Robberts Family Journal: Death of Roxanne Deming Robberts

Robberts Family Journal

Death of Roxanne Demming Robberts

Kingfisher Times 7 Mar 1907
Passing of Grandmother Robberts
Pioneer of Three States Gone to Her Reward

"Well, mother has gone on and left us. she had been here a long time; she had served her Master well and faithfully. I know she must be with Him now."

Such were the words of our old and honored friend, Grandfather Robberts, when we called to see him Monday evening.

A fortnight ago the companion of his youth fell ill of la grippe and soon took to her bed. Her advanced age made impossible a successful combat with that mortal foe of the old and decrepit. There were days of suffering succeeded by nights of anguish. And on Sunday night, March 3, in the year of her Lord 1907, the final summons came -- at the fitting hour of eight -- an hour when she had so many, mny times answered His call with her own presence among His people in His own house of worship.

It seems a long time since the beginning of the career that has so lately ended.

It was in 1819 that Roxy Ann Deming was born in Morgantown, Virginia. When only a few months old she taken by her parents to southern Indiana. Her mother carried her in her arms on horseback, while the father walked through the then wilderness of Ohio, ax in hand and gun on shoulder.

There were no churches in the new country at that time and only a few small school houses. But there were occasional camp meetings, held by those great and good men, the circuit riders, where doctrines heard too seldom now were preached with power . . . age four . . and fervor. It was . . . teen that she became conver . . Baptist meeting and during all of her long life since there has been neither doubt or shadow of turning from the faith. There was much dancing, card playing and other forms of worldliness and frivolity among the young people of that day, but she was never known to participate in any of these. She knew the use of the loom, of the spinning wheel and all the useful arts that were the accomplishments of those pioneer times. It was just sixty-four years ago this month, March 1843 that she became the wife of J F Robberts. Five children came to bless this union, all of whom live to revere her memory. They are Mrs TP Crosthwait, of this city; Mrs WH Todd, Fairfax, Oklahoma; Mrs DO Stewart Har . . . . J C Roberts . . . homa; John D Robberts, South Bend, Indiana. all of these she has seen grow into good and useful citizens in their respective communities. In addition to these, a sister, Mrs Mary Wade, of near Wellington, Kansas -- the last of a large family -- her aged husband, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren survive her.

In 1849 Mrs Robberts went with her husband to Iowa, then a new and untried country. She and the children were conveyed by one horse and a light wagon while the husband drove the "big wagon", and handled four yoke of cattel. They settled near the present site of Grinnell and were the sixth family to come to that neighborhood. It was twelve miles to the hom of the nearest of their five neighbors. Rev Robberts acted as a missionary for the Congregational church and became well known all over western Iowa for his good work in those early struggles of the church.

In the early days of Oklahoma -- 1893 -- they came to this county from Nebraska, Rev Robberts still filling pulpits occasionally. They have since resided here, beloved and respected by all who ever knew them.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning followed by interment in Kingfisher cemetery.

"There shall be no black used in connection with her funeral," said Grandfather Robberts, to a friend the night before. "In all the 87 years of her life it typified nat a single thought, word or act of hers. Where ever we went, while I was preaching, she exerted a wonderful influence for good -- perhaps even grater than mine with all my sermons. her hand was in that of her Master and she walked with him day by day. All her life was pure and white -- and white shall be her casket and her burial dress -- only the purest white will typify the beauty and loveliness of her character."

So they did as the old man wished. And as the many friends moved slowly by her casket for a last, fleeting glance at the dear, old face, it seemed that Nature too, had helped to humor an old man's happy fancy and given her once dark locks the silvery whiteness that poets, sages and great men of the earth delight to honor. And then there came to us those words of St John -- sweet promise to her who's gone before -- sweeter solace to him who's left behind:

"and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, . I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels."

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Citation: Garrett, Pamela Hutchison 2005 Looking Back: Family Stories and Genealogy http://pamgarrett.com/ [date accessed].