Robert Lee Howard was the sixth child of
William James Howard and Rachel Bell Howard nee Stimson. He was born on the September 7, 1867, in Plano, Collin County, TX.
 |
| R.L. Howard |
When he was 21, on July 3, 1889, Robert married Dora Elizabeth Angel, who was also 21 then. Dora was a daughter of Marcus Lafayette Anglea and Mammie Erena Jones. Her older sister Isabell had already been married to Robert's brother William Monroe.
Anyway, Dora Elizabeth Angel was born on May 1, 1868, in Tennessee.
Robert was a farmer, Dora was taking care of their home.
Ethel, their oldest daughter came to this world on July 3, 1892, in Texas.
Claudie Albert was the second child of Robert and Dora's. He was born on July 22, 1894, in Plano as well.
In 1900, Robert, Dora and their two children lived at Justice Precinct 5 (west part), in Plano, Collin County, Texas (Census Records (1)).
Another son was born to the family on August 10, 1904. He was named Robert Lee Jr. (called by the family Jack, though).
Lizzie, the youngest child, was born on May 27, 1906.
United States Census records from 1910 (2) show that the family still lived at the same address in Plano.
Later, during the second decade of the 1900s, quite a few things changed in the family of Dora and Robert's.
23-year-old Ethel married Mr. Lenzie Cecil Richards on March 2, 1916. Lenzie was two years older than his bride - he was born on March 21, 1890. Ethel's parents-in-law were Mr. Alonzo Woodfield Richards and Mrs. Theodocia (Docie) Ellen Richards nee Liggett.
A year later, on December 12, 1917, Claudie got married. His wife was Lonnie Florence Richards (who was also his sister-in-law). Lonnie's brother was Lenzie Cecil Richards (married to Ethel). Lonnie was born on October 21, 1898, in Allen, Collin, TX.
In 1920 another Census records (3) were made. At that time, Robert and Dora lived in their family house in Plano with the two youngest children only.
In 1930, Robert and Dora (aged 62) already lived on their own at Precinct 5, in Plano, TX (another Census (3)).
Lizzie must have got married before 1930 - according to the
Census from that year, she had already lived with her husband Harold Arnold Trott, at a rented place in Dallas (4). Harold Arnold Trott (born October 29, 1901, in TX - d. Jan. 20, 1982, Dallas, TX) was a son of Mr. William Alexander Trott and Mrs. Lura Trott nee Byrum.
Six years later, on August 28, 1936, in Plano, Robert Lee Junior married Miss Betty Lou Rankin.
Not long after that, Robert Lee Howard Sr. passed away. It was May 13, 1938. Robert suffered from chronic, progressive paralysis. He also had an inflammation of the prostate which was removed. It was the contributory cause of his death (5).
Robert's wife Dora died at the age 92, on December 29, 1961.
Both of them are buried at the Rowlett Cemetery in Plano, Collin County, TX.
As for their children...
Ethel and Lenzie (who was a farmer) had a daughter Colene (b. May 30, 1920 in Allen, TX) and a son Cecil Howard (b. Dec.12, 1925, in Allen as well).
According to the Census of 1935 and 1940, the couple lived at Allen Lucas Road, J.P.1 in Collin County, TX.
On April 2, 1942 Colene married Rev. Joe Carl Johnson (b.March 28,1919, in Merit, TX), son of Mr. Isaac Johnson and Mrs. Dalma Johnson nee Randolph. In the same year, Lenzie was drafted (WW2).
Registration Card
Serial Number: 2368
Name: Lenzie Cecil Richards
Place of Residence: 1 Mile E of Allen Collin Texas
Mailing Address: Allen Texas
Telephone: 17 R.2 Exchange No.: Allen Tel. Co.
Age in Years: 52
Place of Birth: Allen
Date of Birth: March 21 1890
State: Texas
Name And Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Ethel Richards, Allen R.R.1, Mrs. A. W. Richards R. R. 1, Allen
Employer's Name And Address: Self
Place of Employment or Business: Farm, 1 Mile E. of Allen, Collin, Texas
Record Source:
"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPPW-J3B : 17 October 2017), Linzie Cecil Richards, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
Seven years later, Ethel and Lenzie's oldest daughter Colene and her husband Joe immigrated to Brazil, to do missionary work (5). They must have come back to the US after a few years as their two daughters Carolyn and Linda Marlene were born here.
Mr. Lenzie Cecil Richards passed away in a hospital in Allen, on February 27, 1975 due to a stroke. Ethel lived much longer. She died from a myocardial infraction in a hospital in Dallas on April 26, 1985. The couple resting place is Bridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, TX.
Robert Lee Junior worked as a mechanic. He and his wife Betty Lou had three children - son Kenneth Perry, daughter Louise, and another son James.
Robert Lee Jr. passed away in McKinney, TX, on June 23, 1972, due to cardiac arrest. Betty Lou Howard died in 1995.
It seems
Lizzie and Harold had no kids. The Census records of 1935 and 1940 inform that the couple lived at 2128 North Caroll, in Dallas J.P.#1, with no children.
Lizzie died on October 20, 1968, in Dallas, TX. Her husband passed away on January 20, 1982 in Dallas. They are buried at Rowlett Creek Cemetery in Plano.
Claudie and Lonnie Howard had two children: daughter Florence (b. Jan.19, 1919 - March 30, 2012, TX) and son Richard Lee (b. Nov.16, 1923 - Nov. 22, 1998, Dallas, TX). According to my findings, Florence married Mr. Johnson, and Richard's wife was Doris Kathleen Conner (b. August 18, 1926, in Big Lake, Reagan, TX - d. Oct.12, 1994).
Claudie passed away on October 5,1975 in Plano. His wife Lonnie died in the same year, about two months earlier on July, 21.
The couple's grave is at Bridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, TX.
PS
I hesitated whether to include a birth certificate of Claudie and the death certificates of some relatives' in the post or not. Finally, I decided it is better not to. However, studying them made me feel very sad.
Credits:
Photos of gravestones: courtesy of Mr. Howard Case.
1. United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3L3-J8C : accessed 5 October 2017), Robert L Howard, Justice Precinct 5 (west part) Plano town, Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 16, sheet 16B, family 327, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,621.
2. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2SC-F7T : accessed 5 October 2017), Dora E Howard in household of Robert L Howard, Justice Precinct 5, Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 9A, family 140, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1540; FHL microfilm 1,375,553.
3. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CWQ7-43Z : accessed 5 October 2017), Dora Howard in household of R Lee Howard, Precinct 5, Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 29, sheet 4B, line 51, family 72, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2310; FHL microfilm 2,342,044.
3. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCMS-8MW : accessed 5 October 2017), Dora E Howard in household of Robert L Howard, Justice Precinct 5, Collin, Texas, United States; citing ED 24, sheet 7A, line 17, family 137, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1789; FHL microfilm 1,821,789.
4. United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HPKM-KZM : accessed 10 October 2017), Elizabeth Trott in household of Harold A Trott, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 70, sheet 7B, line 52, family 127, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2318; FHL microfilm 2,342,052.
5. http://familysearch.org
UPDATE 8/21/2019
I have been contacted by Ms. Kay M., a descendant of Robert Lee and Dora, our 3rd cousin. She confirms Lizzie and Harold Trott had no children + only one daughter of Colene and Joe Richards' was born in Brazil.
Cousin Kay also shares the photos she took in 2016. Thank you, Kay! So glad you wrote to me!
