Robert E. and Bessie E. (Adams) Robert

After 1902, Horace G. Adams, Sr. and William Robert were partners in the sprawling XI Ranch which became known as the XIT Ranch. Adams oldest daughter, Bessie, and Williams oldest son, John E. Robert, close in age, met and eventually married. With this marriage, two of the important cattle families of Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico were united.

Bessie Ethyl Adams was born to Horace G. and Mabel G. (Warren) Adams at Maple Hill, Kansas on March 30, 1886. John E. Robert was born to William and Sallie (Chisum) Robert at Anton Chico, New Mexico on December 24, 1881. They were united in marriage
in l909.

According to the US Census taken in 1910, John E. and Bess (Adams) Robert began their married lives living in the house built by his father, William, on the XIT Ranch in Meade County, Kansas. Also living in the house were seven servants and ranch hands. Their first child, Agnes Bessie Robert, was born February 15, 1910 and was also living on the ranch.

Their next child, a son, John Ernest Robert, Jr., was also born on the Meade County, Kansas ranch on February 13, 1913. The third child, also a son, Horace Adams Robert, was born February 26, 1916 also in Kansas.

By the time the US Census was taken in 1920, the entire family had moved to California, where they were living at 7032 Hawthorne Avenue in Los Angeles. Two live-in household servants are also enumerated. The occupation of John E. Robert is listed as Manager/Owner, Motional Picture Theater.

I do not know the exact date that the Robert family moved to Maple Hill, but by 1923, the Alma Signal Enterprise was running advertisements for the John E. Robert Hardware and Coal Company, Maple Hill, Kansas. I found his ads very interesting because he was always advertising a promotion to improve homes in the city or the city itself. He held contests in which he offered prizes for the house that was the best painted and decorated on the exterior. He held contests for the best remodeled kitchen. He held city-wide contests for exterior house decorating at Christmas and Easter. To be sure, the contests were beneficial to his business, but the cast prizes, usually $10 for first place, $5 for second place, and five $1 prizes for third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place, were paid by Mr. Robert. I remember my paternal grandmother, Mabel R Clark, (who was Maple Hills Central Office Operator) speaking very highly of John and Bess Adams and their business in Maple Hill. In fact, I have several pieces of lovely pressed glass which my Grandmother Clark received as premiums for purchasing her coal from John Robert.

The Robert family remained in Maple Hill, Kansas and continued to operate the lumber, coal, and hardware business for at least ten years. They are included in the US Census for 1930, and the occupation listed is merchant, lumber, coal and hardware. I dont know when they left Maple Hill, but it was after 1935. By the time the US Census for 1940 was taken, the family had again returned to California. The 1940 Census required that you list a residence for 1935, and that residence remained Maple Hill, Kansas. By 1940, they were living at 11709 Kling Street in Los Angeles, California where John E. Robert was listed as the owner/manager of a dairy and creamery company.

Since there are no US Census reports after 1940 that have been made public, I have no further information other than John E Roberts death occurred December 1, 1977 and his wife Bessie E. (Adams) Robert passed away on November 14, 1973. Both were living in Valley Village, California at the time of their deaths.

I will continue with accounts of their children in the next posting.

Photo 1 – John E. and Bessie E. (Adams) Robert
Photo 2 – John E. in center and Bessie (Adams) Robert at far right.
Photo 3 – John E. Robert
Photo 4 – Bessie E. (Adams) Robert
Photo 5 – Bessie E. (Adams) Robert
Photo 6 – Bessie E. (Adams) Robert
Photo 7 – Four Generations: Seated is Mrs. Gertrude Warren,
mother of Mable G. (Warren) Adams, who is standing at left. At right are Bessie E. (Adams) Robert and daughter Agnes E Robert. Since Agnes Robert was born in 1910, the photograph was likely taken in 1911.