Life History

Notes

• Thomas J Shelton is a widower in 1900, living in Caroline Township of Lonoke County, Arkansas.  He and his several children are in the town of Austin Station.  They are living two doors away form Edwin Padgett, also a widower, and his two daughters Mollie and Minnie.  1900 Federal Census, Lonoke County, Arkansas, 5 June. Caroline Township, District 77, page 2B, Austin Station, Hse #38, Fam #39 Shelton, Thomas J Head W M Feb 1851  49 Widowed TN TN TN Farmer Shelton, Bertha Dau W F July 1883  16 AR TN TN Shelton, Alice M Dau W M Nov 1885  14 AR TN TN Shelton, Vera Dau W M June 1890  9 AR TN IN Shelton, Louis T Son W M Sept 1892  7 AR TN IN Shelton, Marnie (?) Dau W M Apr 1897  3 AR TN IN Shelton, Lucy Dau W M Dec 1898  1 AR TN IN  In just a short time after the 1900 census, Thomas married Minnie.  By 1910 Minnie has three children.  At census time they are living in Ward Township, though not in the town of Ward.  The 1910 census reports they have been married 10 years already, but they had to have married after June 1900, when Minnie was reported as 25 years old and single, living in her father's house.  The 1910 census was taken in May, less than ten years later.  Notice that the birthplace of the mother of Vera, Louis, Marnie and Lucy is Indiana, while that of the mother of Bertha and Alice is Tennessee.  This is so consistent, it seems to indicate that Thomas had had two previous wives.  In 1910, the only children still in the home are those again reported with a mother born in Indiana.  1910 Federal Census, Lonoke County, Arkansas, 3 May, Ward Township, District 137, page 15A-B, Hse #269, Fam #275 Shelton, Thomas J Head M W 59 2nd Marriage Married 10 years TN TN TN Farmer Shelton, Minnie O  Wife F W 35 1st Marriage Married 10 years AR NC NC Shelton, Louis T Son M W 17 AR TN IN Shelton, Minnie Dau M W 13 AR TN IN Shelton, Lucy Dau M W 11 AR TN IN Shelton, Ada Dau M W 9 AR TN AR [Minnie's child] Shelton, Helen Dau M W 2 AR TN AR [Minnie's child] Shelton, Walter E Son M W 5 months AR TN AR [Minnie's child]  I could not find this family in any 1920 census.  The 1930 census information follows.  1930 Federal Census, Lonoke County, Arkansas, 8 April, Ward Township, District 38, page 4A, Kuckelbur [sic] Rd, Hse/Fam #65 Shelton, Thomas J  Head M W 79 1st Married at age 21 TN TN TN Farmer Shelton, Minnie  Wife F W 55 1st Married at age 26 AR NC NC Shelton, Morris Son M W 14 AR TN AR Shelton, Odean dau F W 12 AR TN AR

Sources

• 1. 1910 Federal Census, Lonoke County, Arkansas
  • 3 May, Ward Township, District 137, page 15A-B, Hse #269, Fam #275
• 2. Hamrick Data Pages
• 3. 1900 Federal Census, Lonoke County, Arkansas
  • 5 June. Caroline Township, District 77, page 2B, Austin Station, Hse #38, Fam #39
• 4. 1930 Federal Census, Lonoke County, Arkansas
  • 8 April, Ward Township, District 38, page 4A, Kuckelbur [sic] Rd, Hse/Fam #65
• 5. Hamrick Data Pages
  • http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~Hamrick/wga81.html