Life History

Notes

• 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 1 June, DeWitt, District 1, Page 2A, House #24, Family #26
  LaCotts, John Head W M Apr 1871 29 Married 4 yrs [marr abt 1896] AR Delaware SC [No Occup Stated]
  LaCotts, India Wife W F Aug 1875  24 Married 4 yrs 1 child/1 living AR TN AR
  LaCotts, Clarence Son W F May 1894 6 Single AR AR AR
  LaCotts, Cecil Son W M June 1896  3 Single AR AR AR
  
  Some sources have the surname as Lacott.  Three undocumented genealogies appear to be presenting information from family sources, with full names and dates.  Clarence's date of death is reported as 15 Nov 1920.  In these trees the name is Lacotts.  It appears that way in Clarence's marriage record also.  Note below also that he signed it as LaCotts in his WWI registration.  It is also spelled in the French way LaCottes in his son's listing in the Little Rock City Directory in 1923.  John's son Clarence signed his name as LaCotts.  This is how it appears on most records.
  
  Sometiems on these Index-only recors, the problem is in the transcription.  Ancestry.com ignores all caps after the first letter, so, for instance all Irish and Scottish names show up with no capitalization in their transcriptions; ex Mcswain instead of McSwain, the correct form.
  
  Age reports for Clarence and others in Arkansas County in this era are all over the place.  Note that in the 1900 census, his age was reported as 6, with a birth date of 1894.  But in his marriage record in 1913, he reported his age as 22, which would make birth in about 1891.  This does match his reported birth date of 17 February 1891, reported in his WWI Draft registration.  One wonders how the enumerator got his age as 6 (then figured his birth date back to the year 1894) when he was already 9 years old in 1900!
  
  In the 1910 census, Clarence and his young sister Ruth are living with their grandmother.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 15 April, DeWitt, District 9, Page 4A, Hse/Fam #51
  Lacotts, Mrs Bettie Head F W 63 Widow 7 Children/4 Living MS VA AL No Occup [b abt 1847]
  Travis, Ralph Grandson M W 5 Single AR KY AR Farmer Owns [b abt 1905]
  Travis, Johnie Dau F W 3 Single AR KY AR [b abt 1907]
  Travis, Elizabeth Granddau 1yr4mos F W  Single AR KY AR [b abt Nov 1908]
  Lacotts, Clarence Grandson M W 19 Single AR AR AR Farmer Owns [b abt 1891]
  Lacotts, Ruth V Granddau F W 9 Single AR AR AR [b abt 1901]
  
  In 1913, Clarence married Esther Downing.
  
  Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
  Clarence E La Cotts
  Age 22, Birth Year abt 1891
  Residence DeWitt, Arkansas, Arkansas
  Spouse's Name Esther Downing
  Spouse's Age 18
  Spouse's Residence DeWitt, Arkansas, Arkansas
  Marriage 27 Sep 1913 Arkansas County
  Marriage License Date 27 Sep 1913
  
  U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  Clarence Elmer LaCotts
  Residence Almyra, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Birth Date 17 Feb 1891 Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Farmer, near Dewitt, Arkansas
  Has wife and child
  Tall, Slender Gray Eyes, Brown Hair
  Registered 5 June 1917 LaGrue Precinct, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Signed Clarence Elmer LaCotts
  
  The 1920 census reported that their household included Esther's widowed father and three brothers.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 February, DeWitt, District 12, page 14A, North Union St, Hse #297, Fam #311
  LaCotts, Clarence E Head Rents F W 27 Married AR AR AR Cattle Buyer [b abt 1892]
  LaCotts, Ester Wife F W 22 Married MO MO MO [b abt 1897]
  LaCotts, Clarence E Son M W 5 Single AR AR MO [b abt 1914]
  Downing, Matthew Father-in-law M W 67 Widow MO OH OH [b abt 1852]
  Downing, Binam F Brother-in-law M W 22 Single MO MO MO Well rig laborer [b abt 1897]
  Downing, Arch B Brother-in-law M W 39 Single MO MO MO Dray Laborer [b abt 1880]
  Downing, Earl Brother-in-law  M W 26 Single MO MO MO Dray Laborer, Public Works [b abt 1893]
  
