A Buffalo and New York City lawyer and financier, Roberts was born in Waterboro, York County, Maine in 1847. He served in the Civil War in the 7th Maine Battery from 1864 to 1865 before entering Bowdoin College. He earned an A.B. from Bowdoin in 1870, an A.M. in 1873, and an LL.D. in 1898. From the time he was admitted to the bar in 1875 until 1894, Roberts practiced law in Buffalo. He was a member of the New York State Assembly, 1879-1880, and Buffalo Parks Commissioner, 1891-1893. In 1894, he left Buffalo to serve as New York State comptroller until 1899. From 1902 to his death, Roberts lived in New York City. He was married twice, to Minnie Pineo in 1871 and to Martha Dresser in 1884.

A prominent figure in legal, military, and civic affairs in Buffalo and a member of an early Buffalo family, Frank S. Sidway was related to James A. Roberts by his marriage to Roberts' daughter Amelia in 1903. Sidway was the son of Franklin Sidway (1834-1920), a Buffalo merchant and banker.

Frank S. Sidway was educated at Buffalo public schools and Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.). He enrolled at Harvard College in the class of 1893 but left before graduating. He then attended the University of Buffalo Law School, where he received his degree in 1894. After studying law in the offices of Lewis, Moot and Lewis, he practiced for three years in the firm of Sprague, Moot, Sprague and Brownell. From 1897 until his death, Sidway practiced law privately. He developed an extensive clientele, and his practice was substantially devoted to real estate investments.

Sidway's military career began in 1894 when he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 74th Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard; by 1897 he had been promoted to captain. In 1898, in the war with Spain, he was commissioned a captain in the 202nd New York Infantry Regiment; he raised a company within weeks and was one of the first captains mustered into U.S. service. Sidway and his regiment sailed for Cuba and fought through the entire campaign; they were the first U.S. troops to enter Havana. On his return to the U.S. in 1899, he was mustered out, but later was elected captain of the 74th infantry. He resigned that commission in 1902. His military career resumed during World War I, when he was made a major of the depot battery of the 74th Regiment. In 1917, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Sidway organized the command that replaced the regular regiment after it was mobilized.

As an attorney, he was responsible for all Sidway family interests in Buffalo, including the management of the Sidway building at Main and Goodell Streets. He was vice-president of Robertson Cataract Electric Company and chairman of the Erie County Republican Committee (1909-1910). He also served as president of the Building Manufacturers Association (1926-1927) and the Main Street Association (1936-1937), and was a member of the New York State Historical Society, the Buffalo Historical Society, as well as several social and fraternal organizations.

The father of Frank S. Sidway, Franklin Sidway was born in Buffalo. After returning from European travels in 1853, he organized the Buffalo firm of Sidway, Skinner & Moore, general ship chandlers and grocers. This firm ceased operations sometime during the Civil War. During the war he was commissioned a colonel with authority to raise a regiment; Sidway recruited many companies of soldiers but they were later transferred to another regiment. He married Charlotte Spaulding, the daughter of E.G. Spaulding, who was president of Farmers and Mechanics National Bank. Sidway became a cashier in the bank and later served as vice-president until 1898. He was a trustee of Buffalo Savings Bank and Forest Lawn Cemetery, as well as president of the Buffalo and Falconwood Clubs. In addition to a son, Frank S., Franklin Sidway had a daughter, Mrs. Edith Gardner.

Lawyer, banker, alderman, mayor, assemblyman, state treasurer, and a three-term member of Congress, E.G. Spaulding had a distinguished and varied career. He studied law in Batavia and came to Buffalo in 1834, eventually entering into successive partnerships with George R. Babcock, Herman B. Potter, and John Ganson. About the time he retired from the legal progression (1848), Spaulding was instrumental in moving Farmers and Mechanics Bank from Batavia to Buffalo; soon thereafter he became its president and remained in that position all his active life.

Spaulding began his career in public life as city clerk in 1836. In 1841, as an alderman, he served as chairman of the city's finance committee; he was elected mayor of Buffalo in 1847; he entered the state assembly in 1848, where he was chairman of the Canal Committee; and he was elected to the 31st U.S. Congress in 1849. In 1853, Spaulding served as state treasurer and was active for several years on the Republican State Central Committee. In 1858, he was again elected to the House of Representatives, serving in both the 36th and 37th U.S. Congresses during the critical period of the Civil War. He is most widely known as "Father of the Greenback" for his initiative on the House Ways and Means Committee in overseeing the passage of bills he introduced in Congress to issue new U.S. treasury notes during the Civil War.

Spaulding owned a 315-acre farm, "River Lawn", on Grand Island. He was the father of two sons, Edward R. and Samuel S. Spaulding, and a daughter, Charlotte Spaulding, who married Franklin Sidway.