Born 9 Apr. 1872 in Galesburg, Knox Co., Illinois.[1] Son of Junius Burhous Roberts and Nancy Griswald Gillette.[2] Married Emilie Whitney Sears, granddaughter of EBW, 4 Aug. 1899, in Salt Lake City; two children.[3] Lived in Detroit, 1899–1908.[4] Taught high school in Salt Lake City; received attention for inventing the telescripter, a way to send pictures through telegraph, 1902.[5] Attended the John Marshall Law School, Purdue University, graduating 1908.[6] Patent attorney living in New York City, 1908. [7] Lived in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester Co., New York, 1911–1955.[8] Died 29 Apr. 1955 in Dobbs Ferry.[9]
[1] U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Passport Applications, 1795–1925; Indexes, 1830–1831, 1850–1852, 1860–1923, cert. no. 121117, John Gillette Roberts, microfilm 1704497, DGS 7569990, image 268/716, FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 25 Oct. 2019), John Gillette Roberts (GMQ1-D6C).
[2] U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Passport Applications, 1795–1925; Indexes, 1830–1831, 1850–1852, 1860–1923, cert. no. 121117, John Gillette Roberts, microfilm 1704497, DGS 7569990, image 268/716, FHL. Knox Co., IL, Clerk of the County Court, Illinois Marriage Certificates, 1830–1922, John B. Roberts and Nancy G. Gillette, 20 Jan. 1856, microfilm 1411912, DGS 5203034, images 48–49/1549, FHL. 1880 U.S. Census, Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN, ED 108, p. 32D, John G. Roberts.
[3] Salt Lake Co., UT, County Clerk, Marriage Records, 1887–1965, Marriage Licenses, vol. I, p. 436, no. 8470, John Gillette Roberts and Emilie Whitney Sears, 4 Aug. 1899, microfilm 429057, DGS 4624217, image 494/797, FHL. Annie Wells Cannon, “Mothers in Israel,” Relief Society Magazine, Feb. 1916, 62–71.
[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Detroit, Wayne Co., MI, ED 18, p. 10A, John Roberts.
[5] “Salt Lake High School Man Offered $75,000 for an Invention,” Salt Lake Herald, 1 Jan. 1902, 8. EBW, Diary, 3 Jan. 1902.
[6] “Register of Officers, 1865–1915, and Alumni, 1875–1915,” Bulletin of Purdue University 16 (Jan. 1916): 89.
[7] “Register of Officers, 1865–1915, and Alumni, 1875–1915,” Bulletin of Purdue University 16 (Jan. 1916): 89.
[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Dobbs Ferry, Westchester Co., NY, ED 38, p. 24A, John J. Roberts. 1930 U.S. Census, Dobbs Ferry, Westchester Co., NY, ED 60-393, p. 4A, J.G. Roberts. 1940 U.S. Census, Dobby Ferry, Westchester Co., NY, ED 60-50, p. 14B, John Roberts.
[9] New York Department of Health, New York State Death Index, 1852–1956, p. 2307, soundex 163, cert. no. 27883, John G. Roberts, 29 Apr. 1955 (https://www.ancestry.com, accessed 29 Jan. 2019).