He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Warlick Roberts and the husband of Rebecca Croft.
Obituary (Dallas Morning News 5/2/1906): Dallas County Pioneer Succumbs at Age of 70 years. Cedar Hill, Tex., May 1--Dr. R. A. Roberts died at 8 p.m. today of nervous prostration. Dr. Roberts was born in North Carolina nearly 70 years ago. He came to Dallas County, Texas, in 1859, settling at Cedar Hill, where up to five years ago he practiced his profession, except during the Civil War. He enlisted in the Confederate Army early in the war, and was soon appointed to the position of regimental surgeon, ranking as Major. Dr. Roberts was one among the earliest and best known settlers of his sections of Dallas County. He was a delegate to many State and county conventions. He was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Roberts died five years ago, and the surviving children are William A., C.D., D. B., Robert L., and T. D. Roberts, sons; Mrs. Mollie L. Newland and Mrs. Jessie Ramsey, daughters, all of whom live in or near Cedar Hill except Mrs. Newland, who lives at Muenster, in Cooke County. The funeral will take place today from the late residence of Dr. Roberts. Interment will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.
*****
Roberts, Rufus Alston – Biographical Notes Compiled by F. Terry Hambrecht, M.D. and posted here by Mona Gardner on 5/21/2022
ROBERTS, Rufus Alston
02/25/1837 - Born, Cleveland Co., NC [Father: Thomas Roberts (1799-1841); Mother: Elizabeth Warlick (1803-1843]
08/16/1841 - Father, Thomas, died in Earl, Cleveland Co., NC (buried: Roberts Family Cemetery, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., NC: FindAGrave # 38143624)
10/21/1850 - Lived with William Roberts, a garment manufacturer, Cleveland Co., NC (indexed in the 1850 U. S. Census as Rufus Roberts)
1857-Graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Furman University, Greenville SC
1857-1858 - Attend 1st course of medicine, Medical College of the State of South Carolina, Charleston SC
1858 (summer) - Studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Williams, Shelby, NC
1858-1859 - Attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
1859 - M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC; preceptor: Dr. Thomas Williams; thesis: "Vis Medicatrix Naturae")
1859 - Practiced medicine, Marion District, SC
06/02/1859 - Married, Rebecca Evelyn Croft (1838-1900), South Carolina
11/01/1859 - Moved to Dallas Co., TX
08/15/1860 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 8, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, R. E. Roberts, and Alice Croft; indexed in the 1860 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
03/21/1862 - Enlisted as Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
06/00/1862 - Pvt., Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
01/28/1863-02/28/1863 - As Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry, detailed as druggist, Wright Hospital, Little Rock, AR
04/00/1863 - Passed Confederate Army Board of Medical Examination, Little Rock, AR for the position of Asst. Surgeon
08/31/1863 - Appointed Asst. Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, to rank from 05/27/1863
08/31/1863 - Ordered to report to the Surgeon General by letter
09/19/1863 - Ordered by Surgeon General S. P. Moore "to report for duty to the Med. Director under whom you are serving"
10/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Trans-Mississippi Dept., Indianola, TX
11/30/1863 - Asst. Surgeon and Acting Medical Purveyor, North Sub-district of Texas, Bonham, TX
01/30/1864 - Confirmed as Asst. Surgeon from TX by the Confederate States Senate
03/27/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon. Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, I most respectfully request a leave of absence for sixty 60 Days from the first day of May 1864. I entered the service in June 1862. I have never obtained a leave of absence. I have never been reported absent without leave nor have I ever been absent on sick leave. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt. Servt, R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon"
[Docketing on the bottom of the letter reads, "Approved, N. H. Darnell, Col., Comdg, Post"]
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon, Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, Enclosed please find a duplicate of contract between myself and Dr. Pryor. I would have been satisfied with forty or fifty days but Dr. Pryor would not agree to act in my place for less period than sixty days. You will also find my application made out and approved as directed. I will pay Dr. Pryor myself. I send you a duplicate of the contract merely to show you that it will be fixed up right. I wish to collect my stock & lay in supplies for my family. I will visit Dallas occassionally [sic] and see that everything gets along right. I am, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt Servt., R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon" [Docketing on the back of the letter reads, "Approved, J. J. Gaenslen, Actg. Med Director, Dist. of Texas etc. May 5, 64."] [Note: Dr. Pryor was Dr. Charles Richard Pryor who had formerly been a Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and had resigned in 1862.]
