William John Roberts
b. 20 June 1878, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales, to Thomas and Sarah (Devonald) Roberts
d. 22 February 1958, Detroit, Michigan

m/1. 7 July 1897, Pontypridd, Wales
Elvira Llewellyn
b. 1876, Glam Bridgend, Wales
d. 30 June 1912, West Terre Haute, Indiana

m/2.
Laura A. [–?–]
b. about 1875, Indiana

Children with Elvira Llewellyn:

• Edward James (1899-1958) married Florence [–?–]
• David W. (b. 1898)
• Blodwyn (b. 1905)
• Llewelyn (1907-1984) married Rosalia M. “Sally” [–?–]
• John E. (b. 1901)

William John arrived in the U.S. in 1903, settling in Otter Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana, where his half-brother, James L. Devonald, and James’ wife, Margaret Sarah (Lewis) Devonald were residing.

After Elvira passed away in 1912, two of his children, Blodwyn and Llewellyn, went to live with their uncle, James L. Devonald. Later the children were placed in the Rose Orphans Home in Terre Haute but their father eventually was able to retrieve them. He remarried and moved to the Detroit, Michigan area to live, where he had family.

William John’s three oldest children were born in Wales while the youngest two were born in Indiana. He was a coal miner in Wales and in Indiana. He worked as an inspector for a brass company in Michigan.

Submitted by:
Jennifer Cruse
Terre Haute IN
E-mail: jencruse@msn.com