Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

The marriage ended in either divorce or separation. According to Lenore Alexander Williams, as far as is known, he was not seen again after he left. Years later a man showed up who told a family member he was a half-brother. No one knew if it was true or not. James Daniel has confirmed this story, and told me that his father contacted Lottie Daniel, Elizabeth C. Shanks Daniel's daughter. There is a story about a family member (in Colorado, I think, but I am not certain) who was telling someone about what had happened. A man was there who reacted so strangely to the story that they wondered if it was James. She lived in Waco for 52 years before her death.

Bettie is shown as HH with 5 children on the 1900 McLennan Co., TX census, Roll T623-165, Precinct #1, with Daniel families on either side of her. It states she had 8 children, 6 now living. Notice gap of 7 years between Lena & Charles. In 1910 Diademia is living with the family. Garfield is in his own HH with wife Edna. Bettie is shown as "divorced" on the 1900 & "widow" on the 1910 census. She was living with her daughter Lottie when the 1920 census was taken. She was in McLennan Co., TX in the 1930 census (information from James Daniel, obtained on-line at Ancestry.com), Waco Dist. 19, enum. date 14 Apr 1930. She was enumerated in family number 819 (wd. age 68) with her son Garfield (divorced, age 49) and daughter Lottie B. (single, age 34). It shows Elizabeth's father as born in C. S. (?) and mother as born in AL. Garfield's and Lottie's father was born in AL and mother in LA. Charles B. Daniels and family are in household 817 (who is this? He had immigrated 27 years before, and his wife had immigrated 9 years before so probably they are not related) and Charles and Myra Daniel (Elizabeth's son and daughter-in-law) are in household 818.

The following is an obituary notice for Elizabeth C. Daniel. DANIEL, MRS. ELIZABETH C. Mrs. Elizabeth C. Daniel, 81, died Sunday at 1:10 p. m. at her home, 1801 Summer avenue. Funeral services were held Monday at 2:30 p. m. at Compon's Funeral home. Rev. Len Dalton officiating, burial in Rosemound cemetery. Pallbearers were six grandsons, Vid Herring, Pvt. Charlie G. Scales, W. G. Scales, Harold Scales, E. I. Skinner, Joe Wilson. Mrs. Daniel was born in Monroe, La., and had resided in Waco for the past 52 years. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lula Scales of Ballinger and Mrs. J. R. Strong of Waco; one son, Garfield Daniel of Waco. Compton's Funeral home, 1024 Austin. Phone 98.

Texas State Death Certificate: She is Mrs. Elizabeth Caledonia Daniel, residing at 1801 Summers St., Waco, McLennan, Texas which was the place of her death.She had resided there for 52 years. She was a widow, born 2 May 1861, aged 81 years, 10 months, 26 days. She was born in Louisiana. Her father's name was listed as J. K. Shanks, born in Alabama. Her mother's name was Diademia Daniel, born in Alabama. Mrs. J. R. Strong of Waco was the informant. She died on 28 Mar 1943 at 1:10 PM. The primary cause of death was senility. She was buried in Rosemound Cemetery, Waco, on March 29th, 1943.

Waco City Directory listings: 1902-03 Daniel, Bettie Mrs., h. Mrs. Demia Shanks. 5 (Diademia resided at nw Corner Summers, Andrews, College hts.) 1904-05 Daniel, Bettie (Mrs. E. C.), residing nw corner Summers, Andrews, College hts. 4. 1906-07 Daniel, Bettie (Mrs. E. C.), residing nw corner Summers, Andrews, N. Waco. 3. 1907-08 Daniel, Bettie (Widow J. K.), residing 1401 Summers Ave. N. Waco. 3.

Census records: 1900 1-PCT MCLENNAN TEXAS Series: T623 Roll: 1656 Page: 28 14/14, Daniel, Bettie, Head, W, F, May 1861, 39, D, M, 25 yrs, 8 children, 6 alive, LA, LA, AL, own home, free, house , Garfield, Son, W, M, July 1880, 19, S, TX, LA, LA, printer , Willia D., da, W, F, Aug 1883, 16, S, TX, LA, LA , Lena, da, W, F, Feb 1885, 14, s, TX , Chas. R., son, W, F, June 1892, 7, s, TX , Lottie B., da, w, f, Nov 1895, 4, s, TX

1910, 6-WD, WACO, MCLENNAN, TEXAS, Series: T624 Roll: 1575 Page: 305 1401 Summer St. 336/344, Daniel, Betty, Head, F, W, 48, wd, 8 children, 6 alive, LA, AL, AL, own income Charles R., Son, M, W, 17, S, TX, AL, LA, laborer plaining mills Lottie B., DA., F, W, 14, s, TX, AL, LA, none Shanks, Didena(?) E., Mother, f, w, 71, wd., 2 children, 1 living AL, AL, AL, none

1920 - 1801 Summer Street, Waco, Texas 368/392 Daniel, Betty, head, f, w, 58, wd, LA, AL, AL, none ---- Lottie, wife, f, w, 24, s, TX, AL, LA, cashier, retail 5 & 10 store

1930 (Waco, McLennon Co., TX, Dist. 19, Enum dist. 155-19, sheet number 33A Enum Date 14 Apr 1930, 1801 Summer St., dwelling 744, family 817-provided by James Daniel, also HeritageQuest) 1930 9-WD WACO MCLENNAN TEXAS Series: T626 Roll: 2373 Page: 162 Daniels, Elizabeth, head, un, 68, wd, LA, US, AL Garfield, son, m, 49, d, TX, AL, LA, printer, print shop Lottie B., daughter, f, 34, s, TX, AL, LA, sales lady, retail dry goods

NOTE: Information suggests that one of the deceased children was named James Daniel.