Robert Richford Roberts was born August 2d, 1778, in Frederick County, Maryland. His father was a respectable farmer, and was a zealous member of the Church of England, and a soldier of the Revolution. Robert R. was put to school when between four and five years of age, and before he was seven years old, he was able to read the Bible quite intelligibly. He was baptized in infancy according to the usages of the Church of England, and when older was taught the Catechism of the Church, and was while but a boy, the subject of deep religious impressions, although his parents were not at that time experimentally pious, but rested in the outward form of religion.

When young Roberts was about seven years of age, his father removed to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where the inhabitants were mostly Presbyterians, and as the elder Roberts entertained a dislike for any kind of worship, that was not of “the Church,” he seldom worshipped with them.

Three years after his removal to Pennsylvania, the neighborhood where he resided was visited by Methodist preachers, but he would not hear them, believing them to be false prophets. At length Mrs. Roberts was constrained to go, and took young Robert R. with her. She was powerfully convicted under the sermon, but on account of the wishes of her husband, she refrained from going to hear them again for a length of time. The other members of the family, however, continued to attend from time to time, and a quarterly-meeting being held in the neighborhood, the elder son, John, was prevailed upon by his sisters to attend the love-feast, and bring back an account of what might transpire there. On his return, they were all curiosity to know what he had seen and heard, and to their astonishment he told them, he believed the Methodists were a good people. This reply was strange to young Robert R., who had heretofore heard his brother say very severe things against that people.

Soon after this, one of his sisters being under conviction, retired to the woods to pray; young Robert overheard her asking God to pardon her sins, and he wondered very much, what enormous sin she could have committed, to affect her thus deeply. Soon after this, he learned, that three of his sisters had united with the Methodist Church, and that his elder sister, Sarah, had actually prayed in public! Such was the effect of this young lady’s prayers and zeal, in the cause of Christ, that shortly, others of the children, together with the father and mother, joined the “sect everywhere spoken against,” and the house of the elder Roberts became a regular preaching place, and a home for the preachers. When Robert R. was about fourteen years of age, he obtained the evidence of his acceptance with God, and soon after joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He also commenced attending school again, a privilege he had not enjoyed since he left Maryland.

In the spring of 1796, young Roberts being nearly eighteen years of age, in company with four other young men, left his father’s house and went to Shenango, now Mercer County, Pa. The Legislature of Pennsylvania had passed an act granting four hundred acres of land to actual settlers under certain conditions. Robert R. and one of his brothers thinking this to be a good offer, concluded to comply with the conditions prescribed, and thus secure a home and independence. They traveled on foot, and carried their provisions in knapsacks upon their backs. They, however, caught plenty of wild game by the way, which added greatly to their necessarily scanty store. In the meantime, his brother and another of his associates becoming discouraged with the prospect before them, returned home, but Robert and two others kept on their way, until they arrived at a place where the land suited them, and where they resolved to make a location. Here they fell in with two other young men, who were also looking for land, and the five resolved to keep together, and form a settlement in the wilderness. They cut logs, built a cabin, covering it with chestnut bark, and deadened a few trees. Soon, however, their provisions ran out, and Mr. Roberts had no money to purchase any more; one of his associates, however, lent him some, and they had to go twenty miles to obtain a supply, and when obtained were obliged to carry it on their backs the same distance. The price which they paid for provisions and seed for their ground, was high compared with present prices; corn was two dollars per bushel, and potatoes three dollars! The crops of the succeeding summer came in very scantily, the corn being mostly destroyed by squirrels. Mr. Roberts, accordingly, made up his mind to return home, and assist in harvesting.

When he arrived at the paternal mansion, his parents and friends were greatly rejoiced to see him, fearing before his arrival that he was dead.

In the spring of 1797, Mr. Roberts in company with two of his brothers, and six other persons, started once more for Shenango. Here they remained for some time, clearing land, planting corn, etc. His brothers, however, soon returned home, designing ultimately to settle on the lands near Robert’s location. After their departure, so greatly was our young pioneer distressed for provisions, that he actually subsisted for three weeks on squirrels and salt! until his brothers returned again, in company with his father and one of his sisters, who brought with them four horses laden with provisions and four cows. Robert R. and his sister determined to spend the winter in the settlement, which they accordingly did very comfortably, he spending his time mostly in hunting, and meeting with some providential escapes from the fury of wild beasts, that he wounded without instantly killing, and she being in more or less dread of the Indians, who wandered through the forest. In the spring of 1798, Mr. Roberts was joined by his father, brothers, and another sister, all of whom had come to settle permanently in the new country.

About this time, Mr. Roberts having gone to procure more provisions, was on the way entertained at the house of a local preacher, and in the neighborhood a meeting was held. After a sermon by the local preacher — Mr. Gurwell — the latter called on Mr. Roberts to say something by way of exhortation, to the people. He accordingly made the attempt, and delivered a brief address fraught with pathos and good sense, which betokened the future greatness of the young backwoods man. This was his first effort at public speaking.

