Bam Washington Cloer

     Bam Washington Cloer was born illegitimate on 3 June 1874 at Iredell Co, North Carolina.^1,2 He was the son of M. Whitfield Cornelius and Sarah Martha Cloer.¹ Bam Washington Cloer married Carrie Bell Harris Myers, daughter of Hence E. Myers and Hannah Harris, circa 1903 at North Carolina.^3,1 Bam Washington Cloer died on 11 June 1944 at Concord Twp, Iredell Co, North Carolina, at age 70.¹ He was buried on 13 June 1944 at Trinity Methodist Church, Statesville, Iredell Co, North Carolina; His obituary was printed in The Landmark on Monday, June 12, 1944 although written as "Ben W. Cloer", saying he was a "retired farmer of the Trinity church community...died at his home north of Statesville. Mr. Cloer had been in declining health since June, 1941, when he had to undergo an operation for amputation of a limb. He had suffered from complications, and had been confined to bed for some time."
"Surviving are his wife, the former Miss Carrie Myers; a sister, Mrs. C.W. Jenkins, of Statesville, and a number of nieces and nephews." Funeral arrangements were made by Johnson Funeral Home and the service was held at the Trinity Methodist Church.¹
     He appeared on the census of 21 June 1900 at Concord Twp, Iredell Co, North Carolina; Balm Cloer was single, 25, and living with his mother, Sarah Martha Cloer, 53, and his grandmother, Lavina Byers Cloer, 73. Lavina had mothered 10 children, 8 of whom were still living.⁴ He appeared on the census of 29 April 1910 at Concord Twp, Iredell Co, North Carolina; Bammer W. Cloer, 33, Carrie B., 20, married 7 years. Sarah M. Cloer, his mother was living with them.³ On 12 September 1918.² He appeared on the census of 8 January 1920 at Concord Twp, Iredell Co, North Carolina; Bam W. Cloer, 44, was married and living with his wife and Carrie, 28, and his mother, Martha S., 69. This census also stated that all three members of the family could read and write.⁵ The only indication as to Bam Washington Cloer's father comes from his death certificate filed with Iredell County. The informant was his wife, Carrie Myers.¹