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Robert Lee Hyer 1862 – 1950

Family of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Georgia

The pioneer Hyer families found in Orlando directories, histories, and census records were direct descendants of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Georgia.

The 1860 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M653, Roll 133, Page 427) shows family of Thomas [Farr] Hyer age 42, wife Martha [Caroline Stewart] age 40, sons: W.S. [William Stewart] age 17, E.F. [Emory Few] age 15, Alex M [Alexander Means] age 13, Th [Thomas] Goodrich age 11, Edward H P [Henry Pringle] age 9, Joseph S age 7, Martha C [Caroline “Aunt Carrie”] age 5, Joseph O A age 1.

The 1870 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M593, Roll 168, Page 67) shows family of Martha C, Hyer, widow age 49, with children Thomas [Goodrich Hyer] age 20, Edward P [Henry Pringle] age 17, Joseph M [Michael] age 15, Carrie [Martha Caroline] age 12, and Robert L [Lee] age 8.

The 1880 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T9, Roll 160, ED 100, Sheet 94B, Page 2B) shoes the family of Martha C. Hyer age 59, daughter Carrie age 21, occupation: school teacher and son Robert Lee age 18, occupation: carpenter.

Thomas Farr Hyer Family Bible
Progeny Record of John Henry Hyer Charleston, S.C., Hatabel Hyer, 1971.

Offspring:
1. William Stewart Hyer
2. James Henry Spencer Hyer
3. Emory Few Hyer
4. Alexander Means Hyer [“Doc”]
5. Thomas Goodrich Hyer
6. Edward Pringle Hyer [“Pring”]
7. Joseph Michael Hyer
8. May Susannah Hyer
9. Martha Carolina Hyer [“Auntie”, “Carrie”]
10. James O. Andrew Hyer
11. Robert Lee Hyer [“R.L.”]

Hyer Families in Orlando

The Hyer brothers were Orlando pioneers. Property records at the Orange County Comptroller’s office show that Alexander Means Hyer and his wife Mattie Hyer were here as early as 1876 when they sold 80 acres in Orange County on March 3rd for $450 dollars; his brother E.P. Hyer acting as a witness. By all accounts the Hyers were upstanding citizens and members of the First Methodist church on Jackson Street or the First Presbyterian Church. That being said, the Saint James Cathedral 1885-1985 centennial publication identifies A. M. [Alexander Means] Hyer and E. P. [Edward Pringle] Hyers [sic] as benefactors who contributed to the construction of church in 1887. A.M. Hyer served as Orlando’s fourth mayor (1879-1880) and R.L. Hyer was active in city government, as well.

Robert Lee ” R.L., Bob” Hyer (10 Jan 1862-17 Feb 1950) and Henrietta “Hennie” Coleman Brown of Newton County, Georgia. Hennie was born in Sep 1864 and died 6  Sept 1905 in childbirth (Robert Lee Hyer, Jr.) R.L. married his second wife Mary Rinaldi (23 Dec 1871-15 Dec 1962) in 1906. Children: Mary Ruth (1891-1892); Lillian Hyer (22 Sep 1893-8 Jan 1911), Robert Lee Jr. (b. 6 Sep 1905 – d.16 Mar 1976).

The 1900 U.S. Census of Orlando, Orange County, Florida (NARA Series T623, Roll 175, ED 116, Page 22A, Sheet 12A) shows the family of Robert L Hyer residing on Jackson Street just down from his brother Edward and his brother Alexander’s family. The family includes Robert L age 37 born January 1863 in Georgia, occupation: stock dealer, owns his home free of mortgage, married 10 years to Henrietta age 35 born September 1864 in Georgia, 2 births / one child living; daughter Lillian age 7, born January 1893 in Florida.

Miller’s Orlando City Directory, February 1907 p.44, shows R. L. Hyer’s Livery Stable at 1 South Orange, residence at 110 East Jackson. Aunt Hennie Hyer wrote at least one letter on Hyer & Palmer Livery letterhead.

The 1910 U.S. Census of Orlando, Orange County, Florida (NARA Series T624, Roll 166, ED 110, Page 45B, Sheet 17B) shows the Hyer family residing at 106 South Street. (This seems wrong, as all other sources show the family residing on Jackson Street.) The household includes Robert L age 48, proprietor of a livery stable married three years to his second wife Mary R [Rinaldi] age 38; daughter Lillian age 16, and son Robert L age 4.

