The Builder Who Put Up Old Seattle

Timothy P. Roberts, for the past twenty years a resident of this city and up to the past ten a prominent builder, died at his residence on the corner of College and South Seventeenth streets yesterday morning, at the ripe old age of 81. The cause of death was a general breaking down of the system from old age. He had been very feeble for the past year, and his death was expected at almost any time.

Mr. Roberts was born in Vermont, where he spent his boyhood days, then moved to Pennsylvania, remaining for some time. He then moved to Augusta, Wisconsin, where he remained until he came to Seattle with his wife and daughter in 1875. Upon arriving in this city he began the work of a builder and put up many of the old-time structures, notably among which were the Robbins home, then the finest residence in Seattle, and the Kenton Talbot coal bunkers on Yesler wharf. He was well known by A. A. Penny, Dexter Horton, Hillory Butler and other old-timers.

He leaves a widow, to whom he had been married for over half a century and who is now past 74; a son, T. H. Roberts, of New York city; a widowed daughter living in New York, and a daughter in this city, Mrs. E. A. Turner. He had another son, who was killed in the war of the Rebellion. His oldest son, T. H. Roberts, is quite a figure in New York Republican politics and is considered one of the ablest orators of the party in New York. He served a term in Washington City as special agent of pensions under Arthur's administration and also under Harrison's, and was let out by Cleveland. This son also went through the war and came out with honors.

The remains will be buried in this city, and the funeral arrangements will be completed today.