Searching for James Arthur Richards and Mary Dean. According to his WWI draft card he was born 21 Aug 1876 (no location or state), he was married to Mary (I believe Dean is her maiden name). I know they had two children - a daughter Nellie Frances who was born 19 May 1912, Waco, McLennan Co, TX. (Her birth certificate shows no name, just that she is the daughter of J.A. Richards. They also had a son who is just shown as a male child of Jas A. Richards, born 11 Nov 1915, McLennan Co TX. I do not know what his name was, but I do know that the son was living in 1920 when Nellie and he were in an orphans home - and were adopted out from there. Nellie was adopted by a Conner family - I believe it was the J M and Josie Conner family shown in the 1930 census in the Crockett area. I have no idea who adopted the brother of Nellie.

In the WWI draft card James Arthur is shown as a plumber, and he had only one eye.

Could they be the family shown in 1910 census in McLennan Co TX as:
103-175-177: Julia Dean, head, 60, widow, married 20 years, dairy woman, 12 children, 5 living, GA, GA, SC
Minnie, dau, 13, TX, GA, SC
Hall, son, 9, TX, SC, GA
103-176-178 (same property different house)Jim Richardson, head, 29, TX, blank, blank, laborer on RR
Mary, wife, 20, TX, SC, TX

Family history says James Arthur left Mary and the two children - never to be seen again. Mary worked hard to keep food on the table. She ended up dying - we believe abt 1920 - either just before or after the kids went to the orphans home. Still waiting for records from that institution, which was the Edna Gladney Home.

Is anyone aware of any marriage record for James Arthur Richards and Mary Dean - I think possibly in McLennan Co. TX? Any burial site for Mary? Any confirmation of this being the correct family in 1910?

Thanks, Trish Elliott-Kashima, Lawrenceburg, TN

They are in the 1920 census in Wichita Falls census as:
Jim Richard, 28, TX, TX, TX, plumber
Mary, wife, 27, TX, TX, TX
Addie M. Langence or Lawryence, 8, TX, TX, TX (a cousin I believe)
Nellie F. Richard, dau, 8, TX, TX, TX
Arthur L. Richard , son, 4, TX, TX, TX

I think it is possible that this is the same Mary who married a Crenshaw and died in the 1947 in Austin. She may be the Mary who was married to Poke C Crenshaw ca 1921 as shown in the 1930 census in McLennan Co.

Still looking for the marriage record of James Arthur "Jim" Richard/Richards/Richardson to Mary Dean, ca 1909ish. And, for Mary's second marriage to a Crenshaw ca 1921. Both marriages probably in Waco.

Thanks, Trish Elliott-Kashima, Lawrenceburg, TN