This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1941.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There are several records which seem to be promising in identifying the father of Payton ROPER, Jr (b 07 May 1913, d 20 Jun 1986). The indication of "Jr." is suggestive that Payton ROPER's father was also named Payton ROPER, but this is NOT conclusive, particularly with older records wherein sometimes "Jr." is simply used to distinguish a younger and older person of the same name. * * * 1900 CENSUS RECORD However, the close correspondence as to geography and age is suggestive that a Peyton ROPER found in the 1900 Census is a very good candidate to be Payton ROPER's father. This Payton ROPER, age 20, born Dec 1879 in Texas, is found within the household of Turner ROPER, age 68, born Jul 1831 in Alabama. Turner ROPER is shown to have been married for 33 years, presumably to the Ann ROPER, age 61, born Aug 1838 in North Carolina. Curiously, the eldest son residing in this household is simply identified as "Roper", age 25, born Sep 1874 in Texas. This son corresponds in age to the "Edd ROPER" found in the 1940 Census record shown in the prior post. The household shows: ROPER, Turner, Head, B, M, born Jul 1831, age 68, Married 33 Years, born Ala, Father born Ala., Mother born Ala. ROPER, Ann, wife, B, F, born Aug 1838, age 61, Married 33 Years, 9 children, 6 children living, born NC, Father born NC, Mother born NC. ROPER, Roper, Son, B, M, born Sep 1874, age 25, Single, born Texas, Father born Ala., Mother born NC ROPER, Charles, Son, B, M, born Oct 1877, age 22, Single, born Texas, Father born Ala., Mother born NC ROPER, Peyton, Son, B, M, born Dec 1879, age 20, Single, born Texas, Father born Ala., Mother born NC ROPER, Delphina, Daughter, B, F, born Mar 1881, age 19, Single, born Texas, Father born Ala., Mother born NC STORY, Mattie, Niece, B, F, born Mar 1883, age 17, Single, born Texas, Father born Texas, Mother born Texas See: "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3LD-NXJ : accessed 24 Aug 2014), Peyton Roper in household of Turner Roper, Justice Precinct 1 (west part), Cass, Texas, United States; citing sheet 2B, family 25, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241618. * * * 1910 CENSUS RECORD In 1910, there is a black "Baton ROPER," age 30, shown to be residing in Justice Precinct 1, Cass County, Texas. Although Baton ROPER identifies the place of birth of his parents as Texas, this still seems likely to be the Peyton or Payton ROPER shown to be residing a decade earlier with his father Turner ROPER. [Image 34 of 55 at the Ancestry.com presentation of the Census data for this jurisdiction] See: "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M29N-G56 : accessed 23 Aug 2014), Baton Roper, Justice Precinct 1, Cass, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 26, sheet 17B, family 331, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375550. * * * 1880 CENSUS RECORD Turner ROPER, age 41, is also enumerated residing in Cass County, TX, in 1880, with wife Ann ROPER, and family. It appears that the elder Peyton/Payton ROPER must be the child shown as "Corry or Coney" and identified as being age 6/12 (b abt Dec 1879). [Image 6 of 89 at the Ancestry.com presentation of the Census data for this jurisdiction] See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MFFT-CBF : accessed 24 Aug 2014), Turner Roper, Precinct 1, Cass, Texas, United States; citing sheet 65B, NARA microfilm publication T9. * * * WORLD WAR I DRAFT REGISTRATION CARD Payton/Peyton ROPER is shown as "Paten Glase ROPER," born 15 Dec 1878 in his 1918 World War I Draft Registration Card. See: "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25103-89389-61?cc=1968530 : accessed 24 Aug 2014), Texas > Cass County; D-Z > image 3271 of 4821; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d). I am more inclined to believe the 1880 and 1900 Census records and suspect that the correct date of birth is 15 Dec 1879. * * * SERVING SENTENCE AT HUNTSVILLE, TX The elder Payton/Peyton ROPER seems to appear on the Texas Convict Register at Huntsville as No. 48415, convicted of manufacture of liquor on 02 Oct 1922 and sentenced to a one year term. This register contains some very detailed information. * * * There is a wealth of other readily available information about the family of Turner ROPER at Ancestry.com and at FamilySearch.org. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>