About the middle of April, Mr. Roberts and his younger brother started for their old place of residence, for the purpose of conveying to Shenango a part of the family, which had been left behind. Among these last, was his maternal grandfather, Mr. Richford, an old gentleman ninety-three years of age. As the only mode of conveyance was by horseback, it was extremely difficult for the old man to pursue the journey, as streams of considerable width and depth had to be forded. To add to the difficulty of the undertaking, the old grandfather being in his dotage, was somewhat peevish and fretful, and not a little stubborn, as well as fearful. However, by dint of stratagem and perseverance, they succeeded in getting the old man along, at the expense of an occasional wetting. Our emigrants were ten days on the journey, and lay out every night, there being no taverns or dwelling-houses the whole distance. Robert R. carried bags of flour and other provisions, over streams, by walking on the trunks of fallen trees.

Nancy Roberts drove three cows and two pigs, carrying an axe on her shoulder, and walking all the way. Sarah walked also the entire distance, carrying a spinning-wheel on her shoulder. Another sister, Sophia, sometimes rode behind the pack, on one of the horses, and sometimes walked.

The removal of the Roberts family to Shenango, was the means of introducing Methodism into that hitherto wilderness country, so that in the summer of 1798, a Society was formed by local preachers who had also emigrated to that region. Robert R. was appointed leader of the class, and made himself useful in holding prayer-meetings, etc. in the meantime, the country was becoming rapidly inhabited by emigrants from older places, so that there were religious meetings frequently held among them by local preachers, who were sometimes assisted by Mr. Roberts. In the winter of 1799, Robert R. went to his former place of residence, with a large quantity of furs, amounting in value to about one hundred and fifty dollars, the proceeds of his hunting during the former part of the winter. Before his return home, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Oldham, of York County, Pa., and shortly after their marriage, they took up their line of march for Shenango; Mrs. Roberts, the new-made bride, riding on a pack-horse, and with the bridegroom being obliged to remain out all night in the woods, with snow on the ground, and the weather being severely cold, it being the beginning of February. To add to the dreariness of their situation, Lewis Roberts, who had charge of the horses carrying the provision for the journey, had proceeded somewhat in the advance, and Robert and his bride having been overtaken by the darkness of the evening before coming up with him, were compelled to lie down on their snowy bed dinnerless and supperless, having eaten nothing since early in the morning. Sleep was of course out of the question, especially as a pack of hungry wolves began to howl around most lustily. “Robert,” exclaimed the bride, “they will certainly eat us up before morning.” “No, Betsy,” replied the courageous bridegroom, “they will be afraid to approach us; and if they do, this half burned stick, with its red blaze, will terrify them, so that they will never face it to assault us.” In the morning, they resumed their journey, and overtook Lewis, who had found shelter in an inhabited hut during the night, and through the good providence of God, they in due time all arrived home in safety; and the new-married couple took up their residence in a small log hut, without a window to let in the light and keep out the cold, without a chair, or bedstead, or table, except those made in the rudest possible manner, but where they found that contentment and true happiness, which are so frequently found wanting in the splendid mansions of the great.

In the summer of 1800, Robert R. received a license to exhort. Previously to this time, his mind had been greatly exercised in regard to his being called of God to preach the Gospel, but determining, if possible, to disobey the call, he had thus far lived without any attempt to discharge the duties which he felt were imposed upon him, and tried to persuade himself that God would release him from the discharge of ministerial duties, because he viewed himself to be totally unqualified for the work; but so thought not his friends and neighbors, who, knowing his talents, and being acquainted with his consistent daily deportment as a Christian, were persuaded that there was a work for him to do. He, however, continued to stifle his convictions, and the warm and earnest entreaties of his friends, until at length he became very unhappy and uneasy in his mind, so much so, that he was obliged for the sake of recovering his lost peace, to make an attempt to preach, let the consequences be what they might, although he was almost certain that he would utterly fail in the attempt. He accordingly preached from the text, “O, Lord, revive thy work,” and the Society were so much pleased with his first effort, that they immediately recommended him to the Quarterly Conference as a suitable person to preach the Gospel.

As the quarterly meeting for his own circuit was passed, he was advised by the preacher in charge, to repair to another quarterly meeting on an adjacent circuit with his recommendation. Having now fully resolved to offer his services to the Church, not only as a preacher, but as an itinerant, he complied with the advice, and being furnished with a letter from the preacher in charge, to the Quarterly Conference of Ohio circuit, he rather reluctantly, because of his being a stranger, attended the quarterly meeting of the above circuit and received a license to preach, and a recommendation to join the Baltimore Annual Conference.

