Nathaniel Enoch 'Nat' Roberts, Sr

Buried in Swift Creek Cemetery, Lake Butler, Florida.

RESOURCES: Page 224, Vol. 6, Huxford From "The Lewis Roberts Family and Some Allied Families", p.13 by Lowell E. Addison Nathaniel Enoch Roberts Sr. was the last child born to John and Phoebe Roberts. He was born about 1829 or 1830. I believe after they moved to Lowndes Co., GA. This is my great grand father, so I will have more information on him than I did on the other children. He was married in Lowndes Co., GA., to Parthena A "Phena" Morgan. She was born in 1830 in Appling Co., GA. The daughter of Solomon W. Morgan and Mercy P. Geiger. Their first two children were born in Lowndes Co., GA. Early in 1850, they moved to Columbia Co., FL. and settled in the area that is now Union Co. The 160 acres of land that they settled on, was about 8miles west of Lake Butler, and straddled what is now road #100 along Swift Creek. It is where the Owens-Illinois Forest Station is now located. If you will, keep in mind that in those days it was open range, and his livestock could roam at will. He owned just enough land to grow crops. He was also a slave owner, and later on, owned and operated the first general merchandise store, and Inn, in the young and small town of Lake Butler. The store and Inn were located about where the old Tomlinson-Maines drug store building was. He had an "over seer' to look after the farm and live stock. A man named S.S. Morgan, who was a cousin of "Phena's". Early in life, Nathaniel Enoch Roberts was known as "Nat", and for the rest of his life he was known by that name. He was on his way to becoming "well Fixed" when the Civil War started. He enlisted in the 2n d FL Cavalry, Co. "K" at Callahan, FL., and served through out the rest of the war. During t he war he was wounded, or contacted an illness that afflicted him for the rest of his life. He was paroled at Waldo, FL., in 1865. After the war he served as County Commissioner of Bradford Co., during a very trying time. As stated, his health wasn't very good after the war, and he died in 1869. He is buried near his mother and father at Swift Creek cemetery. After his death, his wife took over the operation of his estate. She carried on well with this job, until she was accidentally killed while making syrup. She died Nov. 8, 1872, and is buried next to her husband at Swift Creek. Her oldest son was made administrator of her estate. (As stated in records at Stark, FL.)