Skip to content
DDerry Family Archive
Racer Line — West Virginia

Robert Racer

? – ?

Needs research
Kyle DerryDebra L. Philo DerryIna Mae Racer PhiloRobert Racer

Life

Robert Racer is your great-great-grandfather on your mother's side, and the father of Ina Mae (Racer) Philo. Ina Mae grew up in West Virginia, placing Robert's household there. A Joseph L. Racer was found in West Virginia (his son Theodore was born there in 1894 in Kanawha County), who may be Robert's brother or close relative. The Racer surname is an Americanized form of the German Rauser (also Raucer), from Old High German "hrauso" meaning "daring and energetic." The Racer/Rasor/Rauser cluster was concentrated in Ohio in 1840 (44% of US Racers), suggesting German immigrant forebears who likely traveled the Great Wagon Road south through Virginia into what became West Virginia. Robert and Haddie Albaugh likely met and married in West Virginia before eventually moving to Michigan — a common migration pattern driven by industrial and automotive jobs in the early 1900s.

Timeline

  1. —
    Birth/DeathUnknown — research needed

Claims in the record

Ina Mae Racer — grew up in West Virginia
Haddie Albaugh (German-descended)
West Virginia → Michigan
Joseph L. Racer (Kanawha Co., WV) — Theodore Racer b. 1894 WV
German: Rauser → Rasor → Racer (Americanized)
Old High German "hrauso" = daring and energetic
44% of US Racers in Ohio in 1840; WV had strong German settler presence
Unknown — research needed

Research next

Search West Virginia census records (1880–1910) for 'Robert Racer' — particularly Kanawha, Raleigh, Fayette, or Pendleton/Hardy counties where German families settled. Theodore Racer (b. 1894 WV, son of Joseph L. Racer) may be Robert's brother — this is a strong research lead. A WV marriage record for Robert Racer + Haddie Albaugh would be the key document.