Robert H. Purkey

Notes:

The 1880 Census shows that Robert Purkey was the son of George and Elizabeth Purkey of Virginia, who were living in Johns Creek, Johnson County, Kentucky at the time. Numerous internet trees show Elizabeth's maiden name as Williams, but no sources are given. They also show George as a son of Pleasant Purkey and Sarah Halsey, who married in Ashe County, NC (14 January 1841 in Ashe County, NC, with Terrell Cox as Bondsman (records at State Archives Raleigh, NC). They were living in Grayson County, VA at the time of the 1850 Census. See the bottom of the research notes for this census transcription.

The following FTM website has more about the Purkey family. It appears that the Purkey's in American descend from Johannes Arnold BIRKENBEIL of Germany, who settled in Baltimore, MD before the revolutionary war, and whose descendants moved westward.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/u/r/Charles-Robert-Purkey/GENE7-0001.html

The name "Birkenbeil" is not a combination of "Birke" (German = birch) and "Beil" (German = hatchet), but it may come from the placename "Birkenbeul". E. g., there is "Birkenbeul" in the County of Altenkirchen in the Westerwald area in Germany. "Birkenbeul" = former "Birkenbuegel" or "Birkenbuehl"; "Buehl" is a word for a small "hill". Some of my anchestors come from Birkenbeul; and as a similar aliteration I found, that the name "Hackebeil" comes from original "Hackebeuel" or "Hackebuegel", also in the Westerwald local dialect. (Post by Eckart Schwab on June 25, 2000 to Genealogy.com, Surnames: Berkebile Family Genealogy Forum. )

A direct male descendant of Lloyd Elmer Purkey had a 36 marker yDNA study done at FamilyTreeDNA. He is registered on ySearch with the user ID 5S8DF. His allele values appear to be similiar to another PURKEY who was a participant in the BIRKENBINE yDNA study:

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Birkinbine/default.aspx?section=yresults








(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Federal Census
Kentucky, Johnson County, Johns Creek
FHL Film 1254425 NA Film #T9-0425 Page #198D
George Purkey Self M M W 33 Va Farmer Va Va
Elizabeth Purkey*** W m F W 34 Va Keeping House Va Va
Sarah L. Purkey S F W 3 Ky Va Va
Robert H Purkey Son S M W 12 Ky Va Va
Catharine Purkey Dau S F W 9 Ky Va Va
Abraham Purkey Son S M W 6 Ky Va Va
John W Purkey Son S M W 34 Ky Va Va
George W Purkey Son S M W 1 Ky Va Va

***Several unsourced internet trees show her maiden name as Elizabeth WILLIAMS, not verified

1900 Federal Census
Kentucky, Johnson County, Magisterial Dist No. 2
SD 10 ED 39 Sheet 23A Stamped 169
276-276
Perkey, Robert Hd W M Nov 1867 32 m10 Ky Ky Ky
Perkey, Nancy J Wf W F Apr 1866 34 M 10 5/ Ky Ky Ky
Perkey, Dessie Dtr W F Feb 1892 8 S Ky Ky Ky
Perkey, Elmer Son W M March 1894 6 S Ky Ky Ky
Perkey, Loyd Son W M July 1898 1 S Ky Ky Ky
277-277
Perkey, George C Head W M Apr 1847 53 N35 Va Va Va
Perkey, Elizabeth Wf W F May 1846 54 M 35 12/10 Tn Tn Tn
Perkey, Vicie Dtr W F A 1880 19 S Va Tn Tn
Perkey, Mary Dtr W F Mar 1882 18 S Va Tn Tn
Perkey, Cinda Dtr W F Feb 1885 15 S Ky Va Tn
Perkey, Andrew Son W M May 1887 13 S Ky Va Tn


1910 Federal Census
Oklahoma, Beckham County, Elk Twp
Enumerated 7 May 1910
SD 6 ED 6 Sheet 8B
153-158
Purkey, Robert Hd M W 42 m1 20 Ky Va Tn Farmer
Purkey, Nancy J Wf F W 42 M1 20 7/5 Va NC Va
Purkey, Elmer Son MW 16 S Ky Ky Va Laborer
Purkey, Lloyd Son m W 11 S Ky Ky Va
Purkey, Carse Son M W 9 S Ky Ky Va
Purkey, Raymond Son M W 1 2/12 S Ok Ky Va


1920 Federal Census
Oregon, Lane County, Precinct #10, Eugene
Enumerated 10 January 1920
SD 1 ED 241 Ward 4 Sheet 9A
Purkey, Robert H Hd M W 52 M Ky Va Ky Manager Retail Shoe Store
Purkey, Nancy J Wf F W 53 M Va NC Va
Purkey, Lloyd Son M W 21 S Ky Ky Va Repairman Retail Shoe Store
Purkey, Carse Son M W 18 S Ky Ky Va Salesman Retail Shoe Store
Purkey, Raymond Son m W 10 S Ok Ky Va
Baldridge, John Uncle M W 69 Wd Ky Tn Va


1930 Census
NOT LOCATED


This is the 1850 Census for Pleasant Perky and family. He is said to be the father of George Purkey and grandfather of Robert H. Purkey.

