Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3168 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSof his labors. Mr. Deese retains membership in the Alpha Tau Omega, whichhe joined at the University of Georgia.On March 15, 1893, at New York City, New York, Mr. Deese was unitedin marriage with Miss Julia Berard, daughter of R. A. and Harriet Berard, amember of a well-known family of New York City, and granddaughter ofProf. Claudius Berard, who was a member of the faculty of West PointMilitary Academy in 1825. They have no children.JAMES HENRY ROBERTS. In the legal history of Dodge County, there isno better known or more highly honored name than that of Roberts, thepresent representative of which is Hon. James Henry Roberts, of Eastman,who in addition to being probably the best known attorney of the county isalso prominently and extensively engaged in financial affairs and has beenthe incumbent of various positions of public trust. Mr. Roberts has followedclosely in the footsteps of his honored father, the late Hon. David M. Roberts,who during a long, useful and successful career gained the confidence andregard of the people of the Empire State of the South as legist, jurist, legislator and citizen.As a lawyer David M. Roberts won the unqualified respect of his fellowpractitioners,and through his ability, talents and energy rose to a highposition among Dodge County attorneys. He served with dignity and distinguished ability as judge of the Superior Court of the Oconee Circuit, wasprior to this time sent to the Georgia Senate and subsequently held manyother positions of responsibility within the gift of his fellow-citizens, alwaysacquitting himself in a highly honorable and creditable manner. At theoutbreak of hostilities between the South and North, he offered his servicesto the Confederacy, was accepted as a soldier, and became first lieutenant ofCompany I in the Tenth Georgia Volunteer Cavalry, which was attached toPorrest's division of the army of Gen. Joe Wheeler. He frequently actedas captain of his company, which he led in a number of brilliant charges,and participated in many hard-fought battles of the South, and on oneoccasion was slightly wounded by the bursting of a shell, but did not allowhis injury to incapacitate him for service. Judge Roberts died at Eastman,aged seventy-three years, July 28, 1910, when his community lost one of itsbest and most helpful citizens, and the bench and bar a man who had alwaysreflected credit upon the profession and the judiciary. Judge Roberts marriedMiss Ursula Edwards, a native of Tattnall County and a member of anaristocratic family of Southern Georgia. Mrs. Roberts, a lady of manyaccomplishments, of refinement and culture, and of lovable traits of character,survives the Judge and is living at Eastman, aged sixty-eight years. Therewere three children in their family: James Henry; Frederick Augustus,born March 4, 1886, in' Dodge County, now a well-known and successful realestate dealer of Eastman; and Paul M., who is assistant cashier of the Bankof Eastman.James Henry Roberts was born January 31, 1878, in Dodge County,Georgia, and received his early education in the graded and high schools ofEastman. Following his graduation from the latter, he entered the militarycollege at Dahlonega, Georgia, but left that institution to engage in thebanking business, as assistant cashier of the Merchants and Farmers Bankof Eastman, a position which he held for seven years. While successful inthis direction, Mr. Roberts had inherited from his father a love and inclination for the law, and finally he resigned his position to study for the profession.After some preparation, he entered the law department of Mercer University,