My
stepfather was also a Sergeant in the Special Constabulary. They were both enthusiastic golfers. My Stepfather died in 1969, and my mother in
1971.
?In 1969 I received a
letter from Lyman (the Hugh and Mary Owens Roberts Family Genealogist) making
inquiries about my father?s family. This
was the first indication mother and I had that there were any members of my
father?s family anywhere. I provided
what little information I had and this Easter (1972) when Lyman wrote and
invited me to the ?family reunion??I decided to accept and within a few weeks
was on my way to USA. I have been given a truly wonderful welcome
by some very wonderful people.? (Sybil
was glad to return to England where the temperature was
only 69 degrees and here in Utah we had been having weather
in the 90s. She thinks when she comes
again it will have to be in the spring or in the fall. We all enjoyed having her visit with us.)
THE REMAINDER OF HUGH?S LIFE
After
the dedication of the Logan Temple in May 1884, Hugh and Mary
turned their attention to the work of redeeming their dead kindred and friends
as far as they were able to obtain the necessary records. They labored diligently to do this. Mary walked many mornings from the old home
in North
Smithfield to the Logan Temple, a distance of at least 8
miles, to do the endowment work for one soul, then she
would walk back in the evening to her home.
She did this after she was 70 years of age. Such was her desire to see the work done, and
great will be her reward for such devotion and sacrifices. Hugh could not walk much as he was lame, but
his devotion to the cause was none-the-less ardent and he embraced every
opportunity to go to the temple and do what he could.
Hugh
Roberts was near 6 feet in height, well proportioned, not stout but of an
athletic build. He was medium
complexioned, with keen blue eyes, rather large straight nose, square chin,
high cheek bones, and large ears. He was
of a deeply religious nature, with an undivided love of the Gospel and with a
thorough knowledge and strong testimony of it.
He was kind and jovial, but firm in disposition and was good in judgment. He loved music and had a fine smooth musical
deep bass voice, and exhibited superior musical talent. He found much satisfaction in his trade and
had a friend in anyone who knew him. He
was always willing to give to the needy and help in every worthy work and
answer every call made of him.
Mary
Owens Roberts was short of stature and in her later life she became rather
stout of build. She was round in face
with evenly balanced features. She was
medium light complexioned and had small piercing blue eyes. Her voice was gentle and pleasing, and in
song was a rich, melodious soprano. She
was very affectionate and kind, and won the love of all. She was quick in action and unswerving in
purpose. She loved the Gospel with her
whole soul and was willing to make any sacrifice for it. She was industrious and saving. She was a very good cook and
housekeeper?everything tasty, clean and tidy in the home and she was clean and
neat always in her person whether at home or elsewhere. Many times in the evenings when the tasks of
the day were done they would sit and converse about the Gospel and of times
gone by. They would sing the old
familiar songs in Welsh, especially the hymns they used to sing for years in
the Branch at Eglwysbach. One of those hymns was a favorite with them
and gave them much comfort and joy. It
was a hymn in the Old Welsh Hymn Book composed by David R. Roberts, who was the
father of Robert D. Roberts, who had married their daughter Hannah. When they would finish the singing of that hymn
their eyes would be filled with tears and they would exclaim, ?Oh, it is
beautiful, it is beautiful.?
Their
souls rejoiced in the many blessings of God to them. They had passed through the storms of life together, they were living in the evening?s sunshine,
contemplating God?s mercy, with a full assurance of the reward that comes from
a well-spent life of perfect union and of devotion to each other and to the
cause of righteousness. They were happy
as children in the company of each other.
They had raised a large family and while all of their children were not
members of the Church of Christ, they were all honorable in
their lives and doing their duty in a way worthy of their noble parentage. This was pleasing and a source of joy to
them.
The
time finally came for them to make another move. They had lived many years in Smithfield and dearly loved the old
home there and it was hard to leave it.
John, their son, had located nearly Liberty, Bear Lake County, Idaho. He had a large farm there which he had
bought, and being desirous of living near him, Hugh and Mary left the dear old
home and moved into a comfortable log cabin on the farm near to John. By this time Hugh had retired from active
work at his trade and spent his time in reading and visiting around the farm
and in playing with the children. He
loved children as did Mary, and he would often even in his advanced years enter
into their play with them. Never did
they cease the raising of their voices together in song in the quiet
evenings. Never did they cease their
prayers of thanksgiving daily to the true and living God whom they worshipped
and served with undivided hearts. Mortal
life had nearly run its course with them.
Hugh had attained the ripe age of nearly 90 years and becoming ill and
weakened in body, gave up the struggle of life like the burning out of the
candle to its end. He passed peacefully
into the world of spirits on the 13th of Oct
1892,
surrounded by some of his children and grandchildren, honored and loved by all.
A splendid
and well-attended funeral was held in the Liberty Meeting House after which his
remains were deposited in the little cemetery on the hill where the remains of
a number of his grandchildren who preceded him were buried. Mary now took up her abode with her daughter
Margaret R. Morgan, where her every want was supplied by hands until she, too, worn out in body and ill?but a few days gave up
this mortal career on Jan 9, 1894. She went home to that God who gave her life,
to mingle with her loved ones gone before in peace and joy for hers was a
well-earned reward. Her remains were
buried by the side of her faithful husband in the Liberty Cemetery.
