Robert "Bob" Johnson McLemore

Notes:

Rosa McLemore Dunkerly recalls that Bob was a "cowboy in his younger days, rode the Chisolm trail--knew all old timers, Ben Thompson, King Fisher and others. Was very good with a gun, wore two. Returned to McDade and killed Tom Bishop and all the members of the gang that were to be found."

Melba Gene McLemore notes, however, that Tom Bishop actually outlived Bob McLemore. She states that there were news articles about several attempts made on Bishop's life over the years. None of the news accounts, however, gave any indication that Bob might have been involved in these attempts. In Bob's family, a sketchy story was also passed down through the years, indicating that "Robert and two other family members from East Texas rode to Round Rock, Tx to get revenge for the hangings."

Both the 1900 census and daughter Margie Bell's delayed birth certificate list his occupation as a Physician. His grandson, Sam McLemore, Jr. clarifies that Bob was actually a "medicine man, healer, Indian Doctor." The 1910 Arkansas census, in fact, lists the family as "Indian." The prior Texas census showed them as white.

Pleasant McLemore wrote that "Bro. Bob and I were opposit characters. I was more like Felix, Bob didn't place much imphisis on justice, but Felix and I did. I roasted Bob many times while visiting him in regard to this. He brought Mollie [his wife] to be with mother before her twins were born, when she went back, I went with her to assist her, I was 16 years of age, I stayed there 5 or 6 months." (From a March 1, 1955 letter to his niece).

Bob McLemore's life was cut short by violence. When his youngest son, Sam McLemore, had not yet reached his tenth birthday he was in the fields with his father and a hired hand. Rosa reports that "the friend corrected Bob's boy Sam in a very rough manner." Bob and the hired hand shot at each other. Bob was shot in the jaw, but didn't visit a doctor. He developed gangrene from the wound and soon died. Bob was around 54 at the time, and left behind his wife and six children. Pleasant McLemore later wrote to a niece that is was a few miles from Vivian, Louisiana where his brother Bob was buried, in a "saw mill town named Mytis, Louisiana." He presumably is refering to Myrtis, a small town in Caddo Parish, near Vivian.

(Research):
Census Information:

1900 Census
Texas, Cass County, JP 3, ED 22
Enumerated 7 Jun 1900 by C.R Cartright
SD 1, ED 22, Sheet B 6
99-99
McLemore, Robert Hd W M ?? 1852 48 M 15 Tx Ga Ga Physician
McLemore, Mollie Wife W F ??? 1854 46 M 15 8/6 Al Ga Ga
McLemore, Maude Dtr W F Sept 1883 16 S Al Ga Ga Farm Laborer
McLemore, Margie Dtr W F Dec 1884 11 S Al Ga Ga Farm Laborer
McLemore, Maggie Dtr W F July 1888 11 S Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
McLemore, Keton Son W M Oct 1891 8 S Tx Ga Ga
McLemore, Robert Son W M Oct 1893 6 S Tx Ga Ga
McLemore, Nellie Dtr W F Oct 1897 2 S Tx Ga Ga
Childs, Anthony Boarder B M Jan 1886 20 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer

1910 Census
Arkansas, Miller County, Sulphur, ED 75
Enumerated 9th & 10th of May 1910 by Wm. L Duckett
SD 4, ED 75, Sheet 9A
124-140
McLemire, R. Johen Hd M In 42 M1 24 Tx Ga Mo Farmer
McLemire, Mary M Wife F In 41 m1 24 9/6 Al Tx Al
McLemire, Keton Son M In 17 S Ark Tx Al Gen Farm
McLemire, Robt Son M In 15 S Tx Tx Al Home Farm
McLemire, Sam Son M In 8 S Tx Tx Al

Robert married Mollie Ward about 1879. Mollie was born about 1854 in Alabama; died on 24 Aug 1928 in Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Pleasant McLemore, in a letter to his niece Irene, recalled that "As had his brother Felix, Bob had the same problem (romance), so he sent his daughter Maud to me...". Pleasant did not appear as fond of his niece Maud as he was of niece Minnie.

(Research):Melba Gene McLemore notes that she married a Mr. WILLIAMS.

Notes:

(Research):Melba Gene McLemore notes that she married Allie H. HARRIS.

This index listing for the 1910 Federal census appears to be for them. The microfilm copy at Ancestry.com is too washed out to read well, however. Information on the 1920 census for the same family, however, is legible.

1910 Census
Louisiana, Caddo Parish, Police Jury Ward 2
Allie H. Harris 30 Hd W M M TX TN TX
Maryie Harris 28
Herschel Harris 5

1920 Census
Texas, Harris, JP 1
Enumerated 9 Jan 1920 by Mrs. Margaret J. Davis
SD 8, ED 82, Sheet 10B
1315 Providence Street
150-193
Harris, Allie Hd M W 39 M Tx Tn Miss Salesman Retail Goods
Harris, Margie Wife F W 37 M Tx Tx Ala
Harris, Herschel Son M W 15 S La Tx Tx

Margie married Allie H Harris before 1905. Allie was born about 1880 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):She died at eight months of age.