After receiving his license and recommendation, he returned home to make preparation for the itinerant field, although he was quite doubtful whether the Annual Conference would receive him, especially as he was a married man, and as but few married men in those days, were received into the traveling connection. He was, however, received, and appointed to Carlisle circuit, Pa. As soon as he received information of his appointment, he distributed the most of his household utensils among his neighbors and relatives, and with two horses, one for himself, and the other for his wife, with their clothes, and bedclothes packed on the saddles, they started for their field of labor. Carlisle circuit, at that period, embraced about thirty appointments, to be filled once in four weeks. Before he had completed his third round on the circuit, he lost both his horses, and was also attacked with smallpox and measles. While under the influence of the latter disease, the family, in whose, house he happened to be taken sick, were very kind to him, and kept him warm, and gave him nothing but warm drinks. One night, however, while the family were all asleep. he went to the pump, and took a copious draught of cold water, being very thirsty. He returned to bed, fell asleep, awoke in a perspiration, and found himself materially better, and soon recovered so as to resume his labors on the circuit.

Mr. Roberts soon gave evidence of more than ordinary abilities as a preacher, so that his congregations, especially in York, Pa., were composed of the elite of the village, but such was his diffidence that this circumstance only seemed to embarrass him. On one occasion, seeing the large number of fashionable people who were flocking to the Church, he hesitated about entering, and actually withdrew to a private place, where he remained until such time as he supposed the congregation would have grown impatient, and many of them have left the house. In this, however, he was disappointed, as they all remained till he made his appearance. He made no apology, but trusting in God, went on with his discourse, and his effort, on that occasion, was spoken of with so much admiration, that it only served to increase the size of his congregation in future.

By the kindness of friends, a horse was purchased for him, and at the Conference of 1803, he was appointed to Montgomery circuit, Maryland, where he labored with great success, as the junior preacher, during a part of the year, and as the preacher in charge during the latter portion of the same. At the Conference of 1804; Mr. Roberts was admitted into full connection, and ordained deacon by Bishop Asbury. He was appointed to Frederick circuit, as the field for his labors during the ensuing Conference year, and being in the vicinity of Baltimore during the session of the General Conference, he attended the latter body as a spectator, but after being permitted to be present for two days, the Conference ordered close doors, by which means he and other spectators were shut out, a circumstance which disappointed him not a little; he consequently returned to the circuit, of which he had the charge, and pursued his accustomed rounds, his wife, the meanwhile, living in an upper room, and supporting herself by her own industry. The circuit embraced the place of his birth, and on his first going to the spot he visited an aged aunt, who, like his father, before his conversion, was a high-toned Episcopalian. She at first warmly received her nephew, but on learning that he was a Methodist preacher, she changed her demeanor towards him and gave him to understand that she did not like “turncoats.” He replied, good-naturedly, that he never had a coat, until he got among the Methodists. She soon allowed natural affection to overcome her denominational bigotry, and extended to him a cordial welcome.

Harper’s Ferry was included in the list of his appointments, but for the first two or three times of visiting the place, he found no congregation to preach to, and was about giving up the place in despair. At length, the lady, at whose house he stopped, resorted to a novel expedient to collect a congregation for the young preacher: She appointed a quilting party at her house, and invited a large number of the ladies to attend. Mr. Roberts, without knowing anything of the expedient, happened there on his regular round, and found the house full of ladies, busily engaged in making two bed-quilts. Soon after he made his appearance, the lady of the house proposed preaching, which was assented to by him and the company. He accordingly preached to them, and they were so well pleased with the discourse, that ever after, there was no want of a congregation in that place. In the fall of the year 1804, Mr. Roberts made a visit to his friends in Shenango, and leaving his wife among them to spend the winter, he returned to his circuit, where he spent the remainder of the year with profit to himself and others.

At the Conference of 1805, he was appointed to Shenango circuit, an appointment which, though it did not embrace the neighborhood where his friends lived, brought him much nearer to them. While on this circuit, he called one day on a Presbyterian family, to get his horse fed; the ladies of the house supposing him to be a minister, were very desirous to know whether he was a Presbyterian or a Seceder, but without giving them any direct answer, they took it for granted, that he was a Presbyterian. The lady and her daughter took occasion to say some bitter things against the Methodists, but he let them pass without any opposing remarks. Being invited to stay to dinner, he did so, and after dinner, when about to leave, the lady requested him to stay over the Sabbath, and attend Church, as the minister would be very glad to see him. He informed her that he could not stay, as he had an appointment himself. She then wished to know if he was seeking a call from a congregation. He replied that he already had congregations; to which she answered, that she had never heard of any one by the name of Roberts having a congregation in that part of the country.

She wished to know where his congregation was, and he, in reply, gave her a list of his appointments on his extensive charge, at which the good lady expressed great surprise. He then remarked, that he was one of those of whom she had spoken so reproachfully, a short time before. “Not a Methodist!” she exclaimed, with astonishment. “Yes:” he replied. “Well, no person could have taken you for one,” said the good lady. She, however, invited him to call again, and ever after, treated him with the greatest respect and attention.

Through the kindness of his presiding elder, Mr. Roberts at the second quarterly meeting, received an appointment which embraced his former place of residence, and where his land was situated. Having a little spare time, he superintended the erection of a mill, on a stream near his residence, the object of which was to supply the wants of his family from its proceeds, as his receipts from the circuits did not pay his expenses. This, however, proved a detriment to his usefulness, so much so, that he ever after regretted having had anything to do with the mill, and strongly advised all preachers never to leave the word of God, to serve tables, as they would be losers in the end.