06/25/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
09/01/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Dallas, TX, "in charge of sick at Post"
11/12/1864 - Post Surgeon, Dallas, TX
After the Civil War - Purchased the medical practice of Dr. R. L. Sullivan, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
07/05/1870 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 2, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., 4 children, and Allice Croft; indexed in the 1870 U. S. Census as Rufus A. Roberts)
1874,1877 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
06/12/1880 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 6, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., six sons, and two daughters; indexed in the 1880 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
1886 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
1892 - Practiced medicine with his son, Dr. Charles D. Roberts, Dallas Co., TX
06/05/1900 - Wife, Rebecca, died (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042292)
06/19/1900 - Practiced medicine and widower, Precinct 06, Dallas Co., TX
- Member, Missionary Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
- A Democrat
05/01/1906 - Died of "nervous prostration", Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TN (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042258) [Source: Obituary of Dr. R. A. Roberts (1906) Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, May 2, 1906, p. 9. - Note: Gravestone is incorrectly inscribed with May 2, 1906, as the date of death.]
[Note: Additional information on R. A. Roberts can be found in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. 1892.The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, pp. 623-625.]
Mona Gardner (Dr. Roberts' great-great-great granddaughter) and Michael Angelo provided input to this biography.
This biographical sketch is from: Hambrecht, F. T. & Koste, J. L., Biographical register of physicians who served the Confederacy in a medical capacity. 04/19/2022. Unpublished database
Obituary (Dallas Morning News 5/2/1906): Dallas County Pioneer Succumbs at Age of 70 years. Cedar Hill, Tex., May 1--Dr. R. A. Roberts died at 8 p.m. today of nervous prostration. Dr. Roberts was born in North Carolina nearly 70 years ago. He came to Dallas County, Texas, in 1859, settling at Cedar Hill, where up to five years ago he practiced his profession, except during the Civil War. He enlisted in the Confederate Army early in the war, and was soon appointed to the position of regimental surgeon, ranking as Major. Dr. Roberts was one among the earliest and best known settlers of his sections of Dallas County. He was a delegate to many State and county conventions. He was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Roberts died five years ago, and the surviving children are William A., C.D., D. B., Robert L., and T. D. Roberts, sons; Mrs. Mollie L. Newland and Mrs. Jessie Ramsey, daughters, all of whom live in or near Cedar Hill except Mrs. Newland, who lives at Muenster, in Cooke County. The funeral will take place today from the late residence of Dr. Roberts. Interment will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.
