| Last Name |
Seamster |
| First Name |
Robert “Bob” |
| Middle Initial |
Lee |
| Born |
4 Aug 1892 in Neosho, MO |
| Home Addresses
(1929-1934) |
140 Meyers St.
2048 Center St. |
| Died |
5 Aug 1980 in Salem, OR |
| Place Buried |
Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR |
| Wife |
Vera Lavern Reeves [Potter] |
| Date of Marriage |
15 Jun 1943 in Salem, OR |
| Children |
None |
| Dates of Employment |
1911-1957 |
| Job(s) |
Weaver |
| Story |
Robert Lee Seamster worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1911-1957.
Robert Lee Seamster was born 4 Aug 1892 in Neosho, Missouri to Isaiah and Anna Seamster. Soon after, the family moved to Arkansas to farm. They lived there until 1910. In 1911 they moved from Rogers, Arkansas to Salem where Robert, at age 19 took a job at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.
Robert’s father Isaiah left the family in 1916 and returned to Arkansas, leaving wife Anna and younger children in the support of older siblings. Robert, Harley, Earl and Hubert worked at TKWM. Brother Virgil took the lead in starting what became a family business, the Seamster Brothers Service Station. Robert worked there part time in addition to his day job as a weaver.
Robert was excused from service in WW1 and WW2 because he worked in a critical wartime industry. In 1943, at age 41, Robert married widow Vera Potter who had two children from her previous marriage. The couple had no biological children of their own. Robert and Vera became charter members of the Calvary Baptist Church.
Robert continued to work at TKWM until his retirement in 1957, then worked part-time at the Jefferson Woolen Mill. Wife Vera died in 1975. Robert passed away on 5 Aug 1980 at age 90. He was buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR. |
|
|
| References |
| Name |
Remarks |
| Salem City Directories |
1911 Seamster R L, weaver, brds at 1865 Asylum Av
1913 Seamster Robert, weaver, TKWM
1915 Seamster Robert, weaver TKWM rms 120 E Myers
1917 Seamster Robert, weaver TKWM 140 E Myers
1921 Seamster Robert L, weaver TKWM 1920 Center
1935 Seamster Robert, weaver TKWM (also partner in Seamster Service Station with Virgil) 4 1900 S 12th
1938-1940 Seamster Robert, weaver TKWM, 2048 Center St
1942 Seamster Robert, weaver TKWM 1605 15th St
1945-1955 Seamster Robert L, weaver TKWM 2080 Myrtle Ave
1960 Seamster Robert L, no job specified |
| Census |
1900 Robert L Seamster. Age 7. Birth Date: Aug 1892. Birthplace: Missouri. Home in 1900: Mount Vernon, Benton, Arkansas. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Illinois. Mother born in Arkansas. Additional household members: Banks (mother), Erle Seamster, 9. Robert L Seamster, 7. William H Seamster, 2. Golda M Seamster, 8/12.
1910 Robert L Seamster. Age 17. Birth Date: 1893. Birthplace: Missouri. Home in 1910: Mount Vernon, Benton, Arkansas. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Missouri. Mother born in Arkansas. Occupation: farm laborer. Additional household members: I Seamster, 62. Jennie A Seamster, 49. Earl Seamster, 19. Robert L Seamster, 17. William F Seamster, 13. Goldie M Seamster Jr, 11. Mary E Seamster, 9. Hurburt Seamster, 7. Floy I M Seamster, 3.
1920 Robert Seamster. Age 26. Birth Year: abt 1894. Birthplace: Missouri. Home in 1920: Meyers St. Salem Ward 7, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Illinois. Mother born in Arkansas. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Anna J Seamster, 58. Robert Seamster, 26. Edith Seamster, 19. Hubert Seamster, 16. Floyd Seamster, 12.