Notes:

(Research):Melba Gene McLemore notes that she married James Floyd HAYES.

This appears to be the family on the 1920 Census:

Texas, Cass County, JP
Enumerated 16 Jan 1920 by Curtis Whatley
SD 1 ED 40, Sheet 5B
Hayes, Floyd F Hd M W 36 M Tx US US Farmer
Hayes Maggie Wife F W 31 M Tx Tx Ala
Hayes, Shelley son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Hayes, Goldia Dtr F W 10 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Hayes, Dowis? Son M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Hayes, Pauline Dtr F W 4 1/12 S Tx Tx Tx
Hayes, Trudie Dtr F W 2 2/12 Tx Tx Tx
Hayes, Louis Son M W 1/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Notes:

Melba McLemore instead shows his date of birth as 22 Jun 1891 in Arkansas. He died at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, and was listed as married at the time of his death.

(Research):Melba Gene McLemore notes that he married Bertha Victoria DAVIS.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

Pleasant McLemore recalls, in a 1944 letter to John Wright McLemore in Altus, Oklahoma that "Bob had a son named after him....(who) became a driller for oil co. shortly after World War, was sent to South America...until last year...owns a farm in Muleshoe, TX."

(Research):Melba Gene McLemore notes that he married Thelma Norine HAWTHORNE.

This appears to be the couple at the time of the 1920 census:

1920 Census
Texas, Wichita County, JP 2
Enumerated 21 & 22 Jan 1920 by Brockston B. Craft
SD 13 ED 190 Sheet 19B
297-298
McLemore, Robert P Hd M W 25 M Tx Tx Ala Laborer Oil Fields
McLemore, Lena Wife W 17 M Tx Tx Tx
Rikes, G.D. Ladoger M W 28 S La La La Laborer Oil Fields
Rush, W F Lodge M W 27 S Tx Al Tx Laborer Oil Fields

Notes:

According to Pleasant McLemore both Samuel and his brother Keton were living in Corpus Christi in the mid 1940's.

(Research):
Census Information:

1930 Census
Oklahoma, Comanche County, Elgin Town, Richards Twp
ED 16-8 SD 8 Sheet 4A
McLemore, Samual Hd R 11 M W 28 M 23 Tx Tx Tx Merchant Auto Shop
McLemore, Jessie B Wife F W 23 M 16 Okla Tx Tx
McLemore, Bobbia S Dtr F W 5 S Tx Tx Okla
McLemore, Ara M Dtr F W 4 2/12 La Tx Okla
McLemore, Samual D Son M W 2 3/12 S Okla Tx Okla
McLemore, Billie Son M W 9/12 Okla Tx Okla

Samuel married Jessie Bennie Stone before 1925. Jessie was born about 1907 in Hastings, Jefferson County, Oklahoma; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 2008 obituary of her brother, she is referred to as sister "Bobbie Jo Zinn."

Notes:

S. D. "Buddy" McLemore, 80, passed away March 8, 2008. He was born January 29, 1928. Mr. McLemore was a longtime faithful member of Wesley United Methodist Church. He served his country in the United States Navy. He was retired from Centex Cement Corporation after more than 40 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Glenna Fay McLemore in December 2007 and his parents, Samuel Donald and Jessie B. McLemore, Sr.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna Searles and her husband Daniel of Odem, Texas and Kim Zinnante and her husband Chuck of Needville, Texas; grandchildren, Amy and Chad Zinnante of Needville, Texas and Tyla and Cara Searles of Austin, Texas; sisters: Bobbie Jo Zinn, Ora Mae Voigt, Lavona Lehman; and Becky (Jerry) Veit; brother, Bill (Fumiko) McLemore; father-in-law, Roy B. White; brother-in-law, Butch (Trish) White and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at Wesley United Methodist Church. Interment follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Notes:

His obituary, below, was copied from his FindAGrave memorial page, created by Tim Hawkins:

Billy Keaton McLemore, 77, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2008.

Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Maria Goretti Church. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Visitation: Mr. McLemore will be available for viewing beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday. Rosary: 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington Funeral Home Chapel.

He was a retired U.S. Navy veteran and Tarrant County jailer and a longtime member of St. Maria Goretti Church of Arlington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Donald and Jessie B. McLemore Sr.; and brother, S.D. "Buddy" McLemore.

Survivors: His wife of 48 years, Fumiko McLemore of Arlington; his children, Sophia McLemore of Redmond, Wash., Donald McLemore and wife, Mary, of Arlington, Anne Jeffery and husband, John, of Godley and Perry McLemore of Arlington; sisters, Bobbie Jo Zinn, Ora Mae Voight and Lavona Lehman of Corpus Christi; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/27/2008.

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]