The red pointer shows us this prominent Roberts memorial stone gracing this cemetery with a theme which was not popular in the south around the time of the Civil War (about 1860).
Reverend William Orton & Malinda Kinzer Roberts, Methodist Missionaries.
ROBERTS, Rev. William Orton, 1840 - 1923.
ROBERTS, Melinda Kinzer, 1843 - 1936. "Daughter of Nancy Garton & Gabriel Kinzer; wife of W. O. Roberts."
Inscribed as:
ROBERTS
REV. WILLIAM ORTON
1840 - 1923
CO-WORKERS IN THE METHODIST MISSIONARY
CHURCH WITH R. G. LINN. ITS FOUNDER. STOOD
FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE NEGRO. WALKED IN
THE TRUTH. SAT NOT WITH VAIN PERSONS.
AND WENT NOT IN WITH DISSEMBLERS.
MALINDA KINZER
1843 - 1936
DAUGHTER OF
NANCY GARTON AND GABRIEL KINZER
WIFE OF
W. O. ROBERTS
ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, SHE
KEPT THE FAITH. WON THE PRIZE.
To interpret this historical Rev. William O. Roberts stood for values not widely popular around and even after the Civil War 1861 - 1865 in this area. That is freedom for all along with religious & good moral values. I am sure he was also against the civil war. Those principles were usually bound together. He was of the age whereby he had to make a choice of which side he would fight on, but may have been a "Minister of the Gospel." In those days the Republican party stood staunchly for ending slavery as they do today. Oddly it was the Democrats that promoted slavery.
Photo & info by Wayne Austin 24 Mar 2009 abt 8:30 AM.
