1 LANG Kentucky and Pennsylvania
Elza Jay Roberts, dob July 15, 1907 in Adams, KY. Son of Henry BascomRoberts and Louvernie Ball Roberts.Baptism: Freewill Baptist Church, Little Blaine Stream, by ArlieBlackburn, Minister, Spring 1930.
1 LANG Sharpsville, Mercer Co., PA
Willia Blackburn Roberts was born September 8, 1909. She was the onlydaughter born to Emma Curnutte Blackburn and James Lace Blackburn.
She was one of five children.She was named for a cousin who died in the Civil War. The spelling ofher name was Willie. Upon enrolling in school the school master changedthe spelling to Willia. This was the first official record, in lateryears when she applied for social security she found out that thespelling of her name was changed and she should stick with the Williaspelling as this was the official record.
James Lace Blackburn died of the flu when Willia was age 8. EmmaCurnutte continued to farm to take care of the family, it becamenecessary for Willie to take her two younger brothers to school with herduring harvest. Willie went to the tenth grade of school.
Baptism: Freewill Baptist Church, Little Blaine Stream by ArlieBlackburn, Minister. Spring 1935.
When she and Jay met there dating or courting consisted of going tochurch or visiting. Jay would ride a horse to see her.
She married Elza Jay Roberts on March 4, 1927. Reverend William Copleyperformed the wedding, the witnesses were Ethel Blackburn (double firstcousin) and Horlon Martin (cousin).
They had nine children.
One daughter Marilyn Sue passed away from whooping cough when she was
one month old. A second daughter Mary Ellen Roberts Meeker George passedaway in 1995 of cancer when she was 47 years of age.Jay and Willia lived at 12 S. 14th St. in Sharpsville, Mercer County, PAmost of their married life. During the depression they moved back to KYfor a short period of time.
Jay and Willia were members of the First Baptist Church in Sharpsville.
Jay always planted a large vegtable garden each year. Each fall Williawould can green beans, creamed corn and tomatoes. They would buy applesand peaches by the bushels. Willia made homemade applesauce and cookedand sliced the peaches, these she would also can. Jay loved to hunt andfish, there was often food such as venison, pheasand or squirrel meatserved. Of all the wonderful foods served at Willia's table, the onething that all the children and grand-children would request was biscuitsand gravy. There wasn't a precise receipt for her biscuits, she had alarge dutch oven full of flour, she would make a well in the center ofthe flour, she would add buttermilk, shortening and baking powder. Shewould work this mixture around with her hands picking up just the rightamount of flour, she would squeeze a small amount of dough off and pat itinto a little round shape. She would dab a little shortening on the topof each and bake. The biscuits were served with a white milk gravy,fried eggs, and fried apples.
Willia was widowed in 1990 at the age of eighty.
Yatesville Dam took three acres easment, $493. check.
Nora Roberts & Milton Bradley had no children