Robert Emerson Palmer (1899 - 1982)

Born 18 Apr 1899 in Woods, Oklahoma Territory, United States

Husband of Leatha Pearl Reddick — married 31 Dec 1924 in Caddo, Oklahoma, United States

Died 10 Apr 1982 at age 82 in Hinton, Caddo, Oklahoma, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Hal Capshaw [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Palmer Name Study.

Robert Emerson Palmer was born on April 18, 1899 in Woods, Oklahoma Territory. Oklahoma statehood was 16 November 1907.

1. Search Birth Records Index: https://ok2explore.health.ok.gov/App/BirthSearch

Childhood and Youth

The census record below appears to be correct. Robert E Lee Palmer was 1 year old on his last birthday (April 1899) when this family was enumerated on 4 June 1900. Jacob, his father, and Jennie, his mother, had been married 3 years, which places their marriage date about 1897; the 1st child is commonly born within the 1st year of marriage. Jennie was the mother of 2 children with 2 children still living. This suggests that there is one child who is living with a different family member that is older than Robert or the 'missing' child was too young to be on the census based on the instructions the census taker was given (only those living in the household as of 1 June 1900 were enumerated.
Jacob E Palmer, Head, M, 50, Nov 1849, Tennessee, Married 3 years, Owns, Free, Farm, #28 on Farm Schedule
Jennie Palmer, Wife, F, 39, Apr 1861, Virginia, Married 3 years, Mother of 2, 2 still living.
Elsie F Palmer, Daughter, F, 18, Mar 1882, Arkansas, Single
(this suggests that Jacob was previously married; born when Jacob was about 33. If Elsie F Palmer is his oldest child, he probably married about 1880 to 1881 in Arkansas.)
John C Palmer, Son, M, 15, Jan 1885, Pennsylvania, Single
(this suggests that Jacob was previously married born when Jacob was about 36.)
Robert E Lee Palmer, Son, M, 1, Apr 1899, Oklahoma, Single (This WikiTree profile)

1. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMGG-TP1 : Wed Mar 06 07:00:45 UTC 2024), Robert E Lee Palmer in entry for Jacob E Palmer and Jennie Palmer, June 1900, Cimarron Twp., Woods, Oklahoma Territory.
   

16 November 1907 Oklahoma became the 46th state.

The family was probably still living in Oklahoma for the 1910 Census. The entry below appears to be for this family.
"United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLQH-MDW : Thu Mar 07 18:02:13 UTC 2024), Lee Palmer in entry for Jacob Palmer and Jennie Palmer, 29 Apr 1910, Fern Twp., Caddo, Oklahoma. [Needs Abstracted]

This looks like the correct school enrollment record for Robert.

1. "Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1968", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2FB-S9W9 : Sun Mar 10 09:13:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert E Palmer and J E Palmer, 16 Jan 1912, Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma; School Dist #141, Plainview School.
   

When WWI rolled around, Robert was old enough for the draft. The WWI Draft Registration Card below appears to be for Robert. Nearest Relative, Jennie Palmer would be Robert's mother.

1. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZD4-MX4 : 25 December 2021), Robert Lee Palmer, 12 Sep 1918, Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma.
   

Transcribed from Draft Registration Card:
Robert Lee Palmer, Residence: Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma, 19, born 18 Apr 1899, White, Native born US Citizen, Occupation: Yard Hand, Employer: Rock Island R Y Co., Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma. Nearest Relative: Jennie Palmer, Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma. [Signature of Robert Palmer] Medium height, Slender build, Blue eyes, Brown hair. Draft Card dated 12 September 1918.

Adulthood

The family is probably living at Caddo Co., Oklahoma in the 1920 Census. There is a census that appears to fit this family group EXCEPT the head of house is John E Palmer not Jacob E Palmer and the wife is Jeannette (Jennie would be a nickname for Jeannette).
"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJM3-TXS : Fri Mar 08 22:33:20 UTC 2024), Robert Palmer in entry for John E Palmer and Jeannette Palmer, 28 Jan 1920, Cedar Twp., Caddo, Oklahoma.

Robert (25) married Leatha Pearl Reddick (20) (born on December 1, 1904 in Ames, Major, Oklahoma Territory) on December 31, 1924 in Caddo.

1. "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVGY-SJY : Fri Mar 15 00:03:02 UTC 2024 : accessed 30 Mar 2024), Entry for Robert E Palmer and Leatha Reddick, 31 Dec 1924.
   

Based on Groom and Brides names, both residing at Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma on this marriage record, date of marriage and location of marriage, this appears to be the marriage record for Robert and Leatha. The 1st born child is usually within the 1st year of marriage. We have 4 years until Leota Fearne is born. This suggests we are missing children from this couple (This will need to be copied over to Leatha's and Leota's profiles; once done, please come and delete this note).

Their daughter was Leota Fearne Palmer (1928–2023) born 27 Oct 1928 at Lookeba, Caddo, Oklahoma.

