Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

He was interested in his father's first family and tried to contact various members. Lottie Daniel (Strong) was the only one he knew well. His son, Jim, has his photo album of pictures of Lottie, Charlie, James, Dollie & Garfield.
He was supposedly the first male child born in the new town of Konawa.
The "Konawa Chief" said the following about his birth:
"Konawa Chief" Konawa Indian Territory, Friday December 16, 1904.
At a certain home in Konawa over which it has been hovering for the last 6 weeks or 2 months; the stork decended about 4 o'clock this morning and left a fine boy. The papa of the little fellow is the proudest man in Konawa this morning and says the lad will be driving nails before long. Awaiting a better name he has been called "STOP" for short. For further particulars call on J. K. Daniel who is ready to answer all questions." (Information provided by June Nichols-Neal, Sec. of Konawa Genealogy Society to James Daniel)
In 1918 he was living in Dallas, TX with his father, mother, and brother Frank.
In 1920 according to "Aunt Nina" he was working on the family farm and going to school. He would drive a mule pulled cultivator and study while he rode. He passed school with the highest grade. He obtained an eighth grade education.
In 1923 he was driving Mr. Freese's Model T Ford with a load of his prospective in-laws aboard when he broke an axle 12 miles from home. Mr. Freese had taken a load of cows to St. Louise and Jim expected trouble when he returned. So he paid a visit to the only other car in town that matched and came away with the part. Of course this was in the dead of night. When Mr. Freese returned home he was presented with a bill from the offended party, which he paid.
In 1924, James & Alma, along with the Freese family left OK in 3 "Model T" touring cars with camping supplies and spare parts, arriving in CA the same year.
For the first few years they worked as fruit tramps, that is agricultural laborers that traveled from Co. to Co. to harvest the crops. I was born in San Jose, CA during prune picking season. Sister Ruth was born in Cochoran between harvests.
Quote son James Edward DANIEL: "About 1930 my parents settled in Monterey, CA. Dad started a wood yard in the days when everyone burned wood for cooking and heating. Ella DANIEL had oft told him about the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains and it was his dream to retire in AR. In 1937 he had $10,000 buried in the chicken pen in the back yard, so he dug it up and we moved from CA. to AR. He bought 222 acres of partially cleared land for $3500. He farmed in the summer and cut oak timber off our farm in the winter, both for lumber and for barrel staves.
In early 1941 we moved back to CA. again settling in Monterey. Mother & I opened another wood yard. Dad went to San Francisco and worked as a carpenter. Late 1942 we moved to San Francisco, living at 517 Day Street. In May of 1943 I joined the Merchant Marine, it was the only outfit that would take a 16 year old, spent 4 years touring the South Pacific with a side trip to England and Scotland.
In 1948, Mom & Dad moved back to AR. where he died in a gunshot accident in 1951. Mom moved back to CA after his death".
In 1938 Personal Property tax was paid in Independence Co., Arkansas. It included 1 poll tax, 8 cattle, 2 mules, 1 truck, school district 12. The total tax was $8.41.
The 1920 Census of Jefferson Co. Price Twp Fam 96
Daniel, Ella 41 Wd Head AR US US
James 15 S Son OK AL AR
Frank E. 12 S Son OK AL AR
Obituary:
"Funeral services for James COWMA (sic) DANIELS age 46 of Sulphur Rock who died in a Little Rock hospital Friday, will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Moorefield Methodist Church with burial in Lee's Chapel cemetery. The Rev. Love will officiate and Crouch Funeral Home will be in charge.
Pallbearers will be Paul CARTER, Claude SIMPSON, Little WATSON, Doyle SCOTT, Hubert SIMPSON and Joe ZELASKO.
Mr. Daniels is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alma DANIELS, one daughter, Mrs. Frank ANDREWS of San Francisco, CA; two sisters, Mrs. Barbara BRUMMETT of NC and Mrs. Lottie STRONG of Waco, TX; one son, James E. of San Francisco; one brother Frank of Chicago, Ill; his mother, Mrs. Ellen TORRENCE of Sulphur Rock, and three grandchildren." (Monday, July 2, 1951, paper unknown, provided by James Edward Daniel)
Newspaper article:
"BULLETIN
Jim Daniel of Sulphur Rock, shotgun accident victim, died at 2 oclock this afternoon in Arkansas Baptist Hospital
According to Deputy Sheriff Earl Hodges, Daniel was shot in the head when the weapon discharged as he was picking up a bridle in his barn. He was discovered by his wife and his mother lying in a hall in the barn several feet from the bridle.
In reconstructing the accident, Hodges said that Daniel evidently had taken the .410-gauge shotgun with him to the barn, and was stooping over to pick up the bridle when the gun struck the floor and jarred the delicate firing mechanism of the weapon. The shot entered his right forehead.
He was rushed immediately to a local hospital and was sent by ambulance to Little Rock." (Batesville Guard, June 29, 1951, provided by James Daniel)
The gunshot wound to the head was judged to be accidental by the Sheriff who investigated.