  They were reported in LIttle Rock's City Directory in 1923.
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989
  Little Rock, Arkansas, City Directory, 1923, p 296
  Lacottes Clarence E (Esther) emp Gunnels Riley Co h 999 Rock
  
  The were reported in the directories for 1926, 1929 and 1930.
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989
  Little Rock, Arkansas, City Directory, 1926, p 325
  Lacottes Clarence A [sic] (Esther) slsmn h 705 E 14th
  Lacottes Lucenia (wid John) h 705 E 14th
  
  In 1929, Esther is reported running a beauty parlor.  In 1926 and 1929, the widow of a John LaCotts was also reported in Little Rock.  Her name was Lucenia in the 1926 directory and Bettie in 1929.  Bettie is a common nickname for Elizabeth.  It seems likely her name was Lucenia Elizabeth.  The 1910 census clarifies the identity of Lucenia/Bettie, reporting that Clarence is her grandson.  This means she is John Azari LaCotts' mother, and his father's name was also John.  John Jr, Clarence's father, lived until 1942.
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989
  Little Rock, Arkansas, City Directory, 1929, p 321
  Lacottes Bettie (wid John) r 4223 W 3rd
  Lacottes Clarence E (Esther) slsmn h 400 Spruce
  Lacottes Esther Mrs Beauty Parlor 400 Spruce r ditto
  
  They were still in Little Rock for the 1930 census and city directory.  Clarence was working with an electric company there.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Pulaski County, Arkansas, 15 April, L:ittle Rock Ward 5, District 60-26, page 9B, 2025 Lloyd Ct, Hse #191, Fam #206
  La Cotts, Clarence E Head Owns $9000 M W 37 First Married at age 21 AR AR AR salesman, Jiffy Elec Co [b abt 1893]
  La Cotts, Esther Wife F W 32 First Married at age 16 MO MO MO [b abt 1898]
  La Cotts, Elmer Son M W 16 AR AR MO [b abt 1914]
  La Cotts, Bobby Son M W 7 AR AR MO [b abt May 1923]
  
  Clarence died in 1936.  In the 1940 census, Esther is the head of household, with their son Bobby in the home.  Their son Clarence Elmer (reported as Elmer) is living next door with his family.
  
  Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
  Clarence E Lacotts
  Death 5 Aug 1936 Pulaski County
  Roll #19341940, Page 2013
  
  Clarence E. LaCotts
  Birth Feb 17, 1891
  Death Aug 5, 1936
  Parents:
  John A. LaCotts (1868 - 1942)
  Nora E. LaCotts (1870 - 1892)
  Siblings:
  Clarence E. LaCotts (1891 - 1936)
  Cecil A. LaCotts (1897 - 1920) Half-sibling
  Vivian Ruth LaCotts (1900 - 1987) Half-sibling
  Burial De Witt Cemetery, De Witt, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Created by Jerry Grisham Jul 26, 2012
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #94210239, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=94210239&ref=acom&ftm=1

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 1 June, DeWitt, District 1, Page 2A, House #24, Family #26
• 2. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 3. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. 1930 Federal Census, Pulaski County, Arkansas
  • 15 April, L:ittle Rock Ward 5, District 60-26, page 9B, 2025 Lloyd Ct, Hse #191, Fam #206
• 6. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 4 February, DeWitt, District 12, page 14A, North Union St, Hse #297, Fam #311
• 7. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 15 April, DeWitt, District 9, Page 4A, Hse/Fam #51
• 8. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Little Rock, Arkansas, City Directory, 1923, p 296
• 9. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
• 10. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Little Rock, Arkansas, City Directory, 1926, p 325
• 11. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Little Rock, Arkansas, City Directory, 1929, p 321
• 12. 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 6 April, DeWitt, District 1-16 Page 6A, Hse #158 Owns $2000
• 13. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 14. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
• 15. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010