At the next Conference of 1806, Mr. Roberts was ordained elder, by Bishop Asbury, and was returned to Erie circuit, the field of his former labors near home. It, however, embraced all that territory now included in the Erie Conference, except that part which lies in the State of New York, and required six weeks to go round it. While going to an appointment one evening, he was by an accident on the road, unavoidably belated and overtaken by the darkness of night, and as there was no road, or even path to guide him, be was forced to seek shelter in a log-cabin, where he found the children and furniture all besmeared with bear’s grease, so that he hesitated about stopping. He, however, felt obliged to take shelter somewhere, and as he was cordially welcomed to the best the house afforded, he concluded, notwithstanding the filthiness of the place, to tarry for the night. He was informed by his hostess, that she had no bread in the house, nor anything to make any of; she, however, cooked a large supply of fat bear’s meat and potatoes, which she hospitably placed before him, on a slab table. Though extremely hungry, Mr. Roberts did not relish his supper, and ate but little. As there was no regular bed in the house, they furnished him with a small quantity of straw, which was spread on the floor before the fire. On this he lay, his feet toward the fire, having his saddlebags for a pillow, and his great-coat for his covering. As the night was cold, he slept but little, and after having taken his breakfast of bear’s meat in the morning, and having baptized several of the children, he proceeded joyfully on his way.

While on Erie circuit, Mr. Roberts was invited to attend a meeting to be held in a Methodist house, where a Seceder minister was to deliver a sermon, for the purpose of convincing the Methodists of their error in maintaining that Jesus Christ died for the whole human family. The text was, “Contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints,” and the propositions advanced, were: 1. That Christ did not die for all the sins of all men; for then all men must be saved. 2. That he did not die for some of the sins of all men; for none could be saved. 3. That he died for all the sins of some men; for some only would be saved.

When he had concluded his discourse of four hours’ length, Mr. Roberts begged the privilege of replying, which was granted. He took hold of the arguments advanced with such masterly powers for a few minutes, that the Seceder, seeing himself likely to be worsted in the contest, withdrew from the house, leaving Mr. Roberts the master of the field. The effect produced was such, that many of the seceders were ever after among his most attentive hearers, notwithstanding the avowed wishes of their minister to the contrary.

At the Conference of 1807, Mr. Roberts was appointed to Pittsburg (Pa.) circuit, and at the succeeding Conference of 1808, was stationed at the West wheeling circuit. As the General Conference sat this year, and as all traveling elders were at that period ex-officio members of that body, he felt it to be his duty to attend, although after having paid his moving expenses to his new circuit, he had but a single half-dollar left, wherewith to bear his expenses on the journey of three hundred miles. He, however, borrowed a half-dollar of his colleague, but such was his economy, and the kindness of friends on the road, that when he arrived in Baltimore, he had five cents of the dollar left. While at the Conference, Mr. Roberts was appointed to preach in the Light-street Church, and supposing that the members of that Church were somewhat tinctured with pride, he delivered a severe sermon on the subject. His own clothing was coarse, and had been much worn. A few days after having preached the sermon, he was waited on at his room by a tailor, who took his measurement for some new articles of apparel, which were soon finished, and presented to him by some friend unknown.

So much was his sermon liked by the members of the Light-street Church, that they petitioned Bishop Asbury to station Mr. Roberts over them as their pastor; accordingly in the latter part of the summer, he was officially requested by the bishop to leave West Wheeling and proceed immediately to Baltimore, but such was his diffidence, that he hesitated to comply, nor was it until he had received a second peremptory letter, and had been strongly advised by his faithful wife to a compliance with the bishop’s request, that he consented to go. He accordingly, with a few dollars in his pocket, and with a couple of horses for himself and wife to ride on the journey, started for his new appointment, having recourse during the day to his saddle-bags, for supplies of bread and cheese, and stopping with their acquaintances over-night. He spent the remainder of the Conference year very pleasantly, and at the next Conference of 1809, was re-appointed to the Baltimore station. In 1810, he was stationed at Fells Point, and in 1811, in Alexandria, D. C., where he was so greatly esteemed by people of different denominations, that he frequently exchanged pulpits with the resident clergymen of the place, especially the Protestant Episcopal minister. In 1812, he was stationed in Georgetown, D. C, and while here, had an introduction, in a formal manner, to Mr. Madison, President of the United States. His reserve, and dignified mien, so far attracted the attention of the President, that the latter expressed a desire to form an acquaintance with him in a more private and informal manner. He accordingly, some time after, made the President and his lady a private visit, and after a delightful and profitable interview, it was terminated by a solemn season of prayer.