1850 Federal Census
Virginia, Grayson County
(District 19, 98)
Enumerated 19 September 185
670-670
Pleasant Perky 37 M Farmer $500 Tenn
Sarah Perky 42 F Va
Eli Davis 23 M Laborer Va
Nancy Davis 21 F Va
Ruth Davis 19 F Va
Lucinda Davis 17 F Va
John Davis 15 M Laborer Va
Catharine Perky 9 F Va
Sarah J. Perky 6 F Va
George Perky 4 M Va
William Perky 1 M Va
671-671
Ahart? and Elizabeth HALSEY

Robert married Nancy Jane Phelps about 1890 in Kentucky. Nancy was born in Apr 1866 in Kentucky; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1966 obituary of Lorena Wright, his daughter, he is referenced as "her father, Elmer R. PURKEY of Coquille."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Washington, King County, Seattle City, Pr 244
Enumerated 2 and 3 January 1920
SD 1 ED 308 Sheet 1B
24-24
Purkey, Elmer Hd M W 26 M Kentucky US Va Holderon Shipyards
Purkey, Bessie Wf F W 21 M Tx Tx Tx
Purkey, Juanita Dtr F W 5 S Ok Ky Tx Tx
Purkey, Leonard Son M W 3 6/12 S Ok Ky Tx Tx
Purkey, Glenn Son M W 1 9/12 S Wash Ky Tx Tx

1930 Census
Not located

1940 Census
Oregon, Lane County, Cottage Grove City, Pr. 4
Enumerated April 6, 1940
SD 4 ED 20-19 Sheet 3B
S. 10th Street
239
71 R 18
Perkey, Elmer R Head M W 46 M No 4 Ky R Lane Oregon Timber feller Log Camp
Perkey, Bessie Alice Wf F W 41 M No 5 Tx R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Lourena Dtr F W 16 S No 8 Oregon R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Bessie Ellen Dtr F W 8 S Yes 2 Oregon R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Thomas Henry Son F (sic) W 5 S Yes 1 R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Minnie Ida Dtr F W 3 S Oregon
Perkey, Nancy Lee Dtr F W 3 S Oregon
Perkey, Leonard B Son M W 23 M No 8 Okla R Lane Oregon Feller Log Camps
Perkey, Thelma E Son's wife F W 18 M No 7 Oregon Eugene Land Oregon
Perkey, Leonard E Son's son M W 2 S Oregon
Perkey, Robert A Son's son M W 1 S Oregon
Sinnott, George O Boarder m W 23 S No 7 Oregon R Land Bucker Log Camp
Ellingsen, Sigmund Boarder m W 46 S No 8 Minnesota R Land Riggingmand Log Camp
Slyter, Seth I Lodger m W 36 No 8 Indiana R Coos Oregon

Elmer married Bessie Alice McLemore before 1914. Bessie (daughter of Thomas Henry McLemore and Minnie Ida Hudspeth) was born in Dec 1898 in Texas; died on 26 Jul 1950 in Lane County, Oregon; was buried in West Lawn Memorial Park, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

`

Notes:

California Death Index listing:

PURKEY CARSE JENE 05/07/1901 M KENTUCKY LOS ANGELES(19) 11/14/1979 556-03-2809 78 yrs

Notes:

Her social security account was established in Alaska. Her name at death was Juanita GIBBS.

Juanita married Donald Lee Gibbs before 1930. Donald was born about 1911 in Oregon; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1930 census, Leonard Purkey was living in Fort Hubbard Election Precinct, Marion County, Oregon, and was a resident of the Oregon State Training School for Boys (ED 24-19, SD 2, Sheet 2A, Stamped 78. He was shown as a white male, age 13, born in Oklahoma to parents born in Kentucky and Texas.

In 1940, he was living with his parents, Elmer and Bessie, in Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon. He was married to a Thelma, and they had two sons, Leonard and Robert. Leonard worked as a feller at a log camp, as did his father.

