A. J. (Andrew Jackson) Roberts attended Wilberforce University and Oberlin College. After graduation he taught school, married Ellen Hemings (a granddaughter of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson) in Chillicothe, Ohio, and moved to California as an early pioneer in 1888. He founded a transfer and trucking business in 1905, sold it and founded the A. J. Roberts and Sons mortuary. The firm began at 12th and Los Angeles, moved to 1119-1121 S. Los Angeles, and to 1415 S. Central Avenue in 1922. Exterior view of the A. J. Roberts and Sons Mortuary, with a sign reading "A. J. Roberts, Son & Co. Undertakers and Embalmers" with Will, A. J. and Fred on the steps. The 2-story Victorian style building has flower beds and palm trees in front. Since the building is on a corner and a street sign reads "Los Angeles St." this is the first location of the business, founded in 1905, at 12th St. and Los Angeles St.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b16_f02_001a.tif ark:/21198/z1jq2j48
Subject
African American businesspeople Roberts, Frederick Madison, 1879-1952 Roberts, A. J. (Andrew Jackson), 1852-1927 Roberts, William Giles, 1889-1975
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