Return Roberts

Prominent among the business men of Fresno County, stands the subject of this sketch, who was born in La Fayette County, Wisconsin, in 1841. His father, John G. Roberts, was a native of Wales, and emigrated to Wisconsin in 1832, following the occupation of mining. Roused by the California gold excitement of 1849, Mr. Roberts was among the first to gather together his possessions and with his family, cross the plains for that new and but little known State of California. He arrived at Weaverville in the fall of 1849, and began mining, which he followed until 1851, when he moved to Santa Clara, and engaged in the stock business. In 1852 he returned to the East and brought out a band of 5,000 sheep, which he purchased in Illinois and drove to California across the plains. In 1853 he again went East and brought out a band of 325 cattle, and this was the nucleus of his later extensive stock dealings. In 1857 he moved his stock to Tulare County and bought the “Buzzard Roost” ranch of 325 acres on Tulare lake, which was headquarters for his stock business, and the cattle grazed upon Government land. He followed the stock business until 1869, and then sold out ranch and cattle and moved to San Jose, where he died in 1876.
The educational advantages of Return Roberts were very limited. He attended school a short time in San Jose, but his knowledge was mainly acquired from observation and from his connection with the business of life, the best kind of training for a practical business man. He was interested with his father in the stock business, and upon closing out the business went with his father to San Jose, where he was married in 1869 to Miss M. J. Dowdle, a native of Texas. In 1872 was appointed superintendent of the San Jose Water Company, and held the position until 1880. He was also engaged in building enterprises, and in 1873 erected the Roberts Block in San Jose, a three-stor[e]y brick building, 51 x 137 feet, also tenement property. He was also an incorporator of the Commercial & Savings Bank of San Jose, who loaned money to the California Lumber Company of Madera, and through foreclosures the bank came into possession of the property in 1878, and in 1880 Mr. Roberts came to Madera as manager of the enterprise, which had been incorporated as the Madera Flume and Trading Company. Mr. Roberts also owns 1,100 acres of ranch property near town, 140 of which are improved in vines and trees, and the balance is farmed—also much town property, and in 1890 he built the Roberts Block on Yo Semite avenue, a one-stor[e]y brick building 51 x 100 feet. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have four children, all of whom are at home and in pursuit of an education. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Knight Templars, of San Jose Lodge, No. 10 F. & A.M., and he has never been an aspirant to office, but has devoted his time and energies to the proper management of his several enterprises, and judging from the honorable position he holds with his fellow-townsmen, we feel that his efforts have been amply rewarded.

Transcribed from: A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1891: 806-807.

The Roberts Block of Madera described above.

Source: The Californian illustrated magazine, vol. 1 (October 1891 - May 1892); edited by Charles Frederick Holder, San Francisco, Californian Publishing Co., 1892.

The following describes early Madera's water system, which was designed and managed by Return Roberts.

Source: Manual of American Water-Works. Third annual issue for 1891; edited by M.N. Baker. New York: Engineering News Publishing, 1892.

The 1914 Polk Madera City Directory shows John G. Roberts living at 219 E. 2nd Street. He is listed as cashier of the Commercial National and Madera Savings Bank. He was a California delegate to Republican National Convention in 1908.

Obituary of Jane Roberts

"ROBERTS--In San Francisco, Cal., August 17, 1916, Jane beloved wife of Return Roberts, mother of J.G. and F.P. Roberts, Mrs. S.T. Alderson, Mrs. Charles Hilderbrath and the late Jane Roberts, daughter of Mrs. Ora Dowdle, sister of Henry and John Dowdle and Mrs. F.L. Proctor, a native of Paris, Texas, aged 64 years. Funeral services tomorrow (Saturday), August 19, at 10 a.m. from the chapel of Halstead & Co., 1122 Sutter street, San Francisco. Interment private." Source: San Jose Mercury Herald, 18 Aug 1916, p. 14.

The following announcement was published in the Madera Tribune 1 November 1905.
"Saturday
Miss Minnie Roberts Becomes Bride of R.J. McCord.
The most interesting and brilliant wedding of the season took place yesterday afternoon at the palatial residence of Mr. and Mrs. Return Roberts when their young daughter, Miss Minnie, was given in matrimony to Ralph J. McCord, a prosperous young business man of Shanghai, China, and a long-time friend of the family. The Roberts' house had been ornately decorated for the auspicious occasion."

Residence of Return Roberts. Madera, California

circa 1912 (301 North C Street. Source: Polk Madera City Directory, 1914.)

circa 1909

Entry in the Great Register of Madera County 1898

Description: height, complexion, eyes, and hair color.