving the army he took up his abode in Union county, and followed his trade of blacksmithing for some years; then, forsaking his trade, he began mining, and worked in the Payne mines near Morganfield; then left Union county and came to Earlington in the fall of 1870 and worked a while in the No. 11 mine, from which coal was being shipped to Henderson. None was shipped South, as no track was laid between this place and Hopkinsville.

Mr. ROBERTS has been all his mining life what is known as a "pick miner," having never used any of the "latter day" devices for getting out coal and during the long years he has followed the trade, he has never received an injury worthy of mention. The largest amount he has ever received for a months mining was in the fall '73, when, after deducting all expenses and store bill, the pay roll shows that he drew $105 cash. The longest time he ever worked was once when grading for some track in the mine, when he made three shifts or worked thirty consecutive hours. After work was fairly begun in No. 8 mine, he engaged work at this mine and remained there until 1893, when he was forced to leave off mining and seek outside employment. For the next year, he had charge of the lake and park, and after this he fired at No. 9 engine house for a couple of months, then in conjunction with another man took charge of an air fan near the old Arnold mine which is run without intermission day or night for the ventilation of No. 9. At this place he still remains, working by day one week and by night the next.

Mr. ROBERTS is not a member of any church, but was raised up in the faith of Primitive Baptists, and believes firmly in preforeordestination. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1871, and is a devoted member of that order. At one time in his life he was an Odd Fellow, but does not affiliate with that fraternity now. When viewed through a political glass, Mr. ROBERTS presents the aspect of a very decided Republican and is undoubtedly a golden insect, firmly believing that Uncle Sam should stand immediately behind every redeemer. Mr. ROBERTS is not an intemperate man though he has been accustomed to the use of tanglefoot all the days of his life. He says he believes in spirits provided they are not of a rapping disembodied nature. These, he says are "humbugs and good for nothing."

Source: Earlington Bee, Thur., June 25, 1896

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