Letters written to Hatabel and Edna Hyer (daughters of Edward Pringle Hyer) from 1903-1905 show that Lillian Hyer suffered from a multitude of illnesses including scarlet fever and chronic ear infections that resulted in deafness. Lillian died from typhoid fever at the age of 17 in 1911 while visiting her uncle over the Christmas holidays in Ft. Valley, Georgia. Lillian’s obituary was published in the Orlando Report Star, 18 January 1911.

MISS HYER DIES OF FEVER.
A message was received here Monday morning from Mr. R. L. Hyer, who with Mrs. Hyer, was called to the bedside of their daughter, Miss Lillian, at Fort Valley, Ga., who had been seriously ill for several weeks, announcing her death last evening at 10 o’clock. Miss Hyer has been in attendance on a college at LaGrange [Georgia] for the past term, going to Fort Valley at the beginning of the Christmas holidays to be with her uncle and family during her vacation from school. Very soon after arriving at Fort Valley she was stricken with typhoid fever, her father being telegraphed for and has remained at her bedside since. Mrs. Hyer arrived only a few hours before her death.
The sorrowing parents will arrive from Georgia with the remains tomorrow afternoon at 3:20, over the A. C. L.* Undertaker Hand having been notified to meet that train, and arrangements for the funeral will be made later. Miss Lillian Hyer was a charming young lady, a fine Christian character and one of the most popular young ladies this city has possessed and will be greatly missed by her many friends and acquaintances. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the sorrowing parents who are bowed down with grief over the loss of this splendid daughter.

* Miller’s Orlando City Directory, February 1907, p.16, identifies A.C.L. as Atlantic Coast Line Railway. The passenger station was located at the corner of Church street and south Gertrude Avenue and the freight depot was at south Gertrude Avenue at the foot of Jackson Street. You can imagine Lillian’s father and step-mother accompanying her coffin back to Florida and standing on the platform as it was unloaded from the train.

The Orlando City Directory 1912, p.54, shows Mrs. R. L. Hyer residing at 105 E. Jackson Street; Robert L (Mary R), livery, 110 East Jackson Street, Phone 245.

The 1920 U.S. Census of Orlando, Orange County, Florida, shows the family of Robert Lee Hyer residing at 110 Jackson Street. Robert Lee age 58, occupation: vice president of bank, retired; wife Mary G [Graves Rinaldi] age 48, and son Robert L. Jr. age 14.

Robert Lee Hyer died 18 September 1950. There was no obituary but his passing was featured on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel.

Rites Arranged For Mr. Hyer
Funeral services for Mr. Robert Lee Hyer, 88, of 152 E., Jackson St., one of Orlando’s best known pioneer residents, will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of which he was an elder.
Dr. Marshall C. Dendy, pastor will officiate and interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The body will lie in state from 2 to 4 p.m. in the church.  Mr. Hyer, ill for several months died in a local hospital early Friday.
He was born in Covington, Ga., Jan. 10, 1862, the son of Thomas Farr Hyer and Martha Caroline Stewart. In the early 1870s Hyer and three brothers settled in Orlando. He engaged in the cattle business and owned the Southport Cattle Co. in Kissimmee until its sale after World War I.
He erected a stable where the Magruder Arcade is now located and in 1892 he bought the stable of Foster and Reel at the corner of Orange and Central, where the Yowell-Drew-Ivey Store now stands. He sold out about 1912 and went into the banking and real estate business.
He was vice president of the Orlando Bank and Trust Co. and president of the Church St. Bank. He also was a member of City Council, serving five terms from 1898 to 1910.
Mr. Hyer and W. M. Davis Sr. had extensive real estate holdings here, including the Hyer and Davis Bldg. which they bought early in the 1900’s. he owned a great amount of business property at the time of his death.
He was married twice, in 1889 to Hennie Brown of Covington, and, after her death, in 1906 to Mary Graves Rinaldi, who survives him, along with a son by his first wife, Robert Lee Hyer, Jr. of Frankfort, Ky.
Active pallbearers will be Joseph Guernsey, Sr., Chas G. Magrader, Ted Kissam, Donald Lee, W. M. Davis, Jr., Harold Carter of Ocala and Donald Walker.
Honorary pallbearers include W. M. Davis, Sr., Dan Raybon, S. Y. Way, B. E. Purcell, Herbert Smith, Eugene Schenker, and deacons and elders of the First Presbyterian Church.  Eliselstein Black Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

 

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Lillian Hyer Dies 1911

Published in the Reporter Star on Wednesday 18 January 1911. Lillian Hyer was the daughter of Robert Lee Hyer and Henrietta Hyer. R.L....