During the years 1813 and 1814, Mr. Roberts was stationed in the city of Philadelphia, a place which has always secured the services of the most able ministers of the Church. While a resident of Philadelphia, he made a visit to Indiana, to which State his brother Lewis had removed. On his journey, he stopped at Orleans, where was a company of United States soldiers stationed. He found the latter engaged in target-shooting, and as Mr. Roberts appeared to take some interest in the exercise, they invited him to try his skill at the rifle, which he did, and fairly surpassed the whole company in the correctness of his aim, which proved, as might be expected, a matter of astonishment to the soldiers, who acknowledged themselves beaten in the use of their own favorite weapon, by a Philadelphia clergyman. We mention this circumstance, to show that Mr. Roberts, although elevated to a dignified position in society, and whose acquaintance was sought for by the great and honorable of the land, did not feel himself so far above his more humble fellows, as to refuse to take an interest in their innocent diversions and useful pastimes. In 1815, Mr. Roberts was appointed presiding elder of Schuylkill district, which then embraced within its bounds Philadelphia and vicinity. At the Philadelphia Conference of 1816, in consequence of the recent death of Bishop Asbury, and the indisposition of Bishop McKendree, it became necessary to elect a president of the body, from among the presiding elders, and although Mr. Roberts was the youngest presiding elder in the Conference, yet he was chosen president by a large majority of votes, an evidence of the confidence placed in him by his brethren who knew him best.

As the Philadelphia Conference sat in the latter part of April, and the General Conference was to sit on the 1st of May following, there happened to be present at the session of the former, a large number of delegates from the north, and east, on their way to Baltimore. Those delegates could not fail to discover the ease and dignity, with which Mr. Roberts discharged the duties of President; and as it would be necessary to elect one or two additional bishops, at the General Conference, their minds appear to have unanimously centered on him as one of the candidates; accordingly, on the 14th of May, when the votes for bishops were counted, it was found that Enoch George, and Robert R. Roberts, had each a majority of all the votes, and they were, consequently, declared to be duly elected Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After his election, and previously to his consecration, he had serious misgivings about the propriety of accepting the important office, to which he had been elected, honestly supposing that his brethren had overrated his abilities. He even proposed to some of his confidential friends, a desire to resign the office by declining consecration; these friends, however, who were no doubt better judges of his qualifications for the office of a bishop, than he was himself, persuaded him to be obedient to the call of God and his Church, to which he finally consented, and on the 17th of May, 1816, he was duly consecrated by the only surviving bishop, — McKendree — the latter being assisted by some of the senior elders present.

On Bishop Roberts’ return to Philadelphia, from General Conference, his wife inquired what he designed to do with her, in regard to a place of residence, etc. He replied, that she might remain in Philadelphia, or anywhere east of the Allegheny Mountains, or she might reside on their land in Shenango, or travel with him as she chose. The former course she thought would be too expensive, the latter, too inconvenient; she accordingly elected, to reside in the small cabin which he had erected with his own hands, twenty years previously. She even sighed for that independence incident to a western life. They accordingly started for their old home, the friends in Baltimore having in the meantime, in the kindest manner, procured for him the carriage and traveling trunk of the deceased Bishop Asbury. In crossing the mountains, they found a piece of new-made road, where the mud was very deep. Mrs. Roberts, and their little nephew — George Roberts, who was with them — had to alight and walk to the summit of a hill. Meanwhile, the horses and carriage got fast in the mud, and the bishop literally was obliged to “put side and shoulder to the wheel,” in order to extricate himself. The clerical fashion in those times, was long-boots, long-stockings, and breeches. The attempts to relieve the carriage from the mud, had besmeared him from head to foot, the mud running over the tops of his boots. As he gained the ascent his wife who had turned round awaiting his arrival, when she saw his be-smattered appearance, could not repress a laugh, while she exclaimed, “You are a pretty-looking bishop now.” At length they arrived at their journey’s end, and leaving his beloved wife among his friends, he proceeded to the discharge of his episcopal duties in attending the Conferences, etc.

After completing his visitation of the Annual Conferences, he repaired to Shenango, where he spent the greater part of the winter, not forgetting, occasionally, to spend a day in hunting. In the fall of 1817, he again visited Indiana, in company with his wife. It was while on a journey to visit one of the Southern Conferences, that the occurrence took place which gave rise to the widely circulated story, of “Bishop George, and the young Preacher,” — a story which has been published in most of the periodicals in the United States. The accounts concerning the incident, are very contradictory, and grossly exaggerated. The true hero of the tale was Bishop Roberts, and not Bishop George, as currently reported; and although the former frequently spoke of the occurrence, he never would reveal the name of the young man who figured so largely in the affair. As the story is of some length and is probably remembered by most of our readers, and as no authentic written version is now in existence, we will not transcribe it to our pages. Suffice it to say, that such an occurrence did take place, and that the thoughtless young preacher, who unknowingly slighted his bishop, and permitted him to go to bed supperless, was afterwards heartily ashamed of his conduct, and became a useful and eminent man among his brethren.

Sometimes, when Bishop Roberts was on his way to visit the Conferences, he was obliged to take his lodgings on the cold ground. One night he thus slept on the ground, holding while asleep, his horse by the bridle, to prevent his straying; and at another time while pursuing a new route through the Genesee Flats, he subsisted for three days on strawberries. The reasons for such exposure and want, was not because he had no friends, or because the country could not have afforded him food and shelter, but because of his extreme diffidence and natural independence of spirit, which induced him rather to suffer, than to ask a favor of any person. In this regard, we think the good bishop was blameworthy, for he should have remembered, that there is a blessing in giving, as well as in receiving, and that in depriving his friends of the opportunity of giving, he was in fact injuring them, more than he would have done by an opposite course.

