Life History

Other facts

Notes

• Robert's name is recorded by his uncle William (Bud) Jenkins as Robert E Christian.  Most censuses have his name as only Robert.  The 1920 census reports him as Robert Lee.  His name on his WWI draft registration card is also Robert Lee Christian.
  
  I wondered if his full name was Robert E Lee Christian.  I have seen many men with that name in his era, named after the great Virginia general.  Usually the E is only an initial.  This seems to be confirmed in the Social Security Death Index, which records his name as Robert E Christian.  A note from a descendant, Kristin Baker, also refers to him as Robert E Lee Christian.  (See below)
  
  "My grandfather was Robert Christian. His mother was Amanda Lucinda Jenkins. His sister was Annie Tabor from Mt.View, OK."
  --  Keitha Harris Wilmeth, Facebook Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 19 September 2014
  
  1900 Census, Union, Washita County, Oklahoma, District 211, page 13A (147A), Hse/Fam #189
  Willie Christain [sic] Head W M  Oct 1857 42  Miss England GA Farmer
  Mandy Christain Wife W F  Mar 1858  42  MS MS MS
  Robert Christain Son W M  March 1897 3  Chickasaw Ind Terr  England  Miss Farmer
  
  1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 20B-21A, Hse #309, Fam #390
  Christian, William G Head M W 60 MS England AL Farmer
  Christian, Amanda L Wife F W 45 MS GA GA
  Christian, Robert Son  M W 13 OK MS MS
  
  In Robert's WWI Draft Registration, we find a common phenomenon; the birth year is one year off from other sources.  This says the year was 1899 instead of 1898, which we find in most public and family sources.
  
  World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  Robert Lee Christian
  Residence Mtn View, Washita County, Oklahoma
  Age 19, Birth 2 Mar 1899
  Occupation Farming
  Nearest Relative Father Wm J Christian
  Medium Height and Build, Brown Eyes, Dark Hair
  Signed Robert Lee Christian
  
  "Lillie, Robert E Lee Christian wife, her name is Lillie Jewel McCool, daughter of Orlando & Lovina Barnes  [Christian].  My Grandma Peggy was their daughter. I have pictures of Robert & Lillie."
  --  Kristin Baker, Facebook Message to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 8 August 2015
  
  In 1920, Robert and his new wife Lillie are living with Robert's parents.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 15 January, Oakdale, District 192, page 4B, Hse #65, Fam #65
  Christian, William J Head M W 70 MS England AL Farmer
  Christian, Amanda L Wife F W 60 MS GA GA
  Christian, Robert Lee  Son  M W 21 OK MS MS  Farmer
  Christian, Lillie  Dau-in-law [Wife of Robert]  F W 19 Kansas USA Wisconsin
  
  1930 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma, 4 April, Waldron Township, District 38, page 2B, Hse/Fam #33
  Christian, Robert  Head Owns Does not owns a radio M W 39 First Married at age 19 OK US US Farmer [b abt 1991]
  Christian, Lillie Wife F W 30 First Married at age 17 OK Michigan Penn [b abt 1900]
  Christian, Blanche Dau F W 10 OK OK OK [b abt 1920]
  Christian, Pete  Son M W 3yrs3mos OK OK OK [b abt Dec 1926]
  Christian, Bobby Jane Dau F W 6mos OK OK OK [b abt Sept 1929]
  
  Next door Bartley is reported as a Farm Laborer, so I expect he is working on Robert's farm.
  
  1940 Federal Census, Sonoma County, California, 9 May, Analy Township, District 49-5, Page 17A, Hse #451, Rents $8
  Christian, Robert Head M W 42 Married Grade H1 b b Oklahoma, Rural Kiowa Co OK in 1935 Cherry farm Laborer [b abt 1898]
  Christian, Lillie Wife F W 40 Married Grade 7 b Oklahoma, Rural Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1900]
  Christian, Peter Son M W 13 Single Grade 5 b Oklahoma, Rural Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1927]
  Christian, Bobbie Jane Dau F W 10 Single Grade 5 b Oklahoma, Rural Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1930]
  Christian, Peggy Joyce Dau F W 7 Single Grade 3 b Oklahoma, Rural Kiowa Co in 1935 [b abt 1933]
  Christian, Sylvia Dau F W 5 Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma, Rural Kiowa Co in 1935 [b abt 1935]
  Christian, Mary S Dau F W 3 Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma [b abt 1937]
  Christian, Cleva Ann Dau F W 1 Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma [b abt 1939]
  
  The age of Cleva, the youngest child here, and the report that she was born in Oklahoma, tells us that Robert and Lillie moved their famliy to California only shortly before this census.  Other records tell us Cleva was born in August 1938, so they moved there some time in the year and a half or so since her birth.
  
  Social Security Death Index
  Robert E Christian
  Born 2 Mar 1898
  Died 15 Aug 1971
  Last Residence Madill, Marshall, Oklahoma  73446
  SSN 440-36-9164 issued Oklahoma (1952-1953)
  
  ------------------
  Robert E Lee Christian
  Birth Mar 2, 1898
  Death Aug 29, 1971
  
  Parents:
  William James Christian (1842 - 1924)
  Amanda Lucinda Jenkins Christian (1859 - 1948)
  
  Spouse Lillie Jewel McCool Christian (1900 - 1988)
  Children:
  Blanche Virginia Christian Ridenour (1920 - 2010)
  Bobbie Jane Christian Ross (1929 - 2010)
  Peggy Joyce Christian Kneisel (1932 - 2013)
  Mary Sletha Christian Cantrell (1937 - 2015)
  Cleva Christian McInturff (1938 - 2009)
  
  Siblings:
  C Peter Christian (1887 - 1918)
  Henry C. Christian (1896 - 1974)
  
  Burial Resthaven Memorial Park, Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
  
  Maintained by Mark, Originally Created by ~B~ May 07, 2012
  Find A Grave Memorial# 89751810, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=89751810
  ------------------
  

Sources

• 1. Social Security Death Index
• 2. William S "Bud" Jenkins, names listed in his Dictionary reported in Harold Christian's Jenkins Family History
  • Name: Name: pages 6-7, List of names of sister Amanda's children;;
• 3. 1930 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma
  • 4 April, Waldron Township, District 38, page 2B, Hse/Fam #33
• 4. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 5. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 6. 1940 Federal Census, Sonoma County, California
  • 9 May, Analy Township, District 49-5, Page 17A, Hse #451, Rents $8
• 7. 1920 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 15 January, Oakdale, District 192, page 4B, Hse #65, Fam #66
• 8. 1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 20B, Hse #309, Fam #390
• 9. Facebook Messaging
• 10. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
• 11. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014