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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

however great the demands made by it upon his energy and time, does not therefore shut himself off. as so many of our successful business men are prone to do, from all other departments of life and activity. On the contrary, he is ever an interested observer of, or participant in all that goes to make up the life of his adopted community, a keen critic of political conditions, and an ardent supporter of all policies which meet with the approval of his judgment, and of all wise propositions for the development and in- creased prestige of the city. He is a promi- nent member of two fraternities, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic order, and is generally active in the social life of the place.

Mr. Roberts has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Hannah Bennett, whose wedding with him was celebrated November 27, 1892, in Calumet, Michigan. Mrs. Rob- erts was a native of England, and to her and Mr. Roberts were born five children, all of whom survived her death in 1904. They are: Victor Phillip, born October 6, 1893, ^ resident of Seattle. Washington ; Raymond Bennett, born March 20, 1896, a resident of Richmond, Virginia ; Alice Mary, born Feb- rurary 22, 1898. a charming girl, who lives at home with her father ; Frederick Sleigh, born May 2"/, 1900, who also lives with his father ; Herbert Abraham, born January 10, 1903. Mr. Roberts' second marriage was celebrated May 27, 1905, to Beatrice Maude Hicks, a native of Houghton county, Michi- gan, where she was born October 21, 1884. The ceremony took place in Calumet, the home of Mrs. Roberts' parents. Mrs. Rob- erts is the daughter of Richard and Louisa ( Davey) Hicks, natives of Cornwall, Eng- land. Mr. Hicks is now connected with the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company of Calumet.

Mr. Roberts' religious affiliations are with the Methodist church, attending, with his family, the Monument Avenue Church of that denomination in Richmond, contribut- ing materially to the support of the many benevolences in connection therewith. He has reared his children in the same persua- sion.

Lunsford Hoxsey Lewis, M. D. Lewis is one of the oldest names in English his- tory and one of the most numerous and dis- tinguished in that of America. Known as

Louis in France, upon the migration of some of its members to the British Isles it as- sumed the form Lewis, those bearing it be- coming one of the most numerous families of Wales. This country was the home of the line claiming Lunsford Hoxsey Lewis as a present day member, whence emigrated four brothers, Samuel. William, Robert and John. It is through the two marriages of a descendant in the fourth generation of this Robert Lewis, who settled in Glouces- ter county, Virginia, Colonel Fielding Lewis, that the family gains its connection with the line of General George Washing- ton. Colonel Fielding Lewis married (first) Catherine, daughter of John Washington, Catherine Washington being a cousin of George Washington ; (second) Bettie, daughter of Augustine Washington, and sister of George Washington. A chain, used by General George Washington during his career as a civil engineer, is now in the possession of John F. Lewis, who lives on the old family estate "Lynnwood," Rocking- ham county, Virginia.

William Lewis, one of the brothers pre- viously mentioned, married a Miss McClel- land, and died in Ireland. He had one son, Andrew, who married Mary Calhoun, and had two sons, John and Samuel. John Lewis was born in Ireland, and immigrating to Virginia he settled near the present city of Staunton, being one of the first magistrates appointed in Augusta county by the gov- ernor. He was an Indian fighter of noted bravery. The marble slab marking his grave bears this inscription.

Here lies the remains of

JOHN LEWIS,

Who slew the Irish lord, settled Augusta County,

Located the town of Staunton

.\nd furnished five sons to fight the battles of the

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

He was the son of Andrew Lewis, Esq.,

and Mary Calhoun.

.A-nd was born in County Donegal, Ireland, 1678,

.And died in Virginia, Feb. i, 1762,

He was a brave man, a true patriot and

A firm friend of liberty throughout the world.

He married Margaret Lynn, and had a son, Thomas, who married Jane Strother. Charles, son of Thomas and Jane (Strother) Lewis, married Mary Fiance. One of their sons was General Samuel Hance Lewis, who married Nancy Lewis.

John Francis Lewis, son of General Samuel Hance and Nancy (Lewis) Lewis,