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Surnames: Roper, Gentry Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/547.1.1.1 Message Board Post: United States Census -- 1900 East Armuchee, Walker County, GA (Enumeration District 97) 11 Jun 1900 Line 69, Dwelling 121, Family 123, ROPER, James, Head, White, Male, Born Aug 1836, Age 63, Married 37 Years, Born SC, Fa Born SC, Mo Born SC, Farmer Line 70, Dwelling 121, Family 123, ROPER, Eliza, Wife, White, Female, Born Jan 1843, Age 57, Married 37 Years, 8 Children, 4 Children Living, Born GA, Fa Born SC, Mo Born SC Line 71, Dwelling 121, Family 123, ROPER, John, Son, White, Male, Born Nov 1882, Age 17, Married 0 Years, Born GA, Fa Born SC, Mo Born SC [sic], Farm Laborer Line 72, Dwelling 121, Family 123, ROPER, Hattie, Daughter-in-law, White, Female, Born Sept 1884, Age 15, Married 0 Years, Born GA, Fa Born GA, Mo Born GA [Image 14 of 26 for 1900 GA Enumeration District 97 at Ancestry.com] * * * This single Census record appears likely to furnish genealogical details of the two generations prior to James Alexander ROPER (b 16 Mar 1906, d 16 Aug 1976 - Rocky Face, Whitfield County, GA). I am basing this assertion on the information YOU FURNISH that James Alexander ROPER's parents were a John and Hattie ROPER, precisely the names of the couple found living in the household of James and Elizabeth ROPER in 1900. So the lineage would therefore appear to be: James ROPER (b Aug 1836 - SC) m Elizabeth (b Jan 1843 - GA) John ROPER (b Nov 1882 - GA) m Hattie (b Sept 1884 - GA) James Alexander Roper (b 16 Mar 1906, d 16 Aug 1976 - Rocky Face, Whitfield County, GA) * * * There is a James M. ROPER shown in a Index of Georgia death certificates with date of death as 19 Jun 1922, who seems to have died in Walker County, GA. The certificate number is 16324-D. This MIGHT be the death certificate of James ROPER (b Aug 1836 - SC). There is also a death certificate [no county shown] in the Index of Georgia death certificates for an Elizabeth ROEPR with date of death 31 Dec 1921 and death certificate number 32346-C. This MIGHT be the death certificate of Elizabeth ROPER (b Jan 1843 - GA). James M. and Elizabeth ROPER are enumerated living with son John A. ROPER, age 28, and daughter-in-law Hattie, age 25, in the 1910 Census enumeration. Also residing with John and Hattie ROPER that year are children Emma, age 9, Myrtis?, age 6, Alex, age 4, and Gordon, age 2, all born in Georgia. John and Hattie ROPER resided in East Armuchee, Walker County, GA, at the date of the 1910 Census. In 1920, James ROPER, age 83, and Elizabeth ROPER, age 76, are again found in the household of John A. ROPER, age 38, and Hattie ROPER, age 35, in East Armuchee, Walker County, GA. Also resident in this household are daughter Mytis, age 16, son Alexander, age 13, Gordon, age 11, Mattie? Lou. age 10, Pearl, age 7, and another daughter whose name begins with "E", but whose name is otherwise difficult to make out, age 3. Since both James and Elizabeth ROPER were ALIVE in 1920, there seems to be a fairly reasonable chance that the death records identified above reflect the deaths of the same. I would encourage you to obtain these records and share with us what you find! * John ROPER (b Nov 1882 - GA) is almost certainly the John A. ROPER shown in the Georgia Death Index as dying on 02 May 1961 in Walker County at age 79. His death certificate is numbered 11613. I would encourage you to obtain a copy to discover other genealogical details, including John ROPER's precise date of birth and hopefully the full names of his parents. The Georgia Death Index shows three deaths for Hattie ROPERs: Hattie ROPER (d 07 Apr 1924 - Walker, GA) Hattie B.S. ROPER (d 26 Oct 1964 - Walker, GA), age 69 Hattie ROPER (d 26 Jul 1997 - Walker, GA), age 87 It is unclear which of these, if any, corresponds to Hattie ROPER (b Sept 1884 - GA). If her death record is one of the latter two records, the age is more than a little bit OFF. But I have OFTEN seen instances where women age less than ten years a decade and by the age of 80, a woman might have lost as many as ten year of calendar age! I am inclined to believe that the Hattie ROPER in your line is probably NEITHER Hattie B.S. ROPER (d 26 Oct 1964 - Walker, GA) nor Hattie ROPER (d 26 Jul 1997 - Walker, GA). The SSDI further clarifies for us that the Hattie C. ROPER who died on 26 Jul 1997 with last residence La Fayette, Walker County, GA, was born on 26 Jul 1910. Her SSN was 255-18-0864. And the SSDI also shows a Hattie ROPER (b 24 Apr 1894) who is said to have died in Nov 1964. Her SSN was 255-20-2613. While I believe that ages and dates of death are sometimes incorrectly stated when furnished by others after a person's death, these dates are far more likely to be correct on the original application for a Social Security Number. And even if Hattie had fudged her AGE, it seems unlikely that she would also incorrectly state the month and day of her birth. Moreover, the 1930 Census record for John A. ROPER shows him residing with a wife named "Missouri", age 45. Youngest daughter "Exa", age 13, is the only ROPER child still residing in the household. However, there are also step-children William GENTRY, age 6, step-daughters Vinnie Mae, age 18, Essie, age 13, Hessie, age 13, Nellie, age 10, John, age 8, and William age 4 1/12. It is NOT readily apparent why there is a William, age 6, AND a William, age 4 1/12, nor is it clear the significance of the ORDER these children are listed. But given that divorce was still fairly UNCOMMON in 1930, I think that we can reasonably infer that Hattie had passed away between 1920 and 1930 and that the death record for Hattie ROPER (d 07 Apr 1924 - Walker, GA) rather precisely fits this specification. * * * Finally, I would encourage you to check the ROPER Family History web site of Dr. L. David ROPER at http:www.roperld.com for additional information on various ROPER families. It seems quite likely that with the more particular information regarding the identity of James Alexander ROPER's grandparents -- James ROPER (b Aug 1836 - SC) m Elizabeth (b Jan 1843 - GA) -- you will be able to connect this family to other well established ROPER lines. I am sure that Dave would also appreciate hearing from you about the detailed information you have about the descendents of James Alexander ROPER. And I believe that all ROPER genealogists will appreciate seeing your future Posts of the more precise information you obtain when you send for the death certificates cited!