William Thomas and Juda Frances Hardee son

Robert Lee Hardee

William and Juda moved from Alabama to Texas around 1870. Robert Lee Hardee was their first child who was born in Texas on November 19, 1873 in Van Zandt Co., Texas.

Juda died in 1879 and in 1880 the family is living in Johnson Co., Texas and William, his widowed father is a farmer.

At the age of 19 Robert married Josie Motley on July 19, 1893 in Erath Co., Texas.

I found court records dated January 23, 1894 that show the State of Texas VS R. L. Hardee, but I do not know what the case was about. It was dismissed due to “insufficiency of the evidence” and he was immediately discharged.

Their fist son, Clifford Thomas Hardee was born September 30, 1894 in Cleburne, Texas, followed by Creed Westley Hardee born April 17, 1899 in Johnson Co., Texas.

In 1900 Robert is working as a day laborer and reports on the census that he can read and write.

Daughter Irene Hardee is born September 5, 1903 but dies about 1904 and Mollie Frances Hardee is born September 25, 1905 in Johnson Co., Texas.

In 1910 the family lives at 401 Elmo and his older brother Zibe also lives with the family. They both work at the railroad. Robert works as a machinist at the railroad shop and Zibe is a helper in the roundhouse.

Their last child, a daughter, Robert Lynn Hardee, was born on September 2, 1911 in Johnson Co. Texas

When Robert registered for the WWI draft in 1918, he stated he lived at 1005 N. Border in Cleburne, Texas. He was 45 years old and worked as a truck repairer at G C & S F Railyard. He was medium height and build and had dark hair and blue eyes.

At age 60, Robert and Josie along with daughter Robbie are living in Tarrant Co. Texas in 1930. Robert is farming on a rented farm and they do not own a radio.

Robert dies on September 12, 1932 of pneumonia. He is buried in the Cleburne Memorial Cemetery.