Life History

Other facts

Notes

• In the 1930 census, Robert O Knowlton, Jr., is listed as OregonKnowlton, Jr.  His gravestone has Robert O Knowlton, Jr.  Both he andhis father commonly went by their middle name Oregon.  His birthrecord gives full name as his father:  Robert Oregon Knowlton.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 1920 Federal Census,18 April, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Hse/Fam #22
  Knowlton, Oregon  Head M W 28 AR MS AL Farmer
  Knowlton, Malissa E  Wife F W 23 AR AL AL
  Knowlton, Oregon Jr  Son M W 3 AR AR AR
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 April, PrairieTownship, District 16, page 4A, Ethel-St Charles Rd, Hse #65, Fam #67
  Knowlton, Oregon Head M W 37 AR MS AL Farmer
  Knowlton, Malissa Wife F W 33 AR MS MS
  Knowlton, Oregon Jr Head M W 12 AR AR AR Farm Laborer
  
  In 1930, Oregon has been married for about two years, but he and hiswife Ruth do not seem to have any children yet.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 April, PrairieTownship, District 7, Page 6B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #115, Fam #116
  Knowlton, Oregon Jr Head M W 23  married at 21  AR AR AR Farmer
  Knowlton, Ruth A Wife F W 19 married at 17  AR AR USA
  Noble, Lorene Niece F W 4yrs 11mos AR AR AR
  McSwain, Marvin Brother-in-Law  M W 16 Single  AR AR AR
  
  This indicates Oregon and Ruth married in about 1928.  They have beenmarried between two and three years at this census.  I learned theidentity of Oregon's wife Ruth only in April 2008, when Ken McSwain,son of Wirt Barnard McSwain, made reference to his aunt Ruth McSwain'smarriage to Oregon Butler [before she married Ray Recroft].  I wasonly then able to see the connection between these two family lineagesthrough this marriage.  Ruth was the daughter of James Magnus McSwainand Ruth L Lowry.  This is confirmed by the report of Marvin McSwainin this census, who is shown as Oregon's brother-in-law.
  
  Oregon's grandson, Claude Rice, Jr., left a message in my genealogyguest book on 22 January 2011 telling me of a daughter of Oregon andRuth, and his children with Emmie West, Oregon's second wife:
  "My Grandfather was Oregon Knowlton, Sr.  Oregon Jr. also had adaughter with Ruth McSwain. She is my first cousin.  Her name is BettyRuth. Last I knew she lived in Minn. Joyce, Jo Ann, James Robert, &also a daughter by Emmie, named Bonnie Gail, born around 1955."
  
  We know now that Ruth married Ray (Oswald Eugene) Recroft in 1935.This indicates that she and Oregon were divorced not long after this1930 census.  You can find details of Ray and Ruth under the entry forOswald Eugene Recroft in this genealogy.
  
  Lorene Noble is reported here as a niece.  Since she is only age 4years 11 months, it is likely her mother has died.
  
  Social Security Death Index
  Oregon Knowlton
  Born 4 Jan 1907, Died May 1971
  Last Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas, 72048
  SSN 429-72-5012 issued Arkansas (1956)

Sources

• 1. Social Security Death Index
• 2. Family Data Collection - Births
• 3. Gravestone of Robert Oregon Knowlton Jr and Emmie H Knowlton, MtPleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas
• 4. RootsWeb ID: I120 -- Robert Oregon Knowlton Sr
  • Name: Name:http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dlee-pobox&id=I120;;
• 5. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 18 April, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Hse/Fam #22
• 6. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 28 April, Prairie Township, District 16, page 4A, Ethel-St Charles Rd,
• 7. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 21 April, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 6B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse
• 8. Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939
  • Certificate #00171
• 9. Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939
• 10. Various Sources