This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Cabaniss Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/753 Message Board Post: Ovel Vernon ROPER (b 03 Aug 1892 - IL, d 11 Jun 1982 - Hampton, Calhoun County, AR) was born to Lewis William ROPER (d 20 Mar 1920* - Malden, Dunklin County, MO) and Josephine KINCHELOE. Secondary sources show Ovel ROPER's place of birth as Dale, Hamilton County, IL, but I am unaware of the authority for this assertion. Ovel Vernon ROPER (b 03 Aug 1892 - IL, d 11 Jun 1982 - Hampton, Calhoun County, AR) seems to be first shown in the United States Census of 1900 enumerated with his sister Gazella Roper CROSNOE and brother-in-law Luther CROSNOE residing in Castor Township, Stoddard County, Missouri. (See also my recent Post to the ROPER RootsWeb Message Board "Re: Gazella L. ROPER (b Jul 1878 - IN)" at http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=surnames.roper&m=112.209 ) However, it should be noted that the date of birth for Ovel in this record indicates that he was born in May 1893, rather than on 03 Aug 1892, as is shown on the grave marker and in the SSDI record. I have been unable to locate Ovel Vernon ROPER in either the 1910 or the 1920 Census enumerations, though his nephew believes that he was likely to have been working in a logging camp in Arkansas at the date of the 1920 Census. Perhaps that logging camp was overlooked inthe enumeration. We are informed that Ovel Vernon ROPER married Nellie CABANISS (b 05 May 1904 - AR, d 30 Mar 1989 - Hampton, Calhoun County, AR) on 21 Jan 1921 at at Hampton, Calhoun County, AR. I have NOT seen the marriage license and am unfamiliar with the underlying documentation in support of either the place of marriage or the dates of birth and death, however these dates apparently ALL appear on the grave marker for Nellie's grave at Dickinson Cemetery, Calhoun County, AR. Ovel Vernon ROPER's grave is adjacent and his date of birth and death is given on his grave marker. The grave markers in this cemetery are transcribed in the RootsWeb Archives in a file described as "DICKINSON CEMETERY -- Calhoun County, AR" and named "dickinso.txt". In the 1930 United States Census, Ovel ROPER is enumerated in Jackson, Calhoun County, AR, residing adjacent to his brother Vollie Oliver ROPER ("V. R. ROPER"): United States Census -- 1930 Jackson Township, Calhoun County, AR (Enumeration District 7-9), Sheet 3B 08 Apr 1930 Line 66, Dwelling 52, Family 52, ROPER, O.V., Head, Male, White, Age 31, Married, 1st Married at Age 21, Born IL, Father Born SC, Mother Born IN, Farmer, General Farm Line 67, ROPER, Nellie, Wife, Female, White, Age 25, Married, 1st Married at Age 15, Born AR, Father Born AR, Mother Born AR Line 68, ROPER, Euphyme?, Daughter, Female, White, Age 7, Single, Born AR, Father Born IL, Mother Born AR Line 69, ROPER, Carma??, Daughter, Female, White, Age 5, Single, Born AR, Father Born IL, Mother Born AR Line 70, ROPER, Dorothy, Daughter, Female, White, Age 3 3/12, Single, Born AR, Father Born IL, Mother Born AR Ovel ROPER is shown in the Social Security Death Index to have had SSN 431-03-2985. Nellie R. ROPER is shown in the Social Security Death Index to have had SSN 431-16-9463. * * * Ovel Vernon ROPER's father Lewis William ROPER seems to possibly be descended through a FEMALE ROPER line and seems to have been adopted (or at least adopted his grandfather's name) after his father's untimely death. I will elaborate on this possibility in a separate Post. I am unsure whether Ovel Vernon ROPER and Nellie R.CABANISS had any additional children. Perhaps someone with personal acquaintance with this ROPER family can fill in some additional details. NOTE: Ovel may be occasionally misspelled in the records as "Oval". * One secondary source has Lewis ROPER's date of death as 20 Mar 1917.