*****
Roberts, Rufus Alston – Biographical Notes Compiled by F. Terry Hambrecht, M.D. and posted here by Mona Gardner on 5/21/2022
ROBERTS, Rufus Alston
02/25/1837 - Born, Cleveland Co., NC [Father: Thomas Roberts (1799-1841); Mother: Elizabeth Warlick (1803-1843]
08/16/1841 - Father, Thomas, died in Earl, Cleveland Co., NC (buried: Roberts Family Cemetery, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., NC: FindAGrave # 38143624)
10/21/1850 - Lived with William Roberts, a garment manufacturer, Cleveland Co., NC (indexed in the 1850 U. S. Census as Rufus Roberts)
1857-Graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Furman University, Greenville SC
1857-1858 - Attend 1st course of medicine, Medical College of the State of South Carolina, Charleston SC
1858 (summer) - Studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Williams, Shelby, NC
1858-1859 - Attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
1859 - M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC; preceptor: Dr. Thomas Williams; thesis: "Vis Medicatrix Naturae")
1859 - Practiced medicine, Marion District, SC
06/02/1859 - Married, Rebecca Evelyn Croft (1838-1900), South Carolina
11/01/1859 - Moved to Dallas Co., TX
08/15/1860 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 8, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, R. E. Roberts, and Alice Croft; indexed in the 1860 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
03/21/1862 - Enlisted as Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
06/00/1862 - Pvt., Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
01/28/1863-02/28/1863 - As Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry, detailed as druggist, Wright Hospital, Little Rock, AR
04/00/1863 - Passed Confederate Army Board of Medical Examination, Little Rock, AR for the position of Asst. Surgeon
08/31/1863 - Appointed Asst. Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, to rank from 05/27/1863
08/31/1863 - Ordered to report to the Surgeon General by letter
09/19/1863 - Ordered by Surgeon General S. P. Moore "to report for duty to the Med. Director under whom you are serving"
10/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Trans-Mississippi Dept., Indianola, TX
11/30/1863 - Asst. Surgeon and Acting Medical Purveyor, North Sub-district of Texas, Bonham, TX
01/30/1864 - Confirmed as Asst. Surgeon from TX by the Confederate States Senate
03/27/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon. Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, I most respectfully request a leave of absence for sixty 60 Days from the first day of May 1864. I entered the service in June 1862. I have never obtained a leave of absence. I have never been reported absent without leave nor have I ever been absent on sick leave. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt. Servt, R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon"
[Docketing on the bottom of the letter reads, "Approved, N. H. Darnell, Col., Comdg, Post"]
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon, Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, Enclosed please find a duplicate of contract between myself and Dr. Pryor. I would have been satisfied with forty or fifty days but Dr. Pryor would not agree to act in my place for less period than sixty days. You will also find my application made out and approved as directed. I will pay Dr. Pryor myself. I send you a duplicate of the contract merely to show you that it will be fixed up right. I wish to collect my stock & lay in supplies for my family. I will visit Dallas occassionally [sic] and see that everything gets along right. I am, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt Servt., R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon" [Docketing on the back of the letter reads, "Approved, J. J. Gaenslen, Actg. Med Director, Dist. of Texas etc. May 5, 64."] [Note: Dr. Pryor was Dr. Charles Richard Pryor who had formerly been a Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and had resigned in 1862.]
06/25/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
09/01/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Dallas, TX, "in charge of sick at Post"
11/12/1864 - Post Surgeon, Dallas, TX
After the Civil War - Purchased the medical practice of Dr. R. L. Sullivan, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
07/05/1870 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 2, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., 4 children, and Allice Croft; indexed in the 1870 U. S. Census as Rufus A. Roberts)
1874,1877 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
06/12/1880 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 6, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., six sons, and two daughters; indexed in the 1880 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
1886 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
1892 - Practiced medicine with his son, Dr. Charles D. Roberts, Dallas Co., TX
06/05/1900 - Wife, Rebecca, died (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042292)
06/19/1900 - Practiced medicine and widower, Precinct 06, Dallas Co., TX
- Member, Missionary Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
- A Democrat
05/01/1906 - Died of "nervous prostration", Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TN (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042258) [Source: Obituary of Dr. R. A. Roberts (1906) Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, May 2, 1906, p. 9. - Note: Gravestone is incorrectly inscribed with May 2, 1906, as the date of death.]
[Note: Additional information on R. A. Roberts can be found in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. 1892.The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, pp. 623-625.]
Mona Gardner (Dr. Roberts' great-great-great granddaughter) and Michael Angelo provided input to this biography.
This biographical sketch is from: Hambrecht, F. T. & Koste, J. L., Biographical register of physicians who served the Confederacy in a medical capacity. 04/19/2022. Unpublished database
He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Warlick Roberts and the husband of Rebecca Croft.