In 1819, Bishop Roberts removed his residence from Shenango, to Lawrence County, Indiana; his object in doing so, was to be near his brother Lewis, to whom he was ardently attached; and as he liked the country better than he did that of his former location, and was obliged to support himself in part by agriculture, his salary being only the meager sum of two hundred dollars per annum, — he thought he could spend a portion of his time in laboring with his hands, and thus administer to his own necessities. In his removal, he was accompanied by three of his nephews, and a niece. In his journey, which took several weeks, he scarcely ever put up at a private house, but at a tavern, and it was scarcely ever known, who or what he was, till after his departure. When Sunday arrived, he would attend some place of worship near, taking a retired seat in some part of the house, without informing any person who he was. At length they arrived at the new episcopal residence, in Indiana, consisting at first of a cabin or hut, made of unhewn logs, clapboard roof, and being without chimney, door, window, floor, or loft. Their provisions, which they carried with them, were by this time exhausted, and they had to make their supper on roasted potatoes. These were placed in a row on one of the sleepers of the cabin, and the good bishop devoutly asked a blessing on the meal, and after having partaken of the same, returned thanks to the Giver of all good.

After supper, his young niece retired to one corner of the cabin, in rather a disconsolate mood, and stated to her cousins, that she did not see why uncle should ask a blessing, and return thanks for a supper of nothing else in the world, but roasted potatoes. For bedsteads, they placed some unhewed sticks across the sleepers, and on them made their beds. After retiring, the wolves began to howl, and as there was no door to prevent their entrance, the young niece became exceedingly terrified; but the tender-hearted uncle assured her, that the large fire would sufficiently intimidate the ravenous animals, to prevent a very near approach, and being thus assured she finally fell asleep, while the wolves thought it best to keep at a respectful distance.

After a good night’s rest, the bishop and his nephews went to work to make their rude dwelling as comfortable as possible. For this purpose, the logs were smoothed with an adze, a floor was laid, chimney raised, and hearth laid, so that it became quite a respectable dwelling for one of its kind. After having completed the house, the bishop, with his nephews, cleared three acres of land, eating their breakfast before day, and in the evening their time was spent in making rude articles of furniture for the dwelling. During the winter, ten acres of land were cleared and fenced, so that it was ready for sowing and planting in the spring. As they needed a cow, the bishop had to borrow twenty dollars, wherewith to purchase one; and to procure wheat and corn, he had to sell one of his four horses. As the nearest mill was eighteen miles distant, and it required a great loss of time to get grinding done, they pounded their corn in a trough made for the purpose, and used it in the form of hominy.

In the spring, Bishop Roberts left home to attend the Annual Conferences.

The following interesting anecdote is related of him in one of his journeys: “Early in the year 1819, Bishop Roberts, on his way from Pennsylvania to the Conference in the South, arrived on Sabbath morning, in Fincastle, the County seat of Botetourt County, Va.

Having no acquaintance in the place, he called at a public house, and took breakfast. On making inquiry in relation to the arrangements for the Sabbath, he was told that there was but one meeting-house in the town, and that the Rev. Wm. Cravens, a Methodist minister, had to preach there at 10 o’clock, and also the Rev. Mr. Logan, a Presbyterian minister, at 11 of the same day. At the sound of the bell, the bishop went to the church, and took his seat among the hearers. According to arrangement, Mr. Cravens preached, and Mr. Logan followed. The Rev. Edward Mitchell, a Methodist minister, who lived a few miles southwest of the place, was called upon to close. When the congregation was dismissed, Mr. Roberts inquired of Mr. Mitchell, how far he lived from the town, and in what direction. Being politely answered, he then said to Mr. Mitchell, if he would wait until he could get his horse from the house at which he had put up, he would go along with him. To this, Mr. Mitchell readily consented. As they left the town, Mr. Mitchell, who was fond of conversation, and always desirous of giving it a religious turn, commenced talking about the preaching they had heard. Mr. Cravens having insisted on the doctrine of restitution, he wished to know of the stranger, what was his opinion of it. Mr. Roberts stated that he did not object to the doctrine in the least. Mr. Mitchell still wishing to turn the subject to the best advantage with the stranger, said, very pointedly, it was one thing to consent to the truth, and another to practice upon it.

Mr. Roberts discovering that he was not suspected, was willing that Mr. Mitchell should give what direction to the conversation he might think proper, and modestly replied, with his usual peculiarity to such questions as were proposed to him. When they arrived at Mr. Mitchell’s residence, Mr. M. said to him, ‘There is the stable, and the hay, and corn, and my rule is, that all who come to see me, must wait on themselves.’ To this, the stranger raised no objections, and put up his horse. When he had done, the dinner was ready. Mr. Mitchell, as was his custom, asked a blessing, and when seated, resumed the conversation, and took the liberty of inquiring of the stranger where he was from, and to what place he was going.

