Roberts Family (Click for Family Tree)
Mary Jane Roberts, also known as ‘Mollie’, was the daughter of John S. Roberts (1832-1922) and Elizabeth Ann Murrell (1835-1917). She married as her second husband Samuel H. Blount in April of 1889. Family records noted that they had six children, as listed above in the caption.
Now that we have online censuses, however, we have found that the 1920 US Federal Census lists a Warren Blount as their 19 year old son, and all the family birth information matches.
So was this a census error?
Samuel Blount was the operator of a coal mine, and an immigrant from England. A nephew or other relative could possibly have been living with him and maybe even working in the coal mine as a new immigrant, although no occupation is listed for Warren; additionally, he is listed as attending school that year, and born in Iowa. Was incorrect information assumed about Warren, especially if someone other than family provided the information to the census taker?
Or maybe Harry is not in this portrait?
We think the picture might have been taken around 1915, and Harry would have been about 25 that year- he may have already left home. Warren was born about 2 years before Bernice, so should have been in this picture if he was one of the children. If true, that would mean the boys were, from left, Warren, Harold, and Samuel.
Could the Roberts Family History have an error/omission?
Orpha (Roberts) Blount, daughter of Jason L. Roberts and Julia French, compiled the history, and since she had married into the Blount family, it would seem that she would have known about all the children of Mollie and Samuel Blount. Was Warren a son who left home and had been disowned? George Anthony Roberts disowned his daughter Ethel Gay Roberts when she married Bert Robison against his wishes, so it had been done before within the family.
The 1910 US Federal Census for Polk County, Iowa, lists Mary Jane as having 6 children born to her, and all six still living. So that would mean Warren was not one of the children, unless those numbers are incorrect. However, that census also states her marriage to Samuel was her first; other family records state she was married first to Reuben H. French on 4 July 1878, when she was just 14, though we have not yet found a record of this marriage. This first marriage is also not mentioned in the Roberts History.
Maybe ‘Warren’ was a middle name or unused first name?
We have the initials/full names of the Blount boys, and none include a ‘W.’ for ‘Warren,’ so can assume the person listed in the census was not one of the known boys using another name. Also, Warren’s birth year does not fit with known data for the documented sons.
Maybe it is not the Blount children in the portrait?
Older family members believed these were the Blount children, but there was no identification on the image. They do look somewhat similar to the Blount children seen in the 1904 Roberts family portrait, although they were much younger in that image. There are only six Blount children named in that portrait, in two separate family collections.
Any Blount or Roberts family members out there that might be able to more conclusively identify the children in this picture? Or explain who Warren was? We would sure appreciate more information.
ADDENDUM 5/17/16:
Reviewed the 1915 Iowa State Census cards on Ancestry.com and there is no Warren Blount listed with the family of Samuel Blount. Cards are for individuals, so went through all the cards within about 10 of the Blount surname, and no Warren is found, though Samuel, Mary Jane, and the other children have their own cards.
There is a Warren Blount ~ 8 years old in the 1910 US Federal Cenus in Muncie, Indiana, thus about the same age as the Warren listed as 19 in the 1920 census. His parents are Wilbur M. and Clara E. Blount, both born in Indiana; Warren was their only child. Any relationship? Maybe Samuel was taking care of him for a while?
More research…
Notes, Sources, and References:
- Photo from family treasure chest.
- The Roberts-Daniel-Murrell Family History from the 1946 Family Reunion does not list Warren as a child of the couple. http://heritageramblings.net/family-documents/roberts-daniels-murrell-family-history/
- 1920 US Federal Census for Samuel H. Blount, head of household- Census Place: Des Moines Ward 1, Polk, Iowa; Roll: T625_507; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 86; Image: 1016.
- 1910 US Federal Census for Samuel H. Blount, head of household- Census Place: Des Moines Ward 1, Polk, Iowa, no additional source information. Accessed via Ancestry.com.
- 1910 US Federal Census for Wilbur C. Blount, head of household- Census Place: Muncie Ward 1, Delaware, Indiana; Roll: T624_346; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 1374359
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- Treasure Chest Thursday: The John Roberts and Elizabeth Ann Murrell Roberts Family in 1904- http://heritageramblings.net/2014/02/13/treasure-chest-thursday-the-john-roberts-and-elizabeth-ann-murrell-roberts-family-in-1904/
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