1930 Robert L Seamster. Age 37. Birth Year: abt 1893. Birthplace: Missouri. Home in 1930: 2048 Center St. Salem, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Illinois. Mother born in Tennessee. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Anna J Seamster, 68. Robert L Seamster, 37. Edith M Graves, 28. Betty Schafer, 8.
1940 Robert L Seamster. Age 47. Birth Year: abt 1893. Birthplace: Missouri. Home in 1940: 2048 Center St. Salem, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Anna Seamster, 47. Robert Seamster, 47. Edith Seamster, 39. Betty Schafer, 18. Clint Cook, 33 (lodger). |
| WW1 Draft Registration |
Robert Seamster. Age 25. Address: 140 Meyers Salem, OR. Birth Date: 4 Aug 1892. Birthplace: Neosho, Missouri. Occupation: Weaver. Employer: Thos Kay Woolen Mill. Mother and brother dependent for support. Single. Height: Medium. Build: Slender. Eyes: Brown. Hair: Dark. Registration Date: 5 Jun 1917. |
| WW2 Draft Registration |
Robert Lee Seamster. Age 49. Residence: 160 S 15th St. Salem, OR. Birth Date: 4 Aug 1892. Birthplace: Neosho, Missouri. NOP: Clint Cook. Employer: Thos. Kay Woolen Mill. Height: 5’9”. Weight 160. Eyes: Brown. Hair: Brown. Complexion: Ruddy. Date of Registration: 26 Apr 1942. |
| Marriage Return |
Robert Lee Seamster – Vera R. Potter. 15 June 1943 Salem, Marion, OR. Groom Info. Residence: Salem, Marion, OR. Age last birthday: legal. Birth date: 4 Aug 1892. Single. First Marriage. Birthplace: Missouri. Occupation: Weaver. Bride Info. Residence: Salem, Marion, OR. Age last birthday: legal. Birth date: 13 Apr 1896. Widow. Second Marriage. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Clerk. |
| Social Security Death Index |
Robert Seamster. Birth Date: 4 Aug 1892. Issue Year: Before 1951. Issue State: Oregon. Last Residence: 97303, Salem, Marion, OR. Death Date: Aug 1980. |
| Oregon Death Index
|
Robert Lee Seamster. Age: 88. Birth Date: 4 Aug 1892. Death Date: 5 Aug 1980. Death Place: Marion. Spouse: Vera. Certificate: 80-13664. |
| Find-a-Grave
|
Robert Lee Seamster. Birth: 4 Aug 1892 Downing, Schuyler County, MO. Death: 5 Aug 1980 (aged 88) Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 140635314.
Vera LaVerne Reeves Seamster. Birth: 13 Apr 1896 Salem, Marion County, OR. Death: 3 Mar 1975 (aged 78) Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 140635289. |
| Newspapers |
Oregon Statesman 11 Apr 1929 p 8. Seamster Service Station
Capital Journal 14 Jun 1943 p 7. Marriage License – Seamster & Potter
Oregon Statesman 16 Jun 1943 p 6. Marriage
Capital Journal 4 Mar 1975 p 16. Vera L Seamster Obituary
Statesman Journal 7 Aug 1980 p 4. Salem man is found dead
Statesman Journal 8 Aug 1980 p 22. Robert Lee Seamster Obituary
Statesman Journal 9 Aug 1980 p 17. Robert Lee Seamster Funeral Notice
Statesman Journal 12 Aug 1980 p 8. Seamster family thanks paper boy who notified authorities |
| WHC Materials |
M3 1966-001 Mill Records
0079.007.0002 Photo
M3 1978-004-0004 Photo
M3 1992-117-0010 Photo
M3 1992-117-0012 Photo
M3 1992-008-0001 Photo
M3 1994-016-0008 Oral History Interview (Robert Seamster)
M3 1994-016-0012 Oral History Interview (Ed Seamster)
M3 1994-016-0036 Oral History Interview (Mary White)
M3 1994-016-0023 Oral History Interview (Adam Schissler)
2016.035.0003, 0007 Terrace Club Membership Materials |