Leonard's obituary, below, was copied from the FindAGrave memorial page for him created by Rick & Nancy:

Obituary Notice ? Western World ? 14 August 1952

BANDON LOGGER LOSES LIFE IN TRAILER BLAZE

A body burned beyond recognition, but later identified as that of Leonard Perkey, 36-year-old logger of Bandon, was removed Sunday morning from the fire razed ruins of a trailer house 8 miles up Catching Creek from Langlois. The trailer was parked on the Coos side of the Coos-Curry line.

Perkey was staying overnight in the trailer in order to be on-the-job Sunday morning falling timber for the Three-Way Lumber Company mill, which is owned by Adrian White of Coquille. It was presumed that he had fallen asleep while smoking in bed. Vernon Little, manager of the Schroeder Brothers Mortuary of Bandon, was deputized as coroner and brought the body here.

The Perkey family has been living at one of the Wayside Cottages east of Bandon.

Other employees of the lumber company discovered the fire around 8:00 a.m. Sunday. It is reported that the fire was still burning and that the heat was so intense that even spun glass insulation and the windows of the trailer were melted.

Perkey was born at Elk City, Oklahoma, June 1, 1916.

Services will be held at Schroeder Brothers Chapel in Bandon at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 15, with the Rev. Wesley Lange officiating. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1940 Census
Oregon, Lane County, Cottage Grove City, Pr. 4
Enumerated April 6, 1940
SD 4 ED 20-19 Sheet 3B
S. 10th Street
239
71 R 18
Perkey, Elmer R Head M W 46 M No 4 Ky R Lane Oregon Timber feller Log Camp
Perkey, Bessie Alice Wf F W 41 M No 5 Tx R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Lourena Dtr F W 16 S No 8 Oregon R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Bessie Ellen Dtr F W 8 S Yes 2 Oregon R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Thomas Henry Son F (sic) W 5 S Yes 1 R Lane Oregon
Perkey, Minnie Ida Dtr F W 3 S Oregon
Perkey, Nancy Lee Dtr F W 3 S Oregon
Perkey, Leonard B Son M W 23 M No 8 Okla R Lane Oregon Feller Log Camps
Perkey, Thelma E Son's wife F W 18 M No 7 Oregon Eugene Land Oregon
Perkey, Leonard E Son's son M W 2 S Oregon
Perkey, Robert A Son's son M W 1 S Oregon
Sinnott, George O Boarder m W 23 S No 7 Oregon R Land Bucker Log Camp
Ellingsen, Sigmund Boarder m W 46 S No 8 Minnesota R Land Riggingmand Log Camp
Slyter, Seth I Lodger m W 36 No 8 Indiana R Coos Oregon

Leonard married Thelma E. ??? before 1938. Thelma was born about 1922 in Oregon; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Leonard married Irene Farris on 12 Jun 1943 in Los Angeles County, California. Irene was born about 1922; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1966 obituary of Lorena Wright, his sister, he is referenced as "Glenn PURKEY of Baker."

Notes:

In the 1966 obituary of Lorena Wright, her sister, she is referenced as "Mary HUBBARD of Cottage Grove."

Notes:

Obituary, transcribed from clipping on FindAGrave

Wright-Lorena Wright, Lorane Route, Cottage Grove passed away at a hospital in Portland Tuesday, August 2, 1966 at the age of 42. She was born August 30, 1923 at Powers, Oregon and was married in Stevenson, Washington in July of 1949 to Russell D. Wright, who survives her. Besides her husband, she is survived by two children, Elmer WEST of Winston, Juanita MURPHY of Medford; 4 grandchildren; her father, Elmer R. PURKEY of Coquille; 2 brothers, 5 sisters: Glenn PURKEY of Baker, Thomas PURKEY, Port Orford, Juanita GIBBS, of Broadbent, Ellen SEYMORE of Bandon, Mary HUBBARD, Nancy PURCELL, and Minnie HELLER all of Cottage Grove. Funeral services will be held at Mills Mortuary, Cottage Grove Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m. Vault interment in Fir Grove Cemetery.

Notes:

In the 1966 obituary of Lorena Wright, her sister, she is referenced as "Ellen SEYMORE of Bandon." Lee Osborne instead shows her her last name as SEYMOUR. She is shown as Bessie SEYMOUR on the SSDI.

The Oregon Marriage index shows that she may have married first, on 12 Dec 1948 in Land County, Cash HILEMAN.

Notes:

In the 1966 obituary of Lorena Wright, his sister, he is referenced as "Thomas PURKEY, Port Orford."

A photo of his military grave marker is on FindAGrave. It is embossed with a cross, and reads Thomas Henry Purkey, Oregon, Sgt Infantry, July 13, 1934 - Jan 4, 1969.

Thomas married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]