Person Page 581

Adin Roberts was born on 31 Oct 1839 in IndianaG.^5,6,7,8
     His mother died in 1849, when Adin was 10 years old.^15,16 He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Lick Creek Twp., Davis Co., IowaG, in the household of his father, William Roberts, and stepmother, Ellen Woodward.¹⁷
     Adin appeared on the 1856 State Census of Lick Creek Twp., Davis Co., IowaG, in the household of his brother Uriah and his wife Mary.¹⁸
     Adin moved with his brother Uriah and his family to Appanoose Co., IowaG, between 1856 and 1860. He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Center Twp., Appanoose Co., IowaG, in the household of his brother Uriah and his wife, reporting real estate valued at $500. They were apparently living in the same general neighborhood as his future wife as her family is listed eight households prior in the census record.¹⁹
     Adin married Sarah Jane Hodge, daughter of Isaac Hodge and Martha, on 18 Dec 1860 in Appanoose Co., IowaG.^9,10,11
     Adin and Sarah lived in her native Iowa for a time after their marriage, then moved their young family to NebraskaG about 1868. They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Otoe Co., NebraskaG, enumerated 1 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $2,000, and personal estate of $550. Their children Martha, George, Emma, and Lydia were listed as living with them.²⁰

Homesteading, Twice, in Nebraska --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     The family moved to Seward Co., NebraskaG, shortly after that. Adin filed an application to homestead an 80-acre parcel in south western Seward Co. on 6 Oct 1871, under the homestead act of 20 May 1862. He paid a fee of $14 with his application. The act required that the applicant be a citizen or intended citizen who had never borne arms against the U.S. Government, and before gaining title, to live on the land for five years, build a 12 by 14 dwelling, and grow crops.²¹
     They built a 15 by 20 foot sod and lumber one-story house, with two doors and two windows, which they occupied 6 Oct 1871. He also built a 30 by 12 foot stabling for stock, and bore a well 83 feet deep. He planted 2,000 forest trees and 200 fruit trees.²² On 11 Nov 1876 Adin filed the papers to claim the homestead.²³ The patent, awarding title to the land, was issued 5 Apr 1877.²⁴
     Adin and Sarah appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Seward Co., Nebraska G, enumerated 11 Jun 1880. Their children Martha, George, Emma, Lydia, Clara, John, and Edith were listed as living with them.⁴
     By 1885 Adin and Sarah had moved to newly formed Keya Paha Co., in the far northern part of Nebraska. They appeared on the 1885 State Census of Keya Paha Co., NebraskaG. Their children George, Lydia, Clara, John, and Edith were listed as living with them.²⁵
      Adin homesteaded 160 acres in Keya Paha Co.G, under the Timber Culture act of 3 Mar 1873. The patent was granted 1 Aug 1892. Under this act the applicant had to grow 40 acres of timber on the land, with trees not more than 12 feet apart, for 10 years, though somewhat different terms applied to prior homesteaders.²⁶

Moving to the West Coast --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Adin and Sarah moved to Clark Co., WashingtonG, about 1894 with their children Edith, Fred, Martha, Emma, and Lydia.^27,28 Adin and Sarah appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of La Center, Clark Co., Washington G, enumerated 25 Jun 1900, reporting they owned their farm, free of mortgage. Their son Fred was listed as living with them.²⁹
     He was a farm laborer in 1860, and a farmer in his own right by 1870, and was retired by 1910.^{30,20,4,25,29,31}
     His wife died on 8 May 1909.^32,33,34
     Adin appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Mountain View, Clark Co., Washington G, at View and La Center Rd., enumerated May 1910. Addie W. Hodge, a 66-year old widow, likely a relative of his late wife, and her daughters Lucie and Zynthia, ages 12 and 9, were listed as living with him.³⁵

Homesteading in Oregon --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     About 1913 Adin moved to Lake Co., OregonG, and began to establish a homestead there. He filed his initial application for 160 acres in Lake Co., OregonG, one mile south of the homestead of his daughter Edith and her husband, 8 Nov 1913. He paid $16 in fees with the application.³⁶
     He built a 16 by 20 foot home on the property which he occupied 20 Nov 1913. He cleared part of the land and fenced in 120 acres with barbed wire on three sides and rim rock on the fourth. He valued these improvements at $1,000 while his two witnesses each valued them at $750. He planted 10 acres of rye in 1914, and 15 acres in 1915, destroyed both years by rabbits. In 1916 20 acres of rye yielded 10 tons of hay.³⁷
     He filed his intention to make final proof on 31 Oct 1916, taking advantage of an amendment of the homestead law passed 6 Jun 1912 requiring only three years residence instead of five as previously required. After arranging for publication of a notice weekly for five weeks in the Silver Lake Leader, he and two witnesses each filed final proof papers.³⁸ A patent, conveying title to him, was issued 9 May 1917.³⁹
     By 1918 Adin was suffering from dementia, and was confined at the Eastern Oregon State Hospital, Pendleton, OregonG. On 19 Jan 1918 his daughter Emma filed an affidavit stating her father had become insane and that the orignal homestead papers had been lost. She requested a copy of the patent document in order to put his affairs in order.⁴⁰
     Adin died on 12 Nov 1918 in Eastern Oregon State Hospital, Umatilla Co., OregonG, at age 79, of "exhaustion, senile dementia."^12,13 He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, La Center, Clark Co., WashingtonG.¹⁴