His birth date is uncertain as he was not consistent when reporting it.

Extract from the 1900 Census:
Name: John Roberts
Age at last birthday: 18 [sic]
Date of birth: Mar 1882
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relationship to head-of-house: son
Home in 1900: Cumberland, Barron, Wisconsin
Marital status: single
Able to read, write and speak English: yes
Father's birthplace: Michigan
Mother's birthplace: Minnesota
Occupation: day laborer
Months not employed: 7
Siblings living at home: Hattie (age 15), Rueb (10), Ezra (6), Emma (4), and Tom (3)
Census place: Cumberland, Barron, Wisconsin; Roll: T623 1777; Page: 22A; Enumeration District: 7
Date: 2 Jul 1900

Extract from the 1910 Census:
Name: John Roberts
Age in 1910: 30
Estimated birth year: 1880
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relation to head of house: boarder
Home in 1910: Grand Forks Ward 4, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Address: Budge Avenue
Marital status: single
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Wisconsin [sic]
Mother's birthplace: unknown
Occupation: labor
Industry: odd jobs
Salary or wage worker: wages
Whether out of work on April 15, 1910: no
Number of weeks out of work in 1909: 0
Census place: Grand Forks Ward 4, Grand Forks, North Dakota; Roll: T624_1142; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 100; Image: 1045
Date: 4 May 1910

Extract from World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918:
Name: John Russell Roberts
City: Shell Lake
County: Washburn
State: Wisconsin
Birthplace: United States
Birth date: 22 Mar 1880
Race: white
Roll: 1674998
Draft board: 0
Address: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin
Occupation: coal shed
Employer: C St. P M & O Ry. [Chicago, St. Paul, Milwaukee & Omaha Railroad]
Where employed: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin
Nearest relative: Myrtle Roberts (wife)
Address: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin
Age: 38
Height: tall
Build: slender
Eyes: gray
Hair: black
Date: 12 Sep 1918

Extract from the 1920 Census:
Name: John R Roberts
Age: 38 [sic]
Estimated birth year: 1882
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relationship to head of house: son-in-law
Living with: Rose Bishop, age 58
Home in 1920: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin
Address: McLeod Avenue
Marital status: married
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Michigan
Mother's birthplace: Minnesota
Occupation: laborer
Type of industry: round house
Salary or wage worker: wages
Census place: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin; Roll: T625_2020; Page: 23B; Enumeration District: 239; Image: 228
Date: 24 Jan 1920

Extract from the 1930 Census:
Name: John Roberts
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: 1880
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relation to head-of-house: head
Home in 1930: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin
Marital status: married
Age at first marriage: 35
Education: able to speak English
Education: not able to read and write
Fathers' birthplace: Wisconsin [sic]
Mothers' birthplace: Wisconsin [sic]
Military service: no
Rent/home value: owns home; value $800
Owned a radio: no
Occupation: laborer
Industry: odd jobs
Salary or wage worker: wages
Census place: Spooner, Washburn, Wisconsin; Roll: 2616; Page: ; Enumeration District: 20; Image: 306.0
Date: 8 Apr 1930

Extract from the 1940 Census:
Name: John R Roberts
Age: 59
Estimated birth year: 1881
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relation to head-of-house: head
Home in 1940: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Address: 2015 18th Avenue South
Marital status: married
Highest grade of school completed: 0
Living on farm: no
Home owned or rented: rented
Monthly rental: $15
City of residence in 1935: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Resident on farm in 1935: no
Occupation: unable to work
Has other income of more than $50: yes
Census place: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: T627_1989; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 89-330
Date: 6 Apr 1940

Extract from U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942:
Name: John Russell Roberts
Age: 60
Birth date: 27 Mar 1882
Birth place: Barron County, Wisconsin
Race: white
Address: Lake Front, Zion, Lake, Illinois
Telephone: none
Name of person who will always know your address: Leo Dolovan, Lake Front, Zion, Illinois
Employer: City Ice and Fuel
Employer's address: North Chicago, Lake, Illinois
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Weight: 157
Eyes: blue
Hair: gray
Complexion: ruddy
Other characteristics: none
Date: 27 Apr 1942

Death notice from the "Star" of Minneapolis, Minnesota dated 29 Sep 1952:
Deaths
John R. Roberts, 69, 210 21st av S.

He married Myrtle C. L. G. Bishop in 1915 in Wisconsin.