On these questions being answered, he was next asked what was his name. To which the bishop replied, My name is Roberts.’ ‘Any relation to Robert R. Roberts, one of our bishops?’ asked Mr. Mitchell. ‘My name is Robert R. Roberts,’ said the stranger. At this, Mr. Mitchell involuntarily dropped his knife and fork, and gazed a moment speechless at his visitor, and all at once the thought struck him, that his appearance, conversation, and general deportment, were those of a minister of the Gospel, and it was a matter of astonishment to him, that he had not thought of his being a clergyman before. “Mr. Mitchell, after having composed himself a little, asked the bishop why he had not made himself known to them when he first entered the town, and preached for them. To which the bishop replied, that it was his intention so to have done: he had traveled rapidly, the day before, in order to enjoy the holy day of rest among them, but on learning the arrangements that had been made, and also that Mr. Cravens, like himself, was a stranger, and had only stopped to spend the Sabbath day there, he thought it best to attend the house of God as an humble hearer of the word of life, and thus have the privilege of worshipping with the people of that strange land, in the capacity of a private Christian.”

From the above, it will be seen that the bishop was always averse to the act of proclaiming who he was, on his arrival at any place. The following extract, being the substance of a narration given by Bishop Roberts to Bishop Morris, will serve further to illustrate his course in this respect. “Bishop Roberts, once traveling on horseback, along a road with which he was unacquainted, inquired for a quiet house of entertainment, where he might spend the night, and on recommendation, went to one without knowing the character of the man that kept it, but who he subsequently learned was a local preacher of his own denomination. He obtained leave to stay all night, and supper was provided for him. Shortly after which, the landlord lit a candle, placed it in the lantern, and when about going out of the house, said to the bishop, ‘If you wish to retire before we return, you can take a bed in the adjoining room; we are going to a meeting.’ “Bishop. — ‘What sort of a meeting is it?’ “Landlord. — ‘It is what we Methodists call a class-meeting.’ “B. — ‘I should like to go along, if it would not be intruding.’ “ L. — ‘No intrusion at all. We allow serious persons to attend class-meetings a few times without becoming members, if they wish.’ “They proceeded together to the meeting, which was well attended.

The class-leader was a young man of much zeal, and little experience. After speaking to all the members, he came to the bishop, when the following conversation ensued: “Leader. ‘Well, stranger, have you any desire to serve the Lord, and get to heaven?’ “B. ‘I have such a desire.’ “L. ‘How long have you had this desire?’ “B. ‘I cannot say precisely how long now, but for many years. “L. ‘Well, do you think, old gentleman, that you know anything about the enjoyment of experimental religion?’ “B. ‘Yes, brother, I trust I do know, and have known a long time what experimental religion is, though I acknowledge I have not been as faithful as I should have been, and consequently have not made that progress in religion which it was my privilege to have made. Still, I have a good hope in the mercy of God, through Christ, that I shall be saved in heaven at last.’ “The leader closed the exercise himself, in the usual way, and the bishop returned with his host in silence. After they had been seated a short time, a small table was placed in the room, with a Bible and hymn-book. The landlord, after deep study, looked at the Bible, then at the bishop, and again seemed to be in a deep study. After a few more side glances, he rose and started towards the table, then stopped, cleared his throat, and went to the door and spit; then turned again toward the table, but finally stopped and said the bishop, ‘Old gentleman, you appear to be a man that knows something of religion; it is our practice here to have family worship; perhaps you would be willing to read and pray with us?’ “B. ‘I have no objection, brother, if you wish it.’ “He proceeded to read, sing, and pray in his own impressive manner. The landlord then took a candle, and showed him his room; and started out, got to the door, and stopped, turned round, hesitated, and finally remarked, ‘Old gentleman, if it would be no offense, I would like to know your name.’ “B. ‘No offense at all, brother, my name is Robert R. Roberts.’ “When the bishop related this anecdote to the writer, he added, ‘And they paid me well for telling my name; for they detained me two days, and made me preach several times.’ I wished him to tell me how the young class-leader looked about the close of his first sermon, but he declined making any comments.”

In 1825, several ministers on their way to Conference, called at Bishop Roberts’ residence. One of them — Mr. Randall — being an Englishman, and recently from that country, had a great desire to see a bishop of the Methodist Church, as also his residence; no doubt expecting to behold some of the splendor attached to the prelacy of England, but he found only a dwelling of the most humble pretensions. The bishop was not in the house when they arrived, but the visitors were told that he was out in the grass lot. The Englishman, impatient to see him, could not wait until he came in, but went out to catch a glimpse of him, if possible. One of the preachers pointed to the bishop in the lot, but the Englishman remarked that he saw no bishop there. “In the grass lot,” said the other. He looked again, and said, “I see a man there, but no bishop.” “But that is certainly the bishop,” replied his companion. “No! no!” rejoined he, “that cannot be, for the man is in his shirt sleeves.” Soon the bishop came up, and the remarks which had been made were related to him, which he seemed to relish with great pleasure.

