Life History

Notes

• As with many cases, there is a discrepancy on the year of birth.  The 1900 census, which is often one year off, reports the year of birth as 1890  But the month there is October, while other sources report November.  The Social Security and California death records report his birth as 10 November 1890, while on his WWI Draft Registration card, Thomas reported his birth date as 10 November 1891.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 9 June, Precinct 3, District 22, page 8B,  Hse/Fam #135
  Christian, George D [should be B for Bartley] Head  W M July 1853 46 Married 22 years MS England Ala Farmer Owns
  Christian, Mary Wife W F Apr 1863 37 Married 22 yrs 9 children/8 living GA GA GA
  Christian, Howard Son W M Mch 1880 20 Single Farm Laborer TX MS GA
  Christian, Clyde Son W M Dec 1886 13 Single Farm Laborer TX MS GA
  Christian, Carl Son W M Oct 1888 11 At School TX MS GA
  Christian, Thomas Son W M Oct 1890 9 TX MS GA
  Christian, Reuben Son W M Sept 1892 7 TX MS GA
  Christian, Siver [Liver? name is Ruby Lee] Dau W F May 1895  5 Single TX MS GA
  Christian, John Son W M June 1899  1 Single TX MS GA
  
  Thomas married Nora Evelyn Rhodes in 1909.
  
  Christian-Rhodes Family Bible
  Marriage Record
  J Thomas Christian
  Nora Rhodes
  Holy Matrimony at
  Hawley [Jones County], Texas
  15 Dec 1909
  In the presence of John Rhodes and Mary Moore
  By M L Story, Ordained Minister
  
  The Family Bible reports the birth dates and places of all their chidlren.  This registere relfects a great pattern of frequenbt movement between Jones County, int eh high plains, near Abilene, and Woodsboro, on the Gulf of Mexico, even two to three years between 1913 and 1932, when they moved to Arizona.
  
  ---------------
  Christian-Rhodes Family Bible Birth Registry 1
  Herbert Voy Christian
  Born Nov 7, 1910 Hawley, Texas
  Married Dorothy Gage
  
  Alma Inez Christian
  Born Jan 26, 1912 Hawley, Texas
  Married Porter Gardner
  
  Joseph Bartley Christian
  Born Mar 17, 1913 Hawley, Texas
  
  Melvin William Christian
  Born Apr 5, 1916 Woodboro, Texas
  
  Virgil Ernest Christian
  Born Oct 28, 1918 Hawley, Texas
  
  Thomas Wallace Christian
  Born Jan 26, 1922 Woodboro, Texas
  
  John Clarence Christian
  Born Dec 12, 1923 Glendale, Arizona
  
  Baby Son Born Mar 19, 1925
  Glendale, Arizona  Died two hours later
  
  Charles Edward Christian
  Born Feb 14, 1927 Phoenix, Arizona
  --  Courtesy of Cheryl Begg  lamm1ecomcast.net
  ---------------
  
  I have not found Thomas and Nora in the 1910 census.
  
  Nora Evelyn Rhodes
  Birth 4 Nov 1891 in North Carolina
  Death 30 Dec 1973 in Los Angeles, California
  Parents:
  Joseph Hill Rhodes 1853 - 1922
  Elizabeth "Bettie" Ann Stallings 1862 - 1942
  Spouse J. Thomas Christian
  Birth 10 Nov 1890 in Bryans Mill, Texas
  Death 23 Mar 1971 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  --  Rhodes Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/10661116/person/442932463
  
  U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  J Thomas Christian
  Residence Bayside, Refugio County, Texas
  Birth 10 Nov 1891 Bryans Mill [Cass County], Texas
  Farming, Married with 4 children
  Medium Height and Weight, Brown Eyes, Black Hair
  Registered 5 June 1917 Refugio, Texas
  Signed J Thomas Christian
  
  They ae still in Refugio County when their first 4 children are enumerated in the 1920 census.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Refugio County, Texas, 9 February, Precinct 6, District 145, Page 4A, Demmer Lane, Hse/Fam #9
  Christian, Thomas Head Rents M W 29 Married TX US US Farmer [b abt 1890]
  Christian, Nora Wife F W 28 Married TX NC NC [b abt 1891]
  Christian, Herbert Son M W 9 TX TX TX [b abt May 1910]
  Christian, Alma Dau F W 7 TX TX TX [b abt 1812]
  Christian, Joseph Son M W 6 TX TX TX [b abt 1905
  Christian, Melvin Son M W 3yrs8mos TX TX TX [b abt Apr 1916]
  Christian, Virgil Son M W 1yr2mos TX TX TX [b abt Oct 1918]
  