1. Search Birth Records Index: https://ok2explore.health.ok.gov/App/BirthSearch

There should be a 1930 Census; probably for Caddo County for Robert's family. Leota should be about age 2 on this census.

1. This census not found yet.

Divorce record matching Robert E Palmer and Letha Palmer (this appears to be the correct family; Court records spell her name as Letha but when she signs documents, she signs her name as Leatha. Two children are listed within this divorce record. Caddo County, Oklahoma Divorce Records, Divorce packets no. 8624-8949, 1931, District Court Case 8707 Robert E Palmer v Letha Palmer, 28 April 1931 citing Caddo County, Oklahoma Divorce Records, Divorce packets no. 8624-8949 1931, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QQ-KJRP?i=294&cat=766401), 28 April 1931, FamilySearch Film # 008544075 images 295-313.

1. Needs abstracted for names, dates, locations, children's names and remarriage date of Leatha Hawkins formerly Palmer.
2. Need to fix this so the citation reads right and links correctly. Caddo County, Oklahoma Divorce records, Divorce packets, 1901-1957, Oklahoma. County Court (Caddo County) (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/766401?availability=Family%20History%20Library)
3. Index to civil court cases, 1901-1969, Oklahoma. County Court (Caddo County) (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/746205?availability=Family%20History%20Library)

Probable Source for next marriage: "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXLK-CZ9 : Fri Mar 15 00:09:53 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert E Palmer and Henrietta Heins, 15 Jun 1932. [Needs Abstracted and citation formatting]

There should be a 1940 Census; probably for Caddo County for Robert's family. The entry below appears to be correct. "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBJ6-P6Y : Sat Mar 09 22:34:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert Palmer and Henrietta Palmer, 1940. [Abstract data from census to this notation section]

Robert was still young enough to have to complete a Draft Registration card for WWII. The entry below appears to be the correct source.

1. "Oklahoma, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2BH-69WQ : Fri Mar 08 13:39:25 UTC 2024 : accessed 30 Mar 2024), Entry for Robert Emerson Palmer and Jennie Palmer, 14 Feb 1942. (Jennie would be Robert's mother.)

There should be a 1950 Census; probably for Caddo County, Oklahoma for Robert Palmer's family.

1. Possible Source for this person; please review. "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FSN-DFK7 : Thu Oct 05 08:04:57 UTC 2023), Entry for Robert Palmer and Etta Palmer, April 3, 1950. [Need to abstract family members here section to see how they match up. Jennie is shown as Robert's mother. Etta (a shortened form of Henrietta based on Marriage record and 1940 census) is his wife, which suggests that Robert and Jennie divorced, or that Jennie died prior to this time; divorce found in Caddo County, Oklahoma; Divorce Packet date: 28 April 1931. Divorce decreed May 1931? final after 6 months.]

Robert died on April 10, 1982 in Hinton, Caddo, Oklahoma, United States, aged 82.

1. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9FV-BPT : 10 January 2021), Robert Palmer, Apr 1982; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

Research Notes

Note: Source titled "* Unsourced, will return with sources." was moved from Sources to Research Notes.

1. The sources in the biography section are Research Suggestions that appear to be for Robert Emerson Palmer who was born 18 April 1899 in Oklahoma Territory which becomes Oklahoma in 1907. These need to be reviewed.
   

It looks like there are 3 different Robert Palmers with 3 different FamilySearch IDs. These 3 profiles were NOT reviewed. All potential sources for Robert, Leatha and Leota were done using FamilySearch search engine and then looking at the images to see if they match this profile and the profiles attached here at WikiTree.

1. LK67-35N Robert E Lee Palmer
2. GJN5-Y3F Robert Palmer
3. GD7X-PFY Robert E Palmer (married to Leatha Reddick Palmer)

Rely on the details of the record, not on the FamilySearch Person ID the record happens to be attached to. FamilySearch profile appears to be incorrect because there are at least 3 men name Robert Palmer with a variety of name iterations and all of them are born near the same time.

1. This person, Robert Emerson Palmer has an entry at age 1 showing his name as Robert E Lee Palmer. His full name is likely Robert Emerson Lee Palmer.
2. Sources show his name in a variety of ways.
3. This is a place holder

Research Suggestions

1. Search Birth Records Index: https://ok2explore.health.ok.gov/App/BirthSearch
2. Check 1930 Census, Caddo, Oklahoma
3. Search Death Records Index: https://ok2explore.health.ok.gov/App/DeathSearch
4. Search Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program (https://gateway.okhistory.org/explore/collections/ODNP/) for news article mentions of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and other interesting items.
5. "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:62KH-ZS8V : Sat Mar 09 13:38:00 UTC 2024), Robert E Palmer in Obituary of Leta Fern Webster, 23 July 2023. [GenealogyBank is a subscription site. Try to find this in the Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program (https://gateway.okhistory.org/explore/collections/ODNP/) or one of the other Newspaper Archives listed on the Sources-Oklahoma page.]
6. See Sources-Oklahoma for a growing list of research sources like the 1890 Oklahoma Territory census, Territorial maps, etc.

Sources