1915-16 Orlando City Directory - Hyers in Orlando

The 1915-1916 Orlando City Directory (p. 162) shows the adult Hyer family members living in Orlando. Miss Edna E [Ewing] Hyer, clerk at...

Hyer Family - 1930 Telephone Directory

1930-1931 Orlando, Florida Telephone Directory, including Sanford and Longwood, Winter-Spring Issue, p.27. The directory shows David B. Hyer archtiect...

Robert Lee Hyer Obituary 1950

Robert Lee Hyer died Friday 18 September 1950 in Orlando. There was nothing published under the DEATHS section in the Orlando Sentinel...

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Thomas Hyer Family - 1860 Census

Four Hyer brothers: Alexander Means, Edward Pringle, Joseph, and Robert Lee, came to Orlando as pioneers. Their parents were Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Newton County, Georgia.

The 1860 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M653, Roll 133, Page 427) shows family of Thomas [Farr] Hyer age 42, wife Martha [Caroline Stewart] age 40, sons: W.S. [William Stewart] age 17, E.F. [Emory Few] age 15, Alex M [Alexander Means] age 13, Th [Thomas] Goodrich age 11, Edward H P [Henry Pringle] age 9, Joseph S age 7, Martha C [Caroline "Aunt Carrie"] age 5, Joseph O A age 1.


Thomas Hyer Family -1870 Cenus

Four Hyer brothers came to Orlando as pioneers. They were sons of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Newton County, Georgia.

The 1870 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M593, Roll 168, Page 67) shows family of Martha C, Hyer, widow age 49, with children Thomas [Goodrich Hyer] age 20, Edward P [Henry Pringle] age 17, Joseph M [Michael] age 15, Carrie [Martha Caroline] age 12, and Robert L [Lee] age 8.


Robert Lee Hyer - Property Records

Property Records for Robert Lee Hyer on file at the Comptroller's Office Orange County, Florida


1887 Deed - Robert L. Hyer and

On the 9th of April 1887 Robert L. Hyer purchased property in Apopka from Luther and Emily Tilden for the sum of $100.

Property description: Lot number two in Block G of L F Tilden addition to the Town of Apopka a plat of which is on file in the clerks office at Orlando Florida Plat Book A, page 140.

Witnessed by Walter Sadler, Arthur Spier. Deputy Clerk D.T. Shine.


1892 Deed Cemetery Plot - Robert Lee Hyer

Mary Ruth Hyer, one year old daughter of Robert Lee Hyer and Hennie Coleman Brown Hyer died in January 1892, triggering the purchase of the cemetery plot described in this indenture dated 2 February 1892. The cemetery plot is located in Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando.

Names mentioned: Elijah Hand, Ingram Fletcher, L.P. Wescott, Bill Robinson, E. G. Sharpe, Orlando Cemetery


1905 Deed Robert Lee Hyer - George Stewart

Property Description: East half of the southwest quarter, southwest quarter of southeast quarter, section twenty-five, northwest quarter of northeast quarter and northeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section thirty-six all in Township twenty-three South of Range twenty-eight East.

This deed is made for the purpose of correcting a deed made the 14th day of November 1904, by R. L. Hyer and his wife, Hennie C. Hyer to George T. Stewart ...


1903 Purchase Robert Lee Hyer and Jerome Palmer

Property purchased for $5000 on 21 February 1903: Beginning at a point one hundred fifty seven and nine tenths feet North of the Southwest corner of Block twenty seven of R. R. Reid's Addition to the Town of Orlando according to the plat of said addition filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Orange County aforesaid, and running thence North ninety feet, thence East one hundred and sixty six and seventy one one hundredths feet, thence South one hundred and fifty feet, thence West forty nine and seventy one one hundredths feet, thence West one hundred and seventeen feet to the place of beginning.

And also beginning ninety seven and one half feet North and twelve feet West of the Southeast corner of lot three of Block twenty seven aforesaid and running thence North two and one half feet to corner of the foregoing tract thence West fifty feet, t hence South two and one half feet, thence East fifty feet to the place of beginning.

And also beginning two hundred and forty seven and nineteen feet North of the Southwest corner of Block twenty seven aforesaid, and running thence North seven feet, thence one hundred and seventeen feet, thence South two and one half feet, thence East fifty feet, thence South four and one half feet and thence West one hundred and sixty seven feet to the place of beginning. See book 116 page 99.


