Ruben Edward Dorris (1876-1952)

Ruben Edward Dorris was born on November 20, 1876 in Rutersville, Fayette County, Texas.  He was the son of Thomas Pinckney Dorris and Olinda Edna Hine.  Ruben was raised in Bastrop County, Texas. 

Ruben married Lula C. (maiden name unknown) in 1898 in Coleman County, Texas.  He was 22 years old and she was 16 years.  Lula was born in November 1882 in Texas.

Ruben and Lula were the parents of four children:

Bulah M. Dorris                    born September 1899

Ruby L. Dorris                      born 1902

Elmo Edward Dorris                        born 1904

Claude B. Dorris                  born July 4, 1912

After their marriage, Ruben and Lula settled on a farm in Coleman County, Texas.  Ruben was a farmer by trade.  By 1910, the family had moved to a farm in Irion County, Texas. 

Ruben registered for the draft for the First World War on September 12, 1918.  At that time, he and his family were living at 1301 South Sam Street in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas.  Ruben was employed as a carpenter for the Texas Pipe Line Company.  He was described as of medium height and build, with blue eyes and brown hair.  Ruben did not serve in the war.

Ruben remarried around 1923 to Mabel Shipp, a divorcee.  They were wed in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. 

Ruben and Mabel had four additional children together:

(Stillborn male)                     born February 25, 1924

Gordon Edward Dorris        born June 13, 1926

Guy D. Dorris                        born January 21, 1928

Thomas Gerald Dorris         born June 9, 1929

In 1924, Ruben and Mabel were living at 4325 Congress Avenue in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.  Ruben was employed as a carpenter and building houses, and Mabel was the proprietor of a rooming house.  

By 1931, Ruben and Mabel and their children had moved to a home at 615 Crockett Street in Dallas, where they stayed until at least 1940.

Ruben Edward Dorris died on February 7, 1952 at the Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.  At that time, he and Mabel were living at 3315 Oak Grove in Dallas.  Ruben was buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.  He was 75 years old at his death.

Mabel Gordon Shipp Dorris died thirteen years later on July 2, 1965 at the Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.  The cause of death was stage IV cervical cancer.  Mabel was laid to rest beside her husband, Ruben, in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.  She was 70 years old at her death.

Notes for Ruben Edward Dorris

Birth & Death:  “Ruben E Dorris,” Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

1880 US Census:  “Edward Dorris,” Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 8, Bastrop, Texas; Roll: 1290; Family History Film: 1255290; Page: 166C; Enumeration District: 014.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 

Marriage to Lula:  1900 US Census

1900 US Census:  “Ruben E Dorris,” Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 6, Coleman, Texas; Roll: 1620; Page: 4B; Enumeration District:0023; FHL microfilm: 1241620.  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

1910 US Census:  “Ruben Dorris,” Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 1, Irion, Texas; Roll: T624_1566; Page: 6B; Enumeration District:0126; FHL microfilm: 1375579.  Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

WWI Draft Card:  “Reuben Edward Dorris,” Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Tom Green; Roll: 1983674.  Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

1920 US Census:  “Rufen E Dorris,” Year: 1920; Census Place: San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas; Roll: T625_1844; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 200; Image: 1039.  Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Burial:  “Ruben E Dorris,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) Accessed 28 April 2015

Notes for Mabel R. Gordon

Birth & Death:  “Mable R Dorris,” Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

1900 US Census:  “Mabelle Gordon,” Year: 1900; Census Place: Morrilton, Conway, Arkansas; Roll: 55; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0016; FHL microfilm: 1240055.  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Marriage:  “Mabel Gordon,” Ancestry.com. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1910 US Census:  “Mabel Shipp,” Year: 1910; Census Place: Walker, Faulkner, Arkansas; Roll: T624_49; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 1374062. 

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

1920 US Census:  “Mable Shipp,” Year: 1920; Census Place: Bear Creek, Searcy, Arkansas; Roll: T625_81; Page: 5A; Enumeration District:108; Image: 313. Ancestry.com.  1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Stillborn Dorris Child:  Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

City Directories, 1925-1945:  “Mabel Dorris,” Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1930 US Census:  “Mabel Dorris,” Year: 1930; Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: 2313; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0005; Image:216.0; FHL microfilm: 2342047.  Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

1940 US Census:  “Mabel Dorris,” Year: 1940; Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: T627_4175; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 255-78.  Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Burial:  “Mable R Dorris,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) Accessed 28 April 2015