  Tom and Nora moved out to Phoenix to join his mother and other members of his family.  They are enumerated there in the 1930 census.  We can tell from the birth states of the children that Tom and Nora moved to Phoenix about 1923.  Nora's brother Water and his wife Sybil, who was Thomas' sister, stayed on in Jones County, Texas, for a while, and were enumerated there in the 1930 census.  But they were listed in the Phoenix City Directory in 1936.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Maricopa County, Arizona, 14 April, Creighton, District 7-58, page 16A, 1950 Thomas Rd, Hse #353, Fam #375
  Christian, Thomas Head Rents $25 Has no Radio M W 39 Married at age 19 TX MS SC [b abt 1891] House Builder
  Christian, Nora E Wife F W 38 Married at age 18 NC NC NC [b abt 1892]
  Christian, Herbert Son M W 19 Single TX TX NC House Builder [b abt 1911]
  Christian, Alma Dau F W 18 Single TX TX NC Salesgirl, 5 & 10 Store [b abt 1912]
  Christian, Melvin Son M W 15 Single TX TX NC [b abt 1915]
  Christian, Virgil Son M W 11 Single TX TX NC [b abt 1919]
  Christian, Thomas Son M W 8 TX TX NC [b abt 1922]
  Christian, John Son M W 6 AZ TX NC [b abt 1924]
  Christian, Charles Son M W 3 AZ TX NC [b abt 1927]
  
  1940 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California, 12 April, Los Angeles, District 60-116, Page 12A, 12300 Pacific Ave, Hse #258, Rents $30
  Christian, J Thomas Head M W 49 Married Grade 8 b Tex Same house in 1935 Laborer [b abt 1891]
  Christian, Nora Wife F W 48 Married Grade H1 b NC Benson, Cochise, Arizona in 1935 [b abt 19892]
  Christian, Virgil Son M W 21 Single Grade H4 b Tex Benson, Cochise, Arizona in 1935 Water Pump Installer [b abt 1919]
  Christian, John Son M W 16 Single Grade H1 b Arizona Benson, Cochise, Arizona in 1935 Laborer [b abt 1924]
  Christian, Charles Son M W 13 Single Grade 7 b Arizona Benson, Cochise, Arizona in 1935 [b abt 1927]
  
  California, Death Index, 1940-1997
  J T Christian
  Gender Male
  Birth 10 Nov 1890 Texas
  Death 20 Mar 1971 Los Angeles County
  Social Security #458011643
  
  U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
  J. Christian
  Born 10 Nov 1890
  Died Mar 1971
  Last Residence Sylmar, Los Angeles, California 91342
  SSN 458-01-1643 issued Texas (Before 1951)
  
  J Thomas Christian
  Birth Nov. 10, 1890 Bryans Mill, Cass County, Texas
  Death Mar. 20, 1971 Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
  Father George Bartley Christian (1858 - 1904)
  Spouse Nora Evelyn Rhodes Christian (1891 - 1973)
  Children:
  Herbert Voy Christian (1910 - 2006)
  Joe Bartley Christian (1913 - 1990)
  Virgil Ernest Christian (1918 - 2006)
  Sister Emma J. Christian (1883 - 1888)
  Burial Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, Murmuring Trees, Map G27, Lot 5533, Space 1
  Maintained by Misty & Company, Originally Created by Chris Mills Feb 27, 2012
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #85859437, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Christian&GSiman=1&GScnty=201&GSsr=121&GRid=85859437&

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 9 June, Precinct 3, District 22, page 8B,  Hse/Fam #135
• 2. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• 3. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
• 4. California, Death Index, 1940-1997
• 5. 1930 Federal Census, Maricopa County, Arizona
  • 14 April, Creighton, District 7-58, page 16A, 1950 Thomas Rd, Hse #353, Fam #375
• 6. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 7. 1940 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California
  • 12 April, Los Angeles, District 60-116, Page 12A, 12300 Pacific Ave, Hse #258, Rents $30
• 8. 1920 Federal Census, Refugio County, Texas
  • 9 February, Precinct 6, District 145, Page 4A, Demmer Lane, Hse/Fam #9
• 9. Ancestry Trees
• 10. Family Bibles
• 11. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
• 12. 1940 Federal Census, Benson County, Arizona
  • 27 April, Benson, District 2-39, Page 3A, Pearl St, Hse #45, Owns $50
• 13. Arizona, Select Marriages, 1888-1908
• 14. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
• 15. California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
• 16. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
• 17. California, Marriage Index, 1949-1959