More Information About Opal

The date on this wonderful picture of Opal is unknown. Here are some additional things that we know about Opal. On Asa's death certificate, dated 7 Jul 1911, she is listed as Opal Blanchard, and her address is 1029 Missouri St. In 1912, she is listed in the El Paso city directory as Opal Langlois, a cook. Her address was 1001 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX. In 1914, she is still listed as Opal Langlois, a cook, but her address is 1105 N. Oregon, El Paso. 

Sinia Marries Clarence Thomas Kinne

Sinia Belle Bethell and C.T. Kinne were married in El Paso, Texas, on 12 Aug 1913. According to their marriage license Sinia was 19, and C.T. was 26. They were married by a Justice of the Peace. Their story will be continued in another blog. 

Sinia Finds Her Father

At one point, we are not sure when, Sinia went to live with her father. Arthur was a good business man and he and Estelle were living in a fine house, complete with a tennis court, in Memphis. Descendents of the children of Arthur's marriage to Estelle report that there is a family story that a child of Arthur's former marriage showed up at the door looking for her father. This was a surprise to the children and possibly Estelle as well. They apparently were not aware of Arthur's first marriage. Our impression had been that Arthur had taken Sinia to live with him, the details of this story are lost in the past. We have a letter from Arthur to Sinia apologizing that it didn't work out and saying that he should have told them earlier, they had a right to know that they had a sister. Can you imagine coming out of an orphanage and discovering your father's second family living in the lap of luxury!

1910 Census

In the 1910 Census, Asa and Sinia are living with their mother in a boarding house in El Paso, TX. Opal is listed as Opal Blanchard, a widow.

On 7 July 1911, Arthur Asa Bethell died of tubercular peritonitis. This was a blow