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Do I have the same person?

April 9th, 2010 6 comments

Subjects name was Rus Arnold and he lived in Decatur, Wise, Texas during the 1900 census. He had a wife named Martha and 2 sons–Robert and Charlie. From Robert’s WWI Draft Card and the census records, Rus Arnold’s reported names were: Rus/J.R./James/James R. Arnold. So, it appears that his full name was James Russel Arnold. The 1870 census shows a 15-yr son of Elisha & Martha Arnold, living in Grayson County, Texas. Elisha’s brother was named Russel Arnold and he lived in Grayson county, Texas that same census year; he moved to Wise county, Texas before 1880. I have not been able to locate the younger Rus Arnold on the 1880 census. Nor his father (probably deceast). From what I can tell, this man definately looks like he was the son of Elisha Arnold and the nephew of Russel Arnold.

Now Rus Arnold’s wife died before 1910 and he’s listed as a widower on the 1910 and 1920 census records. (Robert’s CA death certificate revealed mother’s maiden name was Martha Bigham); Robert’s father was in Ft Worth in 1910, 1918, and in a nearby township called Niles, Texas (Tarrant County) in 1920. I did not find him on the 1930 census. I checked the Texas Death Records Online. There is a death record for a man named Russel Arnold, in Trinity county, Texas and d.o.d. was 12 March 1928. There was no personal data given on it except that he was a "Retired Merchant". Rus was a "Bookkeeper" in 1910, a "Barber" in a "Shop" in 1920. Informant on that death record was a man named Ben Arnold, who was possibly a nephew. Elisha Arnold’s family lived in Trinity, Texas. So that leads me to believe that the widowed Rus Arnold, being elderly and sickly (had "senility"), probably lived with or close to his relatives. I do not know where the two sons were at in 1910 or 1920. They appear in the 1930 census, in Los Angeles, CA and are "Cooks" in a restraunt.

Q. Do I have the same person? Is "Rus Arnold" aka James R. Arnold, from the 1900 census the same "Russel Arnold" from the 1870 census and the s/o Elisha & Martha Arnold? AND was he the same "Russel Arnold" on that 1928 death record in Trinity county, Texas? All of the evidence is pointing towards that conclusion. I’m just wondering what someone else might think and if I’m missing anything. Need some feedback really.
Thanks Ted.
Thanks Wendy… Yes, I’m on the Wise county mailing list. And you’re right, their website is one of the greatest I’ve ever visited. I had not thought about checking with them. I’ll do that…
Hi Research…. The reference to his "senility" came from the 1928 death certificate for the "Russel Arnold" I found online. That was listed as his main cause of death. But the d.c. failed to mention anything else besides the fact that he was a "retired merchant". The 1920 census reported James R. Arnold as a "barber" in a "shop".
Hi Sidney…. Yes, these are the same records I’m working with. Russel & Julina Arnold are my direct ancestors. The last two records are Russel’s brother–Elisha and his son, Russel. I believe… One thing you brought to my attention was "Rus Arnold’s" occupation… I hat not noticed that it said "Barber" on the 1900 census. He was listed as a barber in the 1920 census, also. So this is definately the same man and his full name was JAMES RUSSEL ARNOLD. Yahoo! I have the right guy. Now I just need to confirm that it was him that died in 1928. Can a "barber" be considered a "merchant". That’s all it says on that death certificate.
Thank-you to everyone who answered. I believe I do have the same person and having everyone’s feedback gave me a chance to see things a little better.

Brenda, are you subbed to the Wise co email list, or have you worked the Wise co genweb page? or checked in with LaDarla Keith or Sue Tackel?
Everyone has a ‘pet’/ favorite county, and Wise county is mine. Not only is that area responsible for me moving from CA to Texas, the website/ volunteers reach a level that I have seen on NO other county.
ALL the cemeteries in Wise are indexed and photographed.. you would do well to check those. Especially if Martha died there, he probably would be buried near her, even if he moved. If you have not worked with the list or website, there is almost guaranteed to be data there for you. The Arnold name is familiar to me.
I’ll do some digging and get back to you. Feel free to email me through my profile.