Claude (Claud) Neer

Claude was the son of Oliver Lee Neer and Ida Jane Johnson.

Claude Neer: This spelling according to the 1920 census, his World War I draft registration card and his appearance in the California Death Index.

Claud: Entries in Lee Neer's diary appearing to refer to "Claud" are in fact references to a man named "Cloud". Claude Neer is not attested as Claud in the diaries, but does appear as Claud in various newspaper articles related to him and his family.

His birth: His birth date is given in his World War I draft registration card. But is the place given therein, Denver, accurate? The 1920 census gives it as Wyoming, as does his death certificate, which is sequentially more likely; see his father's entry. His death certificate gives his birth date as October 5, 1883.

1908: The Bisbee Daily Review (October 25, 1908) reports Claude Neer owning claims in Sylvanite, New Mexico, with I. W. Fredmore and associates, and "Oversight and Nederland." Sylvanite went through a brief boom from February of 1908 to June of 1909 with a tent camp of miners searching for a purported gold lode that was never found.

1920: He appears in the 1920 census with his daughter Agnes Neer and his wife Belle in Denver, his birth-place given as Wyoming and his occupation listed as an engineer.

1925: Claude moved to Los Angeles with Belle and Agnes and died of appendicitis. Belle is at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles, but Peggy was unable to find Claude. His death certificate indicates that he was to be removed to Douglas, Arizona. That certificate gives his occupation as engineer and his address as 576 North New Hampshire. He was hospitalized on August 5 and died on August 7.

The December 20, 1925 Douglas Dispatch article on Agnes Neer says that she is home to see her parents, incorrectly implying that Claude is still alive. The article gives Claude's address as 1119 Eleventh Street, identical to Lee Neer's address listed on the same page.

A mining book inscribed "C. Neer" is in my possession, from Peggy.