"Uncle Jake" Jacob Roberts
According to a note on the Find A Grave website, Jacob was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on 1940. According to notes on FAG, Jacob ran away from home and enlisted in the Union Army, Civil War Pennsylvania Volunteers as a drummer boy until Lee's surrender. He served as a Private in the U.S. Colored Infantry, Regiment, Company B. He was a member of the G.A.R. in Franklin, Pa. Mays Post #220.
County Claims Oldest Hunter - "Uncle Jake" Roberts, 97, Still Is Active Along Field and Stream.
Mercer county lays claim to having the oldest sportsman in the state, and among the oldest if not, the oldest, in the nation, in the person of "Uncle Jake" Roberts, well known colored resident of Stoneboro and formerly of Mercer.
Uncle Jake" is 97 years of age, and his license was issued to him a few days ago. It is not a matter of sentiment with him, but he still enjoys going into the fields with his gun and notwithstanding his advanced age, is considered a good shot. Hunting is not his only activity. He enjoys fishing as much as hunting and during the past season he was a familiar figure on the lake and made as many nice catches as most of them.
"Uncle Jake" is also a member of the Stoneboro fife and drum corps and has sufficient wind left to blow the fife, which is no easy feat. (Source: The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, Wed., Nov. 5, 1930, pg. 10)
Stoneboro Civil War Soldier, 98, Granted 1931 License to Fish
"Uncle" Jake Roberts, 98 years young, Civil War veteran of Stoneboro, applied for his fishing license Tuesday at the office of Justice of the Peace John Kelly, and has received it.
Though in poor health the past winter, Uncle Jake, as he is familiarly known, expects to take an active interest in fishing during the summer months.
He is considered, deservedly, a past master at the art made famous by Izaak Walton. Proof of his prowess may be offered in the form of 12 large "Muskies" he captured in Sandy Lake three years ago. Health permitting, he hopes to repeat this summer. (Source: The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, Wed, Apr 22, 1931, pg. 1)
Stoneboro's Fifes, Drums, Picturesque Note, Washington Day - In the evening, Matthew Jackson led Stoneboro's fife and drum corp through the town giving "The Spirit of "78" color. It is interesting to note that Jacob Roberts, Stoneboro's sole surviving Civil War veteran, was one of the fife players. (Source: The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, Fri., Feb 26, 1932, pg. 3)
PETITIONS FOR GUARDIAN
James Roberts, a stepson of Jacob Roberts (Uncle Jake), aged 93, has petitioned the court to appoint a guardian to look after the affairs of his step-father. He sets forth in his petition that Roberts has a small property in the borough of Stoneboro, where he has made his home for the past 60 years, has an automobile and believes that he has money on deposit in a bank, and that he is a veteran of the Civil War, and receives $75 a month pension. The only known blood relative is a half brother, Thomas Williams, who resides in Cleveland. A hearing is set for the first Monday of May. (Source: The Record Argus, Greenville, PA, Fri., Apr 21, 1933, pg. 7)
Jacob died in October 1933 and is buried in the New Freedom Cemetery which is also known as Amassa Stone Cemetery and the Colored Cemetery.
Submitted by Coordinator, PAGenWeb Mercer County, Cindy Booth Maher