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Do I have the same person?

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.

  1. Ted Pack
    April 9th, 2010 at 16:50 | #1

    It looks like he is, unless you’ve missed something.

    I know nothing about the man. I d know that about 5 percent of the males I hunt down will switch from "John Henry" to "Henry John", or "John H" to "Henry J", or "HJ" to "JH", and that Texans are the worst people in the USA for going by their initials.
    References :

  2. wendy c
    April 9th, 2010 at 17:02 | #2

    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.
    References :

  3. Researcher
    April 9th, 2010 at 17:31 | #3

    I would have to see the actual documentation you are citing to actually confirm your findings, but based on the information you provide it appears that you are correct. James R. Arnold and Rus Arnold do appear to be the same person. I do not see evidence that indicates he was "elderly, sickly (had senility). Families until mid 1940’s and early 1950 usually lived very close to each other, which is where the concept that Americans lived in extended families appears to have came from.
    References :
    Genealogical Researcher for 35+ years

  4. Sidney
    April 9th, 2010 at 17:43 | #4

    A barber may be considered a merchant, especially during that time period.
    Russel "Russ" Arnold
    Memorial Photos Flowers Edit
    Learn about upgrading this memorial…
    Birth: Mar. 24, 1810
    Mississippi, USA
    Death: May 5, 1888
    Texas, USA
    WIFE OF JULINA ARNOLD.
    Family links:
    Children:
    Ella Nora Hopkins (1867 – 1933)*
    Robert Lee Arnold (1870 – 1944)*
    Ida F. Barrick (1874 – 1899)*
    James Sherman Arnold (1875 – 1959)*
    George H. Arnold (1879 – ____)*
    Burial:
    Paradise Cemetery
    Paradise
    Wise County
    Texas, USA
    Find a grave
    ***********************************************************
    ARNOLD RUSSEL 45 M W TN TX GRAYSON SHERMAN P O 1870 Census farmer
    Julie 39 TN
    Wyley 21 MS
    Martin 18 MS
    Sarah 15 TX
    Wm. 8 TX
    Ellenore 4 TX
    Robert 2 TX
    Mary Luckey 13 TX
    Josephine Childres 8 TX
    Annie Childres 6 TX
    *********************************************************************
    ARNOLD RUSSELL 77 W TN TX WISE 4-PCT 1880 farmer
    Julina 39
    Eleanor 14
    Robert L. 10
    Ida F. 6
    James S. 5
    George H. 1
    Josephine A. 18 and Annie L. 16 Childress step children
    There is a mistake somewhere on age, but I assume the above is Elisha’s brother and below is his son.
    ********************************************************************
    TX WISE 2-WD DECATUR 1900 Census
    Rus Arnold 44, born Jan. 1856 TX, parents born MO. barber
    Martha 46, Sep. 1843 MO. Al. MO. married 23 yrs, 3 children, 2 living
    Robt. 24, born Sep. 1875 TX.
    Charlie 9, born July 1890 Indian Territory
    Actually Elisha was born in TN, but that mistake is often made.
    *****************************************************************************
    TX GRAYSON KENTUCKY P O 1870 Census
    ARNOLD ELISHA 52 M W TN
    Martha 54 TN
    Martha 22 MS
    Mary 19 TX
    Eliza 18 TX
    Russel 15 TX
    Alice 14 TX
    Missouri 12 TX
    This is all I could find.
    References :
    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=merchant+barbers&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0&oq=merchant+barber&aqi=g2

  5. jan51601
    April 9th, 2010 at 18:11 | #5

    http://www.ancestry.com –family tree listing
    Elisha L. Arnold (Father named MOSES ARNOLD)
    B: 1820, Mississippi
    D: 1874, Grayson County, Texas
    Married:
    Martha H Stubblefeild (Parents unknown)
    B: Nov 1818 , Tenn.
    D: 1 JAN 1894 , Trinity Co., Texas
    They had 11 children, including Russell Arnold (b. 1855 in Tex.–which would fit your clue "1870 census shows a 15-yr son living in Grayson County, Texas". Says, however, he married someone named ALICE, and "No children have been added for Russell Arnold.")

    This listing for Elisha would fit the brother part, BUT his brother’s name was JIM M. ARNOLD:
    Name: Elisha C. Arnold
    Birth: 1850 – Barren, Kentucky
    Death: 1893 – Rains, Texas
    Marriage: 27 Jul 1870 – Hopkins, Texas
    Parents: Henry Eldridge Arnold, Elizabeth Glass
    Spouse: Josephine Tucker

    1910 United States Federal Census
    Name: James R Arnold
    Age in 1910: 53
    Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
    Birthplace: Mississippi
    Relation to Head-of-house: Head
    Father’s Birth Place: Mississippi
    Mother’s Birth Place: Mississippi
    Spouse’s name: Martha
    Home in 1910: Justice Precinct 5, Lavaca, Texas
    Marital Status: Married
    Race: White
    Gender: Male
    Household Members: Name Age
    James R Arnold 53
    Martha Arnold 52
    Mary Arnold 17
    Louie Arnold 5

    1920 United States Federal Census
    Name: James R Arnold , age 64 & Widowed; occupation: BARBER, evidently at a shop–column 28 asks for "Employer, salary
    or wage worker, or working on own account, and there is a W in the column. So, he was a "wage worker" or "working on own account". Column 26: Trade, profession or particular kind of work done; Col. 27: Industry, business, or establishment of work done)
    Birth: abt 1856 – Texas
    Residence: 1920 – Niles, Tarrant, Texas

    Would this be him??
    Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
    Name: Russell Arnold
    Death Date: 12 Mar 1928
    Death County: Trinity
    Certificate: 14038
    Shows a "Mrs Rus. Arnold" passing away in Wichita, TX on Nov. 11, 1931; certificate 54044 also on the original view

    Name: Jim R Arnold
    Spouse: Martha
    Birth: abt 1857 – Mississippi
    Residence: 1930 – Precinct 1, Lavaca, Texas (same address as 1910 census shows FARMER as his occupation)
    References :
    http://www.ancestry.com

  6. Emily Arnold
    June 19th, 2011 at 15:30 | #6

    Hey!! Elisha Arnold was my Great. Great. Great Grandfather!
    I was wondering you said “From what I can tell, this man definately looks like he was the son of Elisha Arnold and the nephew of Russel Arnold.” Do you have a picture Of Rus? Email me here if you have anymore questions!
    emmy_jimmy95@hotmail.com

    Thanks!!
    Emily Arnold

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