Obituary (Dallas Morning News 5/2/1906): Dallas County Pioneer Succumbs at Age of 70 years. Cedar Hill, Tex., May 1--Dr. R. A. Roberts died at 8 p.m. today of nervous prostration. Dr. Roberts was born in North Carolina nearly 70 years ago. He came to Dallas County, Texas, in 1859, settling at Cedar Hill, where up to five years ago he practiced his profession, except during the Civil War. He enlisted in the Confederate Army early in the war, and was soon appointed to the position of regimental surgeon, ranking as Major. Dr. Roberts was one among the earliest and best known settlers of his sections of Dallas County. He was a delegate to many State and county conventions. He was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Roberts died five years ago, and the surviving children are William A., C.D., D. B., Robert L., and T. D. Roberts, sons; Mrs. Mollie L. Newland and Mrs. Jessie Ramsey, daughters, all of whom live in or near Cedar Hill except Mrs. Newland, who lives at Muenster, in Cooke County. The funeral will take place today from the late residence of Dr. Roberts. Interment will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.
*****
Roberts, Rufus Alston – Biographical Notes Compiled by F. Terry Hambrecht, M.D. and posted here by Mona Gardner on 5/21/2022
ROBERTS, Rufus Alston
02/25/1837 - Born, Cleveland Co., NC [Father: Thomas Roberts (1799-1841); Mother: Elizabeth Warlick (1803-1843]
08/16/1841 - Father, Thomas, died in Earl, Cleveland Co., NC (buried: Roberts Family Cemetery, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., NC: FindAGrave # 38143624)
10/21/1850 - Lived with William Roberts, a garment manufacturer, Cleveland Co., NC (indexed in the 1850 U. S. Census as Rufus Roberts)
1857-Graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Furman University, Greenville SC
1857-1858 - Attend 1st course of medicine, Medical College of the State of South Carolina, Charleston SC
1858 (summer) - Studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Williams, Shelby, NC
1858-1859 - Attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
1859 - M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC; preceptor: Dr. Thomas Williams; thesis: "Vis Medicatrix Naturae")
1859 - Practiced medicine, Marion District, SC
06/02/1859 - Married, Rebecca Evelyn Croft (1838-1900), South Carolina
11/01/1859 - Moved to Dallas Co., TX
08/15/1860 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 8, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, R. E. Roberts, and Alice Croft; indexed in the 1860 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
03/21/1862 - Enlisted as Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
06/00/1862 - Pvt., Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
01/28/1863-02/28/1863 - As Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry, detailed as druggist, Wright Hospital, Little Rock, AR
04/00/1863 - Passed Confederate Army Board of Medical Examination, Little Rock, AR for the position of Asst. Surgeon
08/31/1863 - Appointed Asst. Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, to rank from 05/27/1863
08/31/1863 - Ordered to report to the Surgeon General by letter
09/19/1863 - Ordered by Surgeon General S. P. Moore "to report for duty to the Med. Director under whom you are serving"
10/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Trans-Mississippi Dept., Indianola, TX
11/30/1863 - Asst. Surgeon and Acting Medical Purveyor, North Sub-district of Texas, Bonham, TX
01/30/1864 - Confirmed as Asst. Surgeon from TX by the Confederate States Senate
03/27/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon. Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, I most respectfully request a leave of absence for sixty 60 Days from the first day of May 1864. I entered the service in June 1862. I have never obtained a leave of absence. I have never been reported absent without leave nor have I ever been absent on sick leave. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt. Servt, R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon"
[Docketing on the bottom of the letter reads, "Approved, N. H. Darnell, Col., Comdg, Post"]
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon, Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, Enclosed please find a duplicate of contract between myself and Dr. Pryor. I would have been satisfied with forty or fifty days but Dr. Pryor would not agree to act in my place for less period than sixty days. You will also find my application made out and approved as directed. I will pay Dr. Pryor myself. I send you a duplicate of the contract merely to show you that it will be fixed up right. I wish to collect my stock & lay in supplies for my family. I will visit Dallas occassionally [sic] and see that everything gets along right. I am, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt Servt., R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon" [Docketing on the back of the letter reads, "Approved, J. J. Gaenslen, Actg. Med Director, Dist. of Texas etc. May 5, 64."] [Note: Dr. Pryor was Dr. Charles Richard Pryor who had formerly been a Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and had resigned in 1862.]
