Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

In a letter from Minnie Lewis to Lenore Williams, she says that she asked her grandmother (Cynthia Jane) about why there were so many cousins marrying cousins. She said that it was because they didn't know anyone else, just members of the family.
The following obituary was apparently printed in a Chillicothe, Texas newspaper called The News. (Apparently it was also reprinted in The Mexia Daily News, Apr. 8, 1925, p. 8, the time of death is different however. The Mexia Daily News says she died at 2:10, was this my error, or that of one of the newspapers?)
GRANDMA KERLEY ANSWERS
DEATH SUMMONS SATURDAY
----o----
Saturday afternoon at 2:15 o'clock Mrs. C. J. Kerley, or (Grandma) as she was familarly known, passed to the Home beyond, death resulting from complications due to advanced age.
Cynthia Jane Daniels was born January 4, 1842, in Butler County,
Alabama. She was united in marriage to Thomas Harris In 1860 in Louisiana. To this union was born one daughter, Mrs. R. H. Stuckey of this city. Mr. Harris died in the Civil War and soon after she moved with her father to Texas. On November 6, 1864, she was married to John J. Kerley, to this union were born eight children, six of whom survive. Leonard Kerley, Drs. A. S. of this city, and W. A. Kerley of California, Miss Lillie Kerley, Chillicothe, Mrs. H. J. Taylor, Seymore, and Mrs. W. H. Gamble of Stratford. Mr. Kerley died October 30, 1891. In 1895 Mrs. Kerley was converted and joined the Primitive Baptist church and lived a devoted christian life until her death.
She and her husband were among the pioneer settlers of Mexia, and were among the founders of Mexia.
Most of her life was spent in Limestone and Hardeman counties. She was one of the pioneer settlers of Hardeman county, haveing moved to Chillicothe in 1890.
She was the last charter member of the Jackson Springs Primitive Baptist congregation.
The life of Grandma Kerley needs no eulogy for she was known and loved by everyone in Chillicothe and this section of the country. In character, she had a will to excell in every undertaking. She was progressive, keen of intellect, sympathetic, neighborly, and with a vien of humor which made her loved by all with whom she came in contact. She was possessed of a sunny disposition and she always greeted her friends with a cheerful smile and voice of true welcome.
As a friend she was true to the limit, the night was never too dark or dreary for her to go on missions of mercy. She spread cheer and comfort in the sick room; she had a word of encouragement for the discouraged and her life radiated with the warmest sympathy for humanity.
Her home life was perfect; she was a loyal, devoted wife and a kind and loving mother. She was a real chum with her children and around her hearthstone there was always harmony and joy.
Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. James D. Hester, assisted by the Rev. C. E. Lancaster and Rev W. B. Vaughn.
The house could not accomodate the vast number of friends who wished to pay their respects to this noble character.
Beside her children she is survived by a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The floral offerings were large and beautiful, and the large concourse of friends who followed the remains to the last resting place speak louder than words of the high exteem in which Mrs. Kerley was held.
Interment was made in the Chillicothe Cemetery.
Out of town attendants of the funeral were: Mrs. Jones of Odell, Mr. and Mrs. Guy McNeeley of Electra, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Martin of Vernon, Mrs. Young and Mrs. Hearne of Wortham, and Miss Lottie Daniels of Waco.
The News joins friends in extending sympathy to the bereaved family.
The death certificate states the cause of death as senility lasting 5 years 5 months. The death certificate says she died in 1925. The curb marker at her grave says 1926. I assume that the death certificate is correct.

The informant on her death certificate was A. S. Kerley.

Census:
1900, 3 J-PCT, HARDEMAN, TEXAS, Series: T623 Roll: 1641 Page: 195B
42/43, Kerley, Cyntha J., head, w, f, Jan 1842, 57, wd, 9 children, 7 living, AL, AL, AL, rent, home
----, Andrew S., son, w, m, Mar 1873, 27, s, TX, SC, AL, farmer
----, Leonard D., son, w, m, Feb 1868, 32, s, TX, SC, AL, emp. 12 mos.
----, Lillie E., dau, w, f, Dec. 1865, 34, s, TX, SC, AL, Millinery
----, Osa L., dau. w, f, Dec 1881, 18, s, TX, SC, AL

1910, 4-WD CHILLICOTHE, HARDEMAN, TEXAS, Series: T624 Roll: 1559 Page: 115
191/194, Kerley, Mrs. C. J., head, f, w, 68, wd, 9 children, 7 living, AL, SC, SC, none, can read and write, own, free, home
----, Lillie, dau., f, w, 44, s, TX, SC, AL, owner of (can't read this)
----, Leonard, son, m, w, 42, s, TX, SC, AL, salesman, in (can't read this, but may be sister's shop)
There was also a man boarding with them who was employed as a barker. His parents appeared to be German.

1920, 1-WD Chillicothe, Hardeman, TX, Series: T625 Roll: 1810 Page: 252
10/14, Kerley, Lilly, head, O, mortgaged, f, w, 54, s, TX, SC, AL, proprietress, rooming house, own account
----, Leonard D., brother, m, w, 52, s, TX, SC, AL, none
----, Mrs. C. J., mother, f, w, 78, w, AL, AL, AL, none
At this time Lilly seemed to own the boarding house where she worked. There were numerous boarders recorded in the census, and it is refered to under name of institution at the top of the page as Kerley Apartment House.