Indenture 1903 Robert Lee Hyer and Jerome Palmer
No description has been added yet
1880 Census - Hyer Family Covington Georgia

The 1880 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T9, Roll 160, ED 100, Sheet 94B, Page 2B) shoes the family of Martha C. Hyer age 59, daughter Carrie age 21, occupation: school teacher and son Robert Lee age 18, occupation: carpenter.


1900 Census - Robert Lee Hyer

The 1900 U.S. Census of Orlando, Orange County, Florida (NARA Series T623, Roll 175, ED 116, Page 22A, Sheet 12A) shows the family of Robert L Hyer residing on Jackson Street just down from his brother Edward and his brother Alexander's family. The family includes Robert L age 37 born January 1863 in Georgia, occupation: stock dealer, owns his home free of mortgage, married 10 years to Henrietta age 35 born September 1864 in Georgia, 2 births / one child living; daughter Lillian age 7, born January 1893 in Florida.


1904 Indenture Sheriff Vick and Robert Lee Hyer

Property purchased by Robert Lee Hyer in a Sheriff's Sale as a result of a law suit brought by Margaret Logan against Nat Poyntz.


1910 Census - Robert L. Hyer

The 1910 U.S. Census of Orlando, Orange County, Florida (NARA Series T624, Roll 166, ED 110, Page 45B, Sheet 17B) shows the Robert Lee Hyer family residing at 106 South Street. (This seems wrong, as all other sources show the family residing on Jackson Street.) The household includes Robert L age 48, proprietor of a livery stable married three years to his second wife Mary R [Rinaldi] age 38; daughter Lillian age 16, and son Robert L age 4.


1911 Deed Robert Lee Hyer to Braxton Beacham

For the amount of $1000 the following property was conveyed to Braxton Beacham and Nannie Giles: beginning at a point One Hundred and Fifty seven and nine tenths feet North of the Southwest corner of Block 27 of R. R. Reid's Addition to the Town of Orlando, according to the plat of said Addition filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Orange County aforesaid; and thence running North Ninety feet to Central Avenue; thence East Ninety feet to a Ten foot alley hereby created; thence South along with West side of said alley Ninety feet; thence West Ninety feet to the place of beginning; and being a part of the property conveyed to the said R. L. Hyer and Jerome Palmer by deed recorded in Deed Book 116 at page 101, and there is conveyed by this deed all the frontage on Orange Avenue now owned by said parties of the first part.

And in consideration aforesaid the said parties of the first part hereby agree to establish an alley ten feet wide on the east side of the lot hereby conveyed and running south from its northeast corner the full length of said lot, said alley to be for the exclusive use and benefit of the property hereby conveyed on the west side of said alley and for the property on the east side of said alley hereby reserved by said parties of the first part.


1920 Census - Robert Lee Hyer

 The 1920 U.S. Census of Orlando, Orange County, Florida, shows the family of Robert Lee Hyer residing at 110 Jackson Street. Robert Lee age 58, occupation: vice president of bank, retired; wife Mary G [Graves Rinaldi] age 48, and son Robert L. Jr. age 14.

 


1940 Deed Robert Lee Hyer to Laulie Hyer

Indenture between Robert Lee Hyer and Mary Graves Rinaldi Hyer (Robert's 2nd wife) and Laulie Hyer of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. Property is described as Lot Six of Golden Oak Lake Lots according to plat thereof recorded in Plat Book "J" page 112 of the Public Records of Orange County, Florida.

The document is witnessed by Ruth Worsham - daughter of Robert Lee Hyer's deceased sister Martha Caroline "Auntie" "Carrie" Hyer Worshm and Anne Harris.


1947 Deed Robert Lee Hyer and Ruth Worsham

On 29 April 1947 Robert Lee Hyer and Mary Rinaldi Hyer granted to their niece Ruth Worsham - daughter of Robert's deceased sister Martha Caroline "Carrie" Hyer Worsham, an undivided one half interest in the following property:
Begin one hundred and twenty feet north of the north west corner of Church street and Orange Avenue in the City of Orlando and run North thirty one feet, thence west eighty two and one half feet, thence South one foot, thence West one half foot, thence South thirty feet, thence East eight three feet to place of beginning, being part of Lots one and eleven of block thirty eight of R.R. Reids addition to Orlando as recorded in Plat Book "C" page 63 of the Public Records of Orange County, Florida. Witnessed by Margy V. Clay notary.


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