06/25/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
09/01/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Dallas, TX, "in charge of sick at Post"
11/12/1864 - Post Surgeon, Dallas, TX
After the Civil War - Purchased the medical practice of Dr. R. L. Sullivan, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
07/05/1870 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 2, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., 4 children, and Allice Croft; indexed in the 1870 U. S. Census as Rufus A. Roberts)
1874,1877 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
06/12/1880 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 6, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., six sons, and two daughters; indexed in the 1880 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
1886 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
1892 - Practiced medicine with his son, Dr. Charles D. Roberts, Dallas Co., TX
06/05/1900 - Wife, Rebecca, died (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042292)
06/19/1900 - Practiced medicine and widower, Precinct 06, Dallas Co., TX
- Member, Missionary Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
- A Democrat
05/01/1906 - Died of "nervous prostration", Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TN (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042258) [Source: Obituary of Dr. R. A. Roberts (1906) Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, May 2, 1906, p. 9. - Note: Gravestone is incorrectly inscribed with May 2, 1906, as the date of death.]
[Note: Additional information on R. A. Roberts can be found in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. 1892.The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, pp. 623-625.]
Mona Gardner (Dr. Roberts' great-great-great granddaughter) and Michael Angelo provided input to this biography.
This biographical sketch is from: Hambrecht, F. T. & Koste, J. L., Biographical register of physicians who served the Confederacy in a medical capacity. 04/19/2022. Unpublished database
Obituary (Dallas Morning News 5/2/1906): Dallas County Pioneer Succumbs at Age of 70 years. Cedar Hill, Tex., May 1--Dr. R. A. Roberts died at 8 p.m. today of nervous prostration. Dr. Roberts was born in North Carolina nearly 70 years ago. He came to Dallas County, Texas, in 1859, settling at Cedar Hill, where up to five years ago he practiced his profession, except during the Civil War. He enlisted in the Confederate Army early in the war, and was soon appointed to the position of regimental surgeon, ranking as Major. Dr. Roberts was one among the earliest and best known settlers of his sections of Dallas County. He was a delegate to many State and county conventions. He was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Roberts died five years ago, and the surviving children are William A., C.D., D. B., Robert L., and T. D. Roberts, sons; Mrs. Mollie L. Newland and Mrs. Jessie Ramsey, daughters, all of whom live in or near Cedar Hill except Mrs. Newland, who lives at Muenster, in Cooke County. The funeral will take place today from the late residence of Dr. Roberts. Interment will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.
*****
Roberts, Rufus Alston – Biographical Notes Compiled by F. Terry Hambrecht, M.D. and posted here by Mona Gardner on 5/21/2022
ROBERTS, Rufus Alston
02/25/1837 - Born, Cleveland Co., NC [Father: Thomas Roberts (1799-1841); Mother: Elizabeth Warlick (1803-1843]
08/16/1841 - Father, Thomas, died in Earl, Cleveland Co., NC (buried: Roberts Family Cemetery, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., NC: FindAGrave # 38143624)
10/21/1850 - Lived with William Roberts, a garment manufacturer, Cleveland Co., NC (indexed in the 1850 U. S. Census as Rufus Roberts)
1857-Graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Furman University, Greenville SC
1857-1858 - Attend 1st course of medicine, Medical College of the State of South Carolina, Charleston SC
1858 (summer) - Studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Williams, Shelby, NC
1858-1859 - Attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
1859 - M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC; preceptor: Dr. Thomas Williams; thesis: "Vis Medicatrix Naturae")
1859 - Practiced medicine, Marion District, SC
06/02/1859 - Married, Rebecca Evelyn Croft (1838-1900), South Carolina
11/01/1859 - Moved to Dallas Co., TX
08/15/1860 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 8, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, R. E. Roberts, and Alice Croft; indexed in the 1860 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
03/21/1862 - Enlisted as Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
