Summary
Edwin Ewing Roberts (December 12, 1870 – December 11, 1933) was an American attorney and politician from Nevada. He is best known for his service as a United States representative from 1911 to 1919, and mayor of Reno, Nevada from 1923 to 1933.
Edwin E. Roberts | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Reno, Nevada | |
| In office 1923–1933 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Sam Frank (acting) |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's At-Large district | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | George A. Bartlett |
| Succeeded by | Charles R. Evans |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 12, 1870 Pleasant Grove, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 1933 (aged 62) Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| Resting place | Odd Fellows Cemetery, Reno, Nevada |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relations | Walter Johnson (son-in-law) |
| Education | California State Normal School |
| Profession | Attorney |
Biography edit
Roberts was born and raised in Pleasant Grove, California.[1] He attended the public schools and graduated from the California State Normal School in 1891.[1] He taught school in Hollister, California, from 1891 to 1897 and Empire, Ormsby County, Nevada from 1897 to 1899.[1]
After studying law while teaching school, Roberts was admitted to the bar in 1899 and commenced practice in Carson City, Nevada.[1] A Republican, he was district attorney of Ormsby County from 1900 to 1910.[1] Beginning in 1912, he was a delegate to every state party convention and almost every national convention until 1932.[1]
In 1910, Roberts was a successful Republican candidate for the U.S. House.[1] He was reelected three times, and served from March 4, 1911 to March 3, 1919.[1] On April 5, 1917 he voted against U.S. entry into World War I against Germany. Roberts did not seek renomination in 1918, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate.[1] He lost to Democrat Charles B. Henderson by a vote of 12,197 to 8,053, and relocated to Reno, where he re-established a law practice.[1]
In 1923, Roberts was elected mayor of Reno.[1] He was reelected in 1927 and 1931, and served until his death.[1] Roberts was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator in 1926 and governor of Nevada in 1930.[1]
Death and burial edit
He died in Reno on December 11, 1933.[1] Roberts was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Reno.[2]
Family edit
Roberts was married twice.[1] His first wife, Nora S. Range died in 1926.[1] In 1929, he married Sadie Tomamichael of Reno.[1] With his first wife, he was the father of children Frederick, Bobbie, and Hazel.[3] With his second wife, he was the stepfather of Wilma and J. J. Tomamichael.[3]
Roberts' daughter Hazel Lee Roberts was the wife of baseball pitcher Walter Johnson.[3] They married in Roberts' Washington home on June 24, 1914, with the chaplain of the United States Senate presiding over the ceremony.[4] Johnson served as a county commissioner in Maryland after his baseball career ended, and made an unsuccessful run for Congress as a Republican in 1940.
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Mayor E. E. Roberts Dies". Reno Evening Gazette. Reno, NV. December 11, 1933. pp. 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Funeral Notice, Edwin E. Roberts". Reno Evening Gazette. Reno, NV. December 13, 1933. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Death Notice, Edwin E. Roberts". Reno Evening Gazette. Reno, NV. December 11, 1933. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Walter Johnson Marries; Miss Roberts, Bride-elect, Saw Pitcher Beat Champions Yesterday". The New York Times. New York, NY. June 25, 1914. p. 10.
References edit
- United States Congress. "Edwin E. Roberts (id: R000309)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.