Edwin E. Roberts

Who was Edwin E. Roberts?

Edwin Ewing Roberts was a United States Representative from Nevada. He was born in Pleasant Grove, Sutter County, California. He attended the public schools and graduated from the State normal school in San Jose, California, in 1891. He taught school at Hollister, California, 1891-1897 and at Empire, Nevada, 1897-1899. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1899 and commenced practice in Carson City, Nevada and also engaged in the newspaper publishing business. He was district attorney of Ormsby County from 1900 to 1910. He was elected as a Republican to the 62nd and the three succeeding Congresses. On April 5, 1917 he voted against declaring war on Germany. He did not seek renomination in 1918, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate, losing to Charles B. Henderson by a vote of 12,197 to 8.053. After leaving Congress Roberts was elected mayor of Reno in 1923 and held that office until his death.

His son-in-law was Walter Johnson, one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball. Johnson would himself run for congress as a Republican in 1940, but lost in a close election.