Madness Monday: The Many Names and Mysterious Disappearance of Jerry Roe

Have you ever had an ancestor who seemed to change names as often as the wind changes direction? Meet my 2nd great-grandfather, known variously as Josiah, J Row, J J Roe, Jothanan Joessirs Roe, Jury J Roe, and finally Jerry Rae. Born around 1862 in Iowa to Joel R. Roe and Julia Ann Richardson, his life would take a dramatically different path from his farming roots.

From Settled Roots to a Life of Travel

The Roe family represented a typical American farming family of their era. Jerry's father Joel, along with his siblings, had gradually moved westward from Ohio to Indiana and finally to Missouri, following the pattern of many farming families seeking better land and opportunities. They were part of the great westward expansion, putting down roots and building communities wherever they settled.

Jerry's early years followed this traditional pattern. We first meet him as eight-year-old Josiah Roe in the 1870 census, living in Scott, Fayette County, Iowa, where his family worked the land. He was one of seven siblings, including Eugenia Ellen, Ross Ulysis, Lawson, Joel P., Sarah Angaline, and Susan Lucretia - all of whom maintained the settled farming lifestyle of their parents.

However, something changed for young Jerry. By 1880, at age 17, he had somehow made his way to Montgomery, Mississippi, where he appears simply as "J Row." This deviation from his family's typical migration patterns hints at a young man perhaps seeking something different from the farming life he knew.

A Cultural Crossroads

In 1883, using the name J J Roe, he married Rachel Mason in Livingston, Missouri. This marriage would prove to be a turning point, as Rachel came from a Romani Traveler family. The American Romani people of this era (historically known as Gypsies, though this term is now considered derogatory) maintained a distinct cultural identity and lifestyle that set them apart from the settled communities around them.

Romani Travelers in late 19th century America lived primarily in horse-drawn wagons, moving frequently between towns and cities. They often worked as horse traders, musicians, craftsmen, and fortune tellers. Their lifestyle was viewed with suspicion by settled communities, who often misunderstood their cultural traditions and nomadic way of life. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice, many Romani families maintained their traditional lifestyle well into the 20th century, preserving their unique culture and traditions.

Jerry's choice to marry into a Romani family and adopt their way of life was unusual for someone from his background. He left behind the stability of farming life for a nomadic existence that was often viewed with hostility by mainstream society. This decision would shape not only his own life but the lives of his children as well.

The Mystery of the Twin Cities

One of the most perplexing aspects of Jerry's story involves the births of his sons in 1898. According to official records, his son Pier was born on May 8, 1898, in Minnesota, while another son, Frank, was born just six months later on November 1, 1898, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. On Pier's birth record, Jerry appears as "Jothanan Joessirs Roe," while on Frank's, he's listed as "Jury J Roe." These records not only showcase his fluid identity but also highlight the family's highly mobile lifestyle.

The Reservation Years

By 1910, we find Jerry and his family living in Otoe, Noble, Oklahoma, where the census shows them residing on a reservation. This dramatic shift from their traveling life raises intriguing questions. The census lists Rachel as Native American, though DNA testing of descendants has shown no Native American heritage. This appears to have been an attempt to transition from one misunderstood and often persecuted lifestyle to another that might offer more stability and acceptance.

Several theories emerge about this change:

- Was Rachel ill, necessitating a more settled lifestyle?

- Their son Jay was known to have epilepsy later in life - was this already manifesting, requiring more stable living conditions?

- Were they facing increasing pressure from authorities or communities hostile to Romani Travelers?

- Did they see claiming Native American identity as a way to maintain some aspects of their nomadic lifestyle while gaining more legal protections?

The Final Disappearing Act

After Rachel's death in 1918, Jerry vanishes from the historical record. No death certificate has ever been found. He isn't buried alongside Rachel in Red Rock, Oklahoma. Did he return to the traveling life? Did he follow his eldest son Jesse to Colorado? Was he no longer welcome on the reservation after Rachel's death?

The 1910 census entry marks our last confirmed sighting of Jerry Roe. At age 49, working as a farmer, he could have lived for many more decades. Yet he disappears from our family's story as mysteriously as he once appeared in Mississippi as a young man.

The Questions That Remain

Jerry Roe's story leaves us with more questions than answers:

- What inspired a young man from a settled farming family to embrace the Romani Traveler lifestyle?

- How did his family react to his choice to join a community so different from their own? We know he maintained some family connections - his sister Eugenia "Jennie" Norton served as a witness on his son Pier's delayed birth certificate in 1942, suggesting the family bonds remained despite their different lifestyles.

- Why did the family suddenly abandon their nomadic ways for life on a reservation?

- Where did he go after Rachel's death in 1918?

- Did he maintain contact with his children in his later years?

- What became of him in his final years?

This is the kind of family mystery that keeps genealogists awake at night. Jerry's life represents a fascinating intersection of different American experiences - from settled farming to Romani traveling life to reservation living. Each answer we find seems to spawn new questions, and documents that should exist simply don't. Perhaps somewhere out there, under yet another variation of his name, lies the key to unlocking the final chapter of Jerry Roe's story.

Sources

1. 1870 U.S. Census, Scott, Fayette, Iowa, Roll: M593_391, Page: 151B Ancestry Record: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25140293 Shows: Josiah Roe (8) in Scott, Fayette, Iowa

2. 1880 U.S. Census, Montgomery, Mississippi, Roll: 658, Page: 360c, Enumeration District: 141Ancestry Record: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25140294 Shows: J Row (17) in Montgomery, Mississippi

3. Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO Ancestry Record: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25140289 Shows: Marriage of Rachael Mason to J J Roe on Jan 2, 1883

4. Minnesota Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980, FHL Film Number: 1673333 Shows: Birth of Pier Roe to Jothanan Joessirs Roe and Rachel Mason on May 8, 1898 

5. Iowa Birth Records, 1888-1904, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines Ancestry Record: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25140292 Shows: Birth of Frank Roe to Jury J Roe and Rachael Mason on Nov 1, 1898

6. 1910 U.S. Census, Otoe, Noble, Oklahoma, Roll: T624_1264, Page: 4a, ED: 0152 Ancestry Record: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25140290 Shows: Jerry Rae (49), Farmer, living on reservation

7. Family Tree Information for Joel R. Roe and Julia Ann Richardson family Shows: Jerry's siblings and family background

8. Delayed Birth Certificate for Pier Roe, 1942 Minnesota, County Birth Records, 1863-1983;  Minnesota, County Birth Records, 1863-1983; Faribault; Births, 1897-1898, vol. 6 Shows: Eugenia (Roe) Norton as witness

9. Historical Context:

- Smithsonian Magazine: "A Brief History of the Roma" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brief-history-roma-180975348/

- Library of Congress: "The Romani People in the United States" https://www.loc.gov/folklife/events/2016/roma-history-month/roma.html

- National Park Service: "American Roma (Gypsies)" https://www.nps.gov/ethnography/research/docs/webtext.htm