Robert Hosley Samples (1920 - 2007)

Born 18 Oct 1920 in Champaign, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 21 Jan 2007 at age 86 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Biography

Robert Samples is a part of US Black heritage.

Robert "Bob" Samples was a "trailblazer, community leader and frequent award recipient who worked tirelessly for interracial harmony and provided extensive leadership in the arts community in the Twin Cities and statewide".^[1]

Robert was born in 1920 in Champaign, Illinois. He was the son of Robert Samples and Nettie Dye.

In 1940 he was living with his mother and stepfather, Thomas Cole, in Waterloo, Iowa.^[2]

In 1942 when he registered for the World War II draft he was living in Waterloo, Iowa where he was a student.^[3]

Robert served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. After the war he married Mary Jane Saunders in 1945. ^[4] Robert and his family were the first African-Americans to live in the city of Richfield, Minnesota in the 1940s.

In 1970 Robert co-founded the Shoestring Playhouse, which "was the first in the Twin Cities to regularly produce shows by black playwrights and cast shows without regard to race."^[1]

He passed away in 2007 in Minneapolis.^[5] He was buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Fort Snelling, Minnesota.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Obituary: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
   The Courier; Publication Date: 4 Feb 2007; Publication Place: Waterloo, Iowa, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/359622247/?article=8aeb4063-d5fb-485b-940e-db83bd7d4e51&focus=0.64794475,0.48706183,0.9538595,0.6494024&xid=3355
   Ancestry Record 61843 #639996596 (accessed 15 August 2023)
   Name: Robert H. Samples; Gender: Male; Death Age: 86; Birth Date: abt 1921; Residence Place: Waterloo; Death Date: 21 Jan 2007; Obituary Date: 4 Feb 2007; Obituary Place: Waterloo, Iowa, USA; Newspaper Title: The Courier.
2. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa; Roll: m-t0627-01140; Page: 24A; Enumeration District: 7-37
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #117684578 (accessed 15 August 2023)
   Robert S Sampler (19), single stepson (step son), in household of Thomas Cole (35) in Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa. Born in Illinois.
3. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
   National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Iowa, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 434
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #38566315 (accessed 15 August 2023)
   Name: Robert Hosley Samples; Gender: Male; Race: Negro (Black); Age: 21; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 18 Oct 1920; Birth Place: Champaign, Illinois; Residence Place: Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, USA; Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942; Registration Place: Iowa, USA; Employer: Student; Height: 5 9; Weight: 160; Complexion: Light Brown; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Brown; Next of Kin: Netta A Cole;
   Household Members (Name) Relationship:
   Robert Hosley Samples Self (Head).
4. ↑ Marriage: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-current"
   Iowa City Press-Citizen; Publication Date: 6/ Mar/ 1945; Publication Place: Iowa City, Iowa, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/363265887/?article=78293bc7-54be-4b4e-a7f8-7187169d0785&focus=0.010403092,0.51361865,0.1282623,0.7152377&xid=3398
   Ancestry Record 62116 #100396733 (accessed 15 August 2023)
   Sgt Robert H Samples marriage to Mary Jane Saunders on 6 Mar 1945.
5. ↑ Death: Free View of Clipping "Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017"
   Minnesota Department of Health; St Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2017; Certificate Number: 2007-Mn-001996
   Ancestry Record 7316 #3381596 (accessed 15 August 2023)
   Robert Hosley Samples death 21 Jan 2007 (born 18 Oct 1920), son of Robert Samples & Nellie Dye, in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA, mother's maiden name Dye.
6. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
   Original data: Find a Grave. Find a Grave®. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #67152839
   Ancestry Record 60525 #43300630 (accessed 15 August 2023)
   Robert H Samples burial (died on 21 Jan 2007) in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States of America.