Rev. Tom L. Roberts
21st Pastor of Herrin FBC
1935-1939
Born July 15, 1889 in Hester, Missouri
Died July 20, 1951 in Shreveport, Louisiana
Parents:
William A “Beas” Roberts
Mary Francis Haley
Married Miss Caroline Huser in 1910
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His grandfathers were farmers with side work as carpenters and
mail carriers. His grandfather on his mother’s side, was Eldred Haley.
In August of 1862, he tried to escape his home in Missouri, so that
he would not be drafted or pressured into the army. As he was trying
to leave, the Union Army captured him and labeled him a Guerilla.
He was immediately sent to a military prison in St. Louis, then to the prison camp in Alton IL, then on to a prison camp near Sandusky OH.
In November 1862, an old acquaintance of his saw him in the camp.
The man immediately sent word to friends and officials, requesting
Haley’s release. Within a week, Haley was sent to Vicksburg MS, to
be exchanged.
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Census Records:
1900 - Round Grove, Marion County, Missouri
1910 - Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri
1920 - Union, Lewis County, Missouri
1930 - El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas
1940 - Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee
1950 - Union Parrish, Louisiana
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Description from his WWI Registration Card:
Medium build, medium height, blue eyes, brown hair
Pastor Roberts served as a Chaplain for the U.S. Army during
World War I. He was sent to France in June 1918. In September
of that same year, he was at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. He
was performing first-aid duty in the fighting sector, when he was
hit in both legs with shrapnel and wounded. While laying on
the battlefield, waiting for a stretcher, the area was gassed.
After recovery, he was sent home in February 1919. He
became known as the “fighting chaplain”, and it’s reported that he
was awarded a Purple Heart.
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| 1919 |
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| 1923 |
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| 1925, Nashville Banner newspaper |
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| 1925 Chattanooga newspaper |
1926, The Tennessean newspaper
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| 1929, The Daily World newspaper |
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| 1931, The Gazette, Farmerville LA |
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| 1930-35, Farmerville FBC church directory photo |
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| 1934, The Gazette, Farmerville LA |
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| 1934, The Gazette, Farmerville LA |
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| 1935, The Gazette, Farmerville LA |
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| 1936, Illinois State Register |
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| 1939, The Canton Press |
Description from his WWII Registration Card:
Blue eyes, blonde hair, light complexion, left small finger off
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| 1942, The Jackson Sun |
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| 1949, The Gazette, Farmerville LA |
Known churches Pastor Roberts served in:
FBC of Basco, IL… 1917-1918
FBC of Sheffield, IA…1921-1923
Grace Baptist Church, Nashville, TN… 1924-1927
Southside Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, AR… 1927-1930
FBC of Farmerville, LA… 1930-1935
FBC of Herrin, IL… 1935-1939
FBC of Martin, TN… 1939-1942
FBC of Ewing, MO… 1942-1943
From 1944-1949, Pastor Roberts served part time in the following Baptist churches in Louisiana… Zion Hill, New Hope, Culbertson, Vienna, Athens and Conway
Other Titles/Organizations Roberts held through the years:
Participant in the Victory Loan Campaign
Director of Hospitalization of Iowa
First Chef de Gare of the Forty and Eight of Iowa
Iowa State Chaplain of the American Legion
32nd Degree Mason
Shriners
Misc. Chamber of Commerce
Lions Club
Chaplain of Post B, Travelers’ Protective Association
Captain and Chaplain of the Arkansas National Guard
Louisiana State Chaplain of the American Legion
Chaplain of Veterans of Foreign Wars Louisiana Department
Chaplain of the Union Parish Chapter of the Red Cross
Disaster Chairman of the Union Parish Red Cross
Executive Secretary of the Union Parish Red Cross
Drought Relief Committee of Farmerville, Louisiana
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| 1951, Morning World, Monroe LA |
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