The 1910 US Census shows that James Hammontree and Melinda have been married for 15 years, but Malinda has had no children. There are two others living with them: son Wesley, 24 b. Texas, and daughter-in-law Jane, 15 b. Texas. Malinda was 60, born in Ohio.("United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2M3-7FT : accessed 26 April 2016), James M Hammontree, Justice Precinct 4, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 90, sheet 13B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,558.)
In 1900, James is living with wife Melinda, 51 b. Texas, 3 children and brother-in-law Lewis Cray., 46 b. Texas. Malinda and James have been married for 30 years, and this is the second marriage for both. Malinda says she has had 1 child, who is now dead, but there are three sons living with them: Willie, 21 b. Oct 1878; Ollie, 16 b. March 1884; and Wesley, 13 b. Feb 1887. The children all show that their mother was born in Texas. Malinda's parents were born in Ohio.("United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3L2-P48 : accessed 26 April 2016), James M Hammontree, Justice Precinct 3 Garland town, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing ED 132, sheet 23B, family 398, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,626.)
Working back, in 1880, J. M. Hammontree, 32 b. Tennessee, lived in Precinct 3, Hunt, Texas with his wife Mary S., 31 b. Kentucky. There are two children living with them: M. Anna, 3; and son W. J., 7 months b. Oct (indexed as female and "sister," but the image clearly shows Male, son). The children were born in Tennessee, as was their father, but their mother was born in Kentucky.("United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNL-22P : accessed 26 April 2016), W J Hammontree in household of J M Hammontree, Precinct 3, Hunt, Texas, United States; citing ED 67, sheet 481A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1312; FHL microfilm 1,255,312.)
The Texas Death Certificate for Bill Hammontree, b. 3 Oct 1879, shows his father was James Hammontree and his mother was Mary Sparks.("Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K396-CLP : accessed 26 April 2016), Bill Hammontree, 31 Jul 1946; citing certificate number 30671, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,378. Certificate 30671)
Mary Sparks and James M. Hammontree (indexed as Hannoute) were married in Saline Missouri, on 29 April 1872. The ceremony was performed by Thomas Parks, J.P., but no witnesses are shown.(Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm. 1872, Page 332)
In 1860, Mollie Sparks, 13 b. Kentucky, was living with female (probably mother) E. Sparks in Marshall, Saline, Missouri.("United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHZ6-95S : accessed 27 April 2016), Mollie Sparks in entry for E Sparks, 1860. Page 239)
Wesley N. Hammontree (Newton Weslie) was born in Feb 1885, 1886 or 1887, depending on the record. When a claim was made on his Social Security, the application showed his father as James M. Hammontree and his mother was Mollie Jones.(U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.)
If you follow "Ollie", who is a daughter Olive, and who married William H. Potter, you see that different censuses give the place of her mother's birth as Ohio (1910) or Missouri (1920 and 1930).
So, here are my conclusions. I had to make a couple of leaps, but I think this is solid:
- James M. Hammontree married twice. He first married Mary (Mollie) Sparks in 1872. The 1880 US Census shows two children, daughter M. Anna and son W. J. The 1900 US Census shows three children, Willie, daughter Olive, and Wesley. In 1900, Malinda and James says they have been married for 30 years, but in 1910, they say they have been married for 15 years.
- Wesley was born between Feb 1885 and Feb 1887. His Death Certificate says his mother was Mollie Jones. Willie (Bill)'s death certificate shows his mother as Mary Sparks. A James M. Hammontree married a Mary Sparks in 1872. The 1860 US Census shows that Mary Sparks was also known as Mollie.
- Between the birth of of Wesley and about 1895, which would be 15 years before the 1910 US Census, Mary/Mollie died and James remarried to Malinda, who had no living children as of 1900.
- Given that Wesley is the youngest child we know, the mother of all of James' children was Mary Sparks.