Individual Details

Arkansas Birth Certificate, #1140
Joseph Leroy Chamberlain III, born Ft Smith, Sebastian County, 2 March 1918, 8 pm. Father: Joseph Leroy Chamberlain Jr, age 21, born Chicago, IL, Frisco Round House Yard Employee. Mother, Maurine Dixon, age 16, b. Vincennes, Indiana.

Joe's Birth mother was Maureen Dixon. Born 10 Mar 1901; died Jun 1987. Married name was Redmond at the time of her death although she was married at least three times. She called one of husbands "Jonesy" in 1925 - she lived in Newark, Ohio then. Maureen was a friend of Joe's older sisters; she had him at age 16. Joe was very sickly, not expected to live and the father had deserted the family. The McKim's agreed to raise him if they could adopt. That was done. Adoption was kept secret until Joe found his adoption papers as a teenager. He was very distraught and ran away - to Maureen. She had kept in touch with the family and Joe had visited her, believing she was a friend of his sisters. I believe Maureen sent him back - I know that he reconciled with his adoptive parents.

Child, Joseph Chamberlain, Jr. aged 1 year and 10 months. Mother Maurine Dickson lived in the city of Fort Smith and consented to adoption. Father is Joseph Chamberlain, Sr., whereabouts unknown. George Rye and Espy O'Neal testified.
Certified copy obtained 14 Apr 1942. Adoption from Book K, p.280
Arkansas adoption papers can be obtained only with a court order - obviously at some point, Joe had done so, as the papers were in my mother's files.

Social Security Application dated 6 Feb 1940 for Maurine gives her name as Alice Maurine Dixon Jones, born March 11, 1902 in Vincennes, IN. Living at 9 Court St, Ft. Smith AR. Father Frank E. Dixon; mother Mattie B. Smith. She was unemployed at the time.

Joe's birth father was Joseph Chamberlain who may have gone to Canada, or come from Canada [later research suggests Joseph Chamberlain's father may have been the one from Canada]. Said to be a member of the British Chamberlains - black sheep of family or descended from one - but I've not found anything to support this story. According to tradition, Chamberlain went off to war (World War I) and never contacted Maureen again. Copy of Joe's Birth Certificate in JoEllen's safe deposit box gives Joseph Leroy Chamberlain, Jr. as father, age 21; born Chicago, Illinois; occupation Frisco RailRoad. Certificate gives Maureen's place of birth as Vincennes, Indiana. Joe's name on Certificate is Joseph Leroy Chamberlain III. I have found a Joseph Leroy Chamberlain who registered for the draft in Ft. Smith AR, in September of 1917 - he was at that time married and I found the marriage record to Maureen Dixon, in Crawford Co, AR, across the river from Ft. Smith.

The Standard-Sentinel, Stilwell, OK, 24 Sep 1937, Friday, p.1
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Eugene McKim, 21, Westville and Marie Christensen, 19, Tulsa

1940 Census. Ft. Smith, Sebastian Co, AR, Upper Township, Sheet 67A, Hh 728
Renting at 410 N 12th St for $20 per month
Joe Eugene McKim, age 22, 1 year of college, b. AR, lived in Fayetteville, AR in 1935. Working as a salesman at a Retail Tire & Supply Co.
Irene Marie, wife, age 19, 4 years of High School, b. Oklahoma, lived in Springdale, AR in 1935, working as a Saleslady in a Department store.

16 Oct 1940. World War II Draft Registration.
Joseph Eugene McKim, Rt. 1, Fayetteville, Washington Co AR, Age 22, born 2 Mar 1918, Fort Smith, AR. His mother, Mrs. Ida Marie McKim will always known his address. His employer was Mr. C. N. Dodd, Oklahoma Tire & Supply Company on East St, Fayetteville. He signed as "Eugene McKim". He was 5' 8 1/2" tall, 135 #'s with blue eyes, blonde hair, light complexion.

Joe was called Eugene when he was growing up; family nickname was "Nookie". He served in World War II in the Seabees and the Navy.
Notice of Separation from US Naval Service: Enlisted 13 Oct 1943. Discharged 15 Mar 1946; served 2 years, 5 months, 3 days. Rank: Storekeeper Aviation First Class; Serial #8446368. Gave his permanent address and address at time of entry into service as Tulsa, OK. Had worked at LongBell Lumber Co in Tulsa from Mar 1939 to Sep 1943 as Accounting Clerk.

Divorce petition from Marie asked for $25 per month child support for daughter Sandra Maurine. Jo Ellen stated Joe refused to pay. For whatever reason he never paid anything toward the support of the child, although she was named for his mother.

Joe and JoEllen married Sept 28, 1946, Joe's divorce from his first wife became final on that day and could no longer be contested. Joe McKim legally adopted JoEllen's daughter by her first marriage, Karen Kay Adamson, and had her surname changed to McKim.

Many years later when Kay was about 17, Joe received a letter from first wife Marie asking that he sign papers, relinquishing parent's rights, so that his daughter Sandra could be adopted by her stepfather, Holland Jones, a minister. They were going abroad for a year and she wanted her passport to have her stepfather's name, as she had always gone by Jones.

Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, 4 apr 1953
Rogers Firm Files for Incorporation
Rogers - Articles of incorporation of the Blu-Flame Gas Company, Inc., were filed Wednesday in the Benton County Clerk's office.
Incorporators of the firm are Joe E. McKim of springdale, Robert L. Remy of Booneville, Joe J. Shackelford, Bentonville, and James Earl Fitzgerald of springdale.

Wife, Jo Ellen McKim, applied for his military marker, 2 Nov 1979 - to be delivered to Sisco Funeral Chapel, Charles C. Farmer, for placement in Friendship Cemetery. Joseph E. McKim was Storekeeper, First Class, US Navy. Born 1918, died 1979. Entered service 10 Oct 1943; discharged 15 March 1946.

Birth	2 Mar 1918	Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Adoption	23 Oct 1919	Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Marriage	14 Sep 1937	Stilwell, Adair County, Oklahoma - Irene Marie Christensen
Military	13 Oct 1943	Storekeeper Aviation First Class, World War II (Navy)
Divorce	26 Mar 1946	Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma - Irene Marie Christensen
Marriage	28 Sep 1946	Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas - JOSIE ELLEN COMSTOCK
Death	1 Oct 1979	Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Burial		Friendship Cemetery, Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas

Spouse	JOSIE ELLEN COMSTOCK (1916 - 2008)
Child	KAREN KAY Adamson [Adopted name McKIM] (1940 - )
Child	Living
Child	Living

Spouse	Irene Marie Christensen (1920 - 2008)
Child	Sandra Maureen "Sandy" [McKim] Jones (1943 - )

Father	Harry Allen Paul McKim (1867 - 1946)
Mother	Mary Ida Schniebs (1878 - 1964)
Sibling	Laura Emily Mildred "Mimi" McKim (1899 - 1986)
Sibling	Gladys "Didi" McKim (1901 - 1991)

Father	Joseph Leroy Chamberlain II (1896 - 1967)
Mother	Alice Maurine Dixon (1901 - 1987)