06/00/1862 - Pvt., Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry
01/28/1863-02/28/1863 - As Pvt. Co. B, 19th TX Cavalry, detailed as druggist, Wright Hospital, Little Rock, AR
04/00/1863 - Passed Confederate Army Board of Medical Examination, Little Rock, AR for the position of Asst. Surgeon
08/31/1863 - Appointed Asst. Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, to rank from 05/27/1863
08/31/1863 - Ordered to report to the Surgeon General by letter
09/19/1863 - Ordered by Surgeon General S. P. Moore "to report for duty to the Med. Director under whom you are serving"
10/31/1863 - Asst. Surgeon, District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Trans-Mississippi Dept., Indianola, TX
11/30/1863 - Asst. Surgeon and Acting Medical Purveyor, North Sub-district of Texas, Bonham, TX
01/30/1864 - Confirmed as Asst. Surgeon from TX by the Confederate States Senate
03/27/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon. Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, I most respectfully request a leave of absence for sixty 60 Days from the first day of May 1864. I entered the service in June 1862. I have never obtained a leave of absence. I have never been reported absent without leave nor have I ever been absent on sick leave. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt. Servt, R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon"
[Docketing on the bottom of the letter reads, "Approved, N. H. Darnell, Col., Comdg, Post"]
04/27/1864 - In a letter written from Office, Post Surgeon, Dallas, Texas, to Surgeon A. V. Small, Chief Surgeon, Northern Sub-district of Texas, "Sir, Enclosed please find a duplicate of contract between myself and Dr. Pryor. I would have been satisfied with forty or fifty days but Dr. Pryor would not agree to act in my place for less period than sixty days. You will also find my application made out and approved as directed. I will pay Dr. Pryor myself. I send you a duplicate of the contract merely to show you that it will be fixed up right. I wish to collect my stock & lay in supplies for my family. I will visit Dallas occassionally [sic] and see that everything gets along right. I am, Very Respectfully, Your Most Obt Servt., R. A. Roberts, Post Surgeon" [Docketing on the back of the letter reads, "Approved, J. J. Gaenslen, Actg. Med Director, Dist. of Texas etc. May 5, 64."] [Note: Dr. Pryor was Dr. Charles Richard Pryor who had formerly been a Surgeon, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and had resigned in 1862.]
06/25/1864 - Asst. Surgeon of Post, Dallas, TX, Gen. H. E. McCulloch commanding
09/01/1864 - As Asst. Surgeon, Dallas, TX, "in charge of sick at Post"
11/12/1864 - Post Surgeon, Dallas, TX
After the Civil War - Purchased the medical practice of Dr. R. L. Sullivan, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
07/05/1870 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 2, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., 4 children, and Allice Croft; indexed in the 1870 U. S. Census as Rufus A. Roberts)
1874,1877 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
06/12/1880 - Practiced medicine, Precinct 6, Dallas Co., TX (lived with wife, Rebecca E., six sons, and two daughters; indexed in the 1880 U. S. Census as R. A. Roberts)
1886 - Practiced medicine, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
1892 - Practiced medicine with his son, Dr. Charles D. Roberts, Dallas Co., TX
06/05/1900 - Wife, Rebecca, died (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042292)
06/19/1900 - Practiced medicine and widower, Precinct 06, Dallas Co., TX
- Member, Missionary Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TX
- A Democrat
05/01/1906 - Died of "nervous prostration", Cedar Hill, Dallas Co., TN (buried: Little Bethel Memorial Park, Duncanville, Dallas Co., TX; FindAGrave #29042258) [Source: Obituary of Dr. R. A. Roberts (1906) Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, May 2, 1906, p. 9. - Note: Gravestone is incorrectly inscribed with May 2, 1906, as the date of death.]
[Note: Additional information on R. A. Roberts can be found in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. 1892.The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, pp. 623-625.]
Mona Gardner (Dr. Roberts' great-great-great granddaughter) and Michael Angelo provided input to this biography.
This biographical sketch is from: Hambrecht, F. T. & Koste, J. L., Biographical register of physicians who served the Confederacy in a medical capacity. 04/19/2022. Unpublished database
Gravesite Details
Grave marker may be incorrect. An obituary published at the time of his death reported that he died on May 1, 1906, but grave marker reads May 2, 1906.
Family Members
Siblings
