Ancestors

Arch Robertson

Arch Robertson was born on 14 March 1876 in Louisiana, the youngest son of William L. Robertson and Rebecca Morgan. In 1880 he was four and living with his parents in the 3rd Ward of St. Helena Parish. Six older brothers and sisters were at home with him: Howel, Walker, Tommie, Virginia, Evan and Edward. Other brothers, Thomas Hardie, J. H., Henry Walker and David Turner, spent their lives around Independence, Tickfaw and Amite, and J. H. went to Lufkin, Texas.

When the United States registered men for the World War I draft in 1918, Arch Robertson was 42 and living in Louisiana. He gave his birth date as 14 March 1876 and named D. J. Robertson as his nearest relative.

He married Lela Cowart, who was nineteen years younger. Their son Arch Robertson Jr. was born on 10 January 1931 in New Orleans. A second son, Ross Howell Robertson, was born on 25 August 1932 at Greensburg, the seat of St. Helena Parish. Ross's middle name was the name of the oldest of Arch's brothers at home in 1880. A daughter, Delois, was born about 1935.

By 1935 the family was living on a farm in Police Jury Ward 3, outside the town of Greensburg. In April 1940 Arch was 64, Lela 44, and the children Arch 9, Ross Howell 7 and Thelma 5; they were in the same house they had lived in five years before. In April 1950 he was 75 and still farming in St. Helena Parish, with Lela, Howell, 17, who worked as a farm helper, and Delois, 15.

Arch Robertson died at 7:20 in the morning on Thursday, 15 December 1960, at the Clinton Infirmary in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish. He was 84. The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate called him "a native and life-long resident of St. Helena Parish." His funeral was held at the Hillsdale Baptist Church at two o'clock the next afternoon. His pallbearers were Irwin and Lester Zachary, Norman Conley, C. R. Robertson and Hardy Reeves. He left his wife, his sons Arch Jr. of Baton Rouge and Ross H. of Walker, his daughter Delois, still unmarried and living in Baton Rouge, and two grandchildren. His death certificate names his parents as William Robertson and Rebecca Morgan and his wife as Lela Cowart. He was buried in Hillsdale Baptist Church Cemetery at Hillsdale, St. Helena Parish. Lela lived another twenty years and is buried beside him, under a single stone carved ROBERTSON with "Lela Cowart" on one side and "Arch" on the other.

If Arch Robertson is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "Arch Robertson (1876-1960)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/arch-robertson-1876-1960-539e13.