"REV. JOEL V. ROBERTS, pastor of the Christian Church in Union Township, Madison Co. Ark., was born in Platte County, Mo., April 30, 1842, and is a son of NOAH A. and NANCY E. (SPENCER) ROBERTS, who were born in Kentucky October 12, 1817, and Indiana September 14, 1822, respectively. They were married in Indiana in 1837, and moved to Platte County, Mo., in 1841, but at the end of seven years moved to Crawford County, Ark., finally locating in Hot Springs, Ark., in 1860. Here the mother died July 31, 1866. The father is yet living, and since 1848 has been engaged in ministerial work, being a minister of the Methodist Church. He has also been engaged in farming. He is a Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace for many years. After his wife's death he married ANN E. BUGG, who is still living. His first union resulted in the birth of eleven children, seven of whom are still living. Two children were born to his last marriage also. Joel V. Roberts is almost entirely self-educated. September 6, 1860, he married RACHEL C. HERRIMAN, a daughter of JOHN HERRIMAN. She was born in Cannon County, Tenn., November 10, 1843, and she and Mr. Roberts have been blessed in the birth of a large family of children, eight of whom are living: Onethea O., Joetta A., Rebecca A., Maidalee, Lydia C., Kima N., George N., and Ruth A. In 1860 Mr. Roberts located in Madison County Ark., where he has since resided. In July, 1862, he was mustered into Company E, Third Arkansas Infantry, and served with credit until June, 1865, being part of the time corporal. He was a prisoner for about three months. He has been a farmer all his life, and has also followed the occupation of blacksmithing, which he learned during the war. In 1868 he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church, and has helped organize many churches in Madison County. He has been pastor of the Lollar's Creek Church, which he organized, for twenty consecutive years. He has been justice of the peace for six years, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. " (Goodspeeds History of NW AR...)