Robert Allen McDowell

Robert A. McDowell was listed as 1 in his parents' household in the 1870 LaRue County, Kentucky, census. He had been born in Kentucky. Robert was listed as 11 in his parents' household in the 1880 LaRue County census.

He apparently was excluded from membership in the South Fork Baptist Church in 1890 and restored in 1891 [perhaps when he married Bettie J. Elliott?]

In the 1900 census, he was living with his sister Fannie and her husband Joseph Rutherford in Buffalo, LaRue County. He was described as 28, having been born in August 1871, which is incorrect. He was working as a carpenter and could read and write.

According to the lawsuit filed by his sister Alice McDowell Holland, Robert was living in Bureau County, Illinois, by 21 September 1909.

He was listed in the 1910 census for Bureau County, Illinois, as a 45-year-old farm laborer from Kentucky in Bureau Township. He had been married (second time) for 7 years, could read and write, and was apparently renting a house. His second wife, Chrisa, was 29 and was the mother of 3 children, all of whom were living. She and her parents were born in Kentucky, and she could read and write. Their three children were: Ada (age 6, born in Kentucky, able to read and write), Robert (age 4, born in Illinois), and Charlie (age 3, born in Illinois). If Robert and Charlie were born in Illinois, this would put the move from Kentucky around 1905. Robert's sons Leonard and Clarence from his first marriage were not living with them.

His death certificate indicates Dr. Charles A. Coffin(!) attended him from 5 April to 15 April 1916, and Robert died at 8:00 pm. It also gives a date of birth as 18 December 1868 rather than 17 December. Robert died in Kewanee, Henry County, Illinois.