Columbus Decad Lancaster was born 23 June 1877 in Decatur, Wise, Texas, the son of Allen Perrin Lancaster and Martha Catherine Phillips. Columbus married twice. He died, aged 77, on 17 July 1954 in Arkansas City, Kansas, and is buried there in Riverview Cemetery.[1]
In 1880, the Lancaster family lived in Wise county, Texas. The household included A. P. Lancaster, 29, born in Arkansas (parents b. TN), a farmer; his wife Martha, 19, born in Missouri (parents b. TN); their two sons, both born in Texas, Columbus, 3; and Robert, 1. Also living with them was Martha’s brother, W. H. Phillips, 22, born in Missouri, a farmer.[2]
In 1900, the Lancaster family, Allen and Martha, and their eight children, lived on their farm in Pawnee Township, Oklahoma. All members of the household could read and write, except for the youngest child. The household included:
Columbus married Aretta Irene (Bradley) Coulter, his second wife, in 1912.
In 1915, the Lancaster family lived on their rented property in Arkansas City, Kansas. The household included C. D. Lancaster, 37, born in Texas; his wife R. I., 36, b. Kansas; their children Bessie, 13, b. Oklahoma; Marie, 9, b. Oklahoma; Lloyd, 7, b. Kansas; and Lois, b. Kansas. NOTE: the oldest three children were from R. I.’s previous marriage to COULTER; the baby was the daughter of C. D. And R. I. Lancaster[4]
In 1918, the Lancaster family lived at RFD 3, Arkansas, Cowley, Kansas. On 12 September 1918, at Winfield, Cowley, Kansas, Columbus Decad Lancaster , 41, registered for the WWI Draft. He was a farmer, born 23 June 1877, and was of medium height, stout build, with blue eyes and light hair. His wife Aretta was his emergency contact.[5]
In 1920, the Lancaster family lived on their rented farm on E. Madison Ave., Creswell, Cowley, Kansas. The household included C. D. Lancaster, 42, born in Texas (father b. Arkansas; mother b. Missouri), a farmer; his wife R. I., 41, b. Kansas (father b. KY; mother b. PA); their children, Bessie Coulter, 18, b. Washington; W. Lloyd Coulter, 12, b. OK; Marie (Coulter), 14, b. WA; Lois, 6, b. Kansas; Leroy, 4, b. Kansas; and Raymond, 3, b. Kansas. The adults could read and write. All the children were in school and could read and write, except for the youngest two. [6]
In 1925, the Lancaster’s lived in Cowley County, Kansas. They had moved from Washington to Kansas. All members of the household could read and write, except for the youngest child. The household included Columbus D. Lancaster, 47, born in Texas, a self-employed plasterer, who owned their house with a mortgage; his wife Retta, 45, b. Kansas; their children, Marie, 19, b. WA, a stenographer; Lois, 11, b. WA, in school; Leroy, 9, b. Kansas, in school; Raymond, 8, b. Kansas, in school; Donald, 5, b. Kansas; and Lloyd Coulter (son). 17, b. Kansas, in school, a baker at Baers Bakery.[7]
In 1930, the Lancaster family lived in Arkansas, Cowley, Kansas. They owned their home, valued at $4500. All members of the household could read and write, and all the children were in school. The household included Columbus D. Lancaster, 52, born in Texas, who first married at age 23, a plasterer contractor, and not a veteran; his wife Retta I., 51, b. Kansas, first married at age 22; their children, Lois M., 16, b. Washington; Leroy, 15, b. Kansas; Raymond, 13, b. Kansas; and Donald, 10, b. Kansas.[8]
In 1940, the Lancasters lived at 101 N. Fourth Court, Arkansas City, Cowley, Kansas. They rented the house for $17 per month. They had lived in the same city for at least five years. The household included Columbus Lancaster, 62, born in Texas, who had completed the 8th grade, a church custodian, who worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $1000; his wife Retta, 61, b. Kansas, completed one year of high school; their children, Lois, 26, b. Washington, completed one year of college, a secretary for a public school, worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $975; and Donald, 20, b. Kansas, completed one year of college, a chemist at a flour mill, worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $219.[9]
NOTE: the Lancaster family apparently lost (or sold) their house during the Great Depression. But, this family valued education, and managed to educate at least two of their children into college during that time.
NOTE: the data included in these Censuses were transcribed as originally written. Census records notoriously contain unintentional errors, depending upon which member of the household was providing the data. For this reason, one finds inconsistent information between Censuses.
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Columbus is 26 degrees from Herbert Adair, 22 degrees from Richard Adams, 21 degrees from Mel Blanc, 28 degrees from Dick Bruna, 18 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 34 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 20 degrees from Sam Edwards, 18 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 18 degrees from Marty Krofft, 15 degrees from Junius Matthews, 16 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 17 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.