From the time of his election to the episcopacy, to that of his death, Bishop Roberts made his annual visits to the Conferences with punctuality, and always presided with dignity, and to the entire satisfaction of the preachers.

Nor was it alone in the Conferences, and by the preachers, that he was beloved and respected. The people in every place where be appeared, admired the simplicity of his manners, and the humility of his deportment.

In a certain town, a violent opposer of the Methodist Episcopal Church once thought it his duty to declaim publicly against the Methodist bishops, and represented them as going about the country in a style of magnificence and splendor. As his remarks were generally believed, a corresponding degree of prejudice was created in the minds of the people against the bishops and the Church, and a seceding church was formed in the place, which was likely to eat up the old one. A few weeks after, Bishop Roberts providentially passed through the place, and when it was announced that he would preach, a general curiosity was excited to see and hear the pompous prelate, as they supposed him to be. The house was filled to overflowing, and at the appointed hour, the prelate appeared, arrayed in an old faded calico robe, or loose gown, and all his other apparel of the coarsest kind; and when the good old bishop preached in his artless, winning way, he won the hearts of the entire congregation, so that the current immediately set in, in an opposite direction, and the seceders soon gave up their new Church, and returned in a body to their old home.

Bishop Roberts’ labors during the last years of his life, were arduous and unremitting. In the spring of 1842, he set out to visit the Indian Missions, west of the Arkansas and Missouri, purposing also to visit those on the Upper Mississippi; and this, too, when his health was very feeble. The hardships endured by the old man and his traveling companion, had we space to notice them, would prove that the office of a Methodist bishop is by no means a sinecure [a position that requires little or no work but usually yields profit or honor], but we must forbear. One little incident connected with this visit to the wilds of the West, we will notice. While in the neighborhood of Fort Leavenworth, the bishop and his companion stopped at an Indian trading house, and requested accommodations for the night. The trader was unwilling to accommodate them, not knowing who they were. They offered to take up with fire and shelter merely, but all entreaty was unavailing. At last, the bishop’s companion turned to him and said, “Bishop, what is to be done?” “Why, we must get some fire and camp out,” replied the latter. The word “bishop” had a powerful effect on the Frenchman’s ears, for he immediately said, “O, by no means, gentlemen, you shall be very welcome to stay;” and stay they did, and found comfortable entertainment for the night. The gentleman who accompanied the bishop, after finding out the value of the title bishop, never failed to use it in every case of subsequent emergency, and found it always paid all expenses.

In compensation for these laborious services, the bishop, as we have seen elsewhere, received the annual allowance of two hundred dollars! In addition, however, to the above, the General Conference, in view of the necessary family expenses of the married bishops, authorized the book agents at New York, to make them an annual allowance for table expenses.

From 1816 to 1819, no such allowance was received, for some cause, by Bishop Roberts; so that for the first three years of his episcopate, two hundred dollars was the sum total of his receipts. From 1819 to 1832, he received two hundred dollars additional, for table expenses, making his annual receipts four hundred dollars; and at no time during his life, did they exceed six hundred, all told. Now, when it is known that bishops are expected to be examples of hospitality and benevolence, and that the occasions for the exercise of these traits of character are very frequent, it is truly a matter of astonishment, how on the one hand, they could give liberally, and on the other, find means to do so. The true secret is to be found in the rigid economy of these self-denying men, and their companions in life.

Bishop Roberts for many years, was subject to an asthmatic complaint, which become increased by the cold weather of the winter of 1842-43. He was finally prostrated upon the bed of disease, and on the 26th of March, 1843, he closed his eyes in death, at his residence in Indiana. His remains were interred within the precincts and solitude of his own farm, where they remained for several months, but at length, by vote of the Indiana Conference, they were disinterred, and conveyed to Greencastle, Indiana, for final interment, where they were deposited in a beautiful spot near the buildings of the Indiana University. Baltimore, Louisville, and Cincinnati, all begged the privilege of removing his remains to their respective localities, but it was, perhaps, more fitting that they should remain in the State where he had so long resided, and that the University to which he had bequeathed all his disposable property, should have the honor of receiving his remains, and giving to them a place of sepulture [burying or putting in the grave]. His end was peaceful, and his last breathings were those of prayer. Thus died Robert R. Roberts, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, the forty-first of his traveling ministry, and the twenty-seventh of his episcopate.

A brief description of his person and character will close this chapter.

Physically, Bishop Roberts was comely in his person; his height, five feet ten inches; his frame, heavy and inclined to corpulency; his features, large, but not gross; his eye blue, and noticeable for its calmness; his manners totally unaffected, and the very pattern of true simplicity. Mentally considered, Bishop Roberts was a man of more than ordinary talents; his mind was penetrating, his judgment sound, and his memory wonderfully retentive. As a preacher, he may have had his superiors for power, and what is usually called eloquence; but for clearness of thought, simplicity of style and above all, the divine unction which attended the word, he had few, if any, equals.