Dr. David Roberts was born in 1866 in Franksville, Wisconsin. His father, John M. Roberts was a stock man and farrier who was well known for his work with animals. Young David grew up on the family's rural homestead and went on to attend Beloit College. After graduation he came home to manage his father's stock farm. David found he had his father's knack for working with animals and went off to Chicago to seek his degree in Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College in 1889, at the age of twenty-three. Dr. David Roberts then moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin and started his professional veterinary career. Dr. Roberts opened an office and Veterinary Hospital at his home, 510 Grand Avenue in 1890. He billed himself as the "Cattle Specialist," from his years on the family stock farm. This title would follow him for the rest of his life. Dr. Roberts's personal life also changed in 1890 as he married his sweetheart, Mary Newman.
Dr. Roberts was soon recognized as a knowledgeable and competent veterinarian. He went about the state trying to raise the quality of care for cattle. He did much research and was most interested in abortion in cattle. His work made made him much in demand by the state farmers. In 1904, he incorporated the "Dr. David Robert's Veterinary Company" and soon employed over thirty people at his Grand Avenue office and factory. The firm produced his animal medicines and sold them throughout the United States. Dr. Roberts also released his first book that same year. His "Practical Home Veterinarian" sold more than a million copies nationwide.
Dr. Roberts came to the attention of Wisconsin Governor, James O. Davidson, who named him State Veterinarian in 1906. This position required him to work out of the town of Madison. The Madison newspaper reported that "due to the demands of the largest practice in the country and now his state duties, Dr. Roberts has hired an assistant, Dr. A. L. Haggerty, formerly of West Winfield, N.Y. and a graduate of Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada." I have in my collection a copy of the Madison newspaper which reported Dr. Roberts delivering an address to the "Veterinary Graduates at Madison University." This address, on the subject of bovine abortion was thought sufficiently important to be published in its entirety.
The rise in his status undoubtedly led him to purchase a "substantial" new home at 222 Wisconsin Avenue.
Dr. Roberts tenure as State Veterinarian ended in 1908 when he was succeeded by his brother. Dr. Roberts went back to his practice and business in Waukesha. He maintained his national exposure being official veterinarian at many prestigious livestock shows. These included the National Dairy Show in Chicago, the International Dairy Show in Milwaukee and the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City.
By 1910, the "Dr. Roberts Stock Farm" had been established. This state of the art facility was billed as "the most modern barn in the Midwest." It was 147' x 36' featuring concrete floors and electricity. A tireless self-promoter of his medicines and modern techniques, Roberts reported that the average U.S. cow produced 175 lbs. of butter and 5000 lbs. of milk per year. His herd raised with his treatments produced 629 lbs. of butter and 14,234 lbs. of milk per year. With these reports, it is no wonder that he became quite wealthy selling his medicines.
In 1915, while working on his second book, "Cattle Breeds and Origins," Roberts met Grace Lusk. Ms. Lusk was a local high school teacher and Dr. Roberts asked her to help him with the writing of this book. This meeting would radically change the personal life of Dr. Roberts forever.
On June 21, 1917, in the home of Bianca Mills, a close friend of Mary Roberts, shots were fired and Dr. David Roberts' wife lay dead. Police Chief Don McKay found Grace Lusk in the home with a gun. Ms. Lusk claimed she shot Mrs. Roberts "because of the awful names she called me." Later reports indicated that Ms. Lusk and Dr. Roberts had started an affair in 1915, during the work on his book.
When Grace was approached by the police chief she tried to end her life. She succeeded only in shooting herself in the left breast. Still she held off the police and when the coroner arrived she asked him for the location of her heart. She then fired again and shot off the end of her finger before passing out. After recovering from her wounds, Grace was tried on May 16, 1918 for the murder of Mary Roberts.
The trial became the media sensation of the times, relieving nationwide coverage. The personal lives of prominent citizens always seem to interest people.
Dr. Roberts had his own troubles, as it became known that he was a defendant in a case with the U.S. Department of Justice. Roberts was charged with violations of the Mann Act, for traveling over state lines for immoral purposes. Roberts was later ordered confined for eleven months on his Federal Mann Act violations.
As for Ms. Lusk, she was found guilty of murder on May 29, 1918 and sentenced to 19 years in prison. She was pardoned by the Governor in 1923 after serving only five years.
Dr. Roberts went on to marry his second wife, Violet, in 1922. Violet died in 1935. Wife number three was Theresa Schlery, one of his employees, whom he married in 1939 and divorced in 1947. Theresa claimed "frequent trysts and another women, Elisabeth Walker". At the age of 82, Roberts made Elisabeth wife number four. She was 31 at the time.
In 1950, an attempt by his relatives and business associates to have him declared mentally incompetent failed. In 1951, at the age of 85 Dr. David Roberts died.
Dr. Roberts' patent medicines are well known today for their uniformity. All products have the distinctive bright orange label with a picture of the doctor.
One unique aspect of his packaging is the fact that Roberts ages in the pictures. At least three different photos are found on his packaging. These trace him from a young distinguished veterinarian to an old man. The earliest canisters are nicely lithographed right on the tin. These are the more desirable and less common. Later canisters had paper labels. In general, Roberts' medicines are not uncommon. If you are looking for all his products, some may be hard to find, but representative examples are common and reasonably priced.
Stores displayed his goods on metal stands. Several types are known and all are rare. Copies of his books are common in hard and soft back.
In conclusion, medicine items from Dr. David Roberts are not rare, but they are certainly varied and interesting. Signs and advertising items are especially difficult to pick up. The personal history of Dr. Roberts adds to their intrigue.
Sources:
#1) "Once Upon a Prairie" by Gib Koenig, 1984
#2) "Practical Home Veterinarian" by Dr. David Roberts
#3) "The Cattle Specialist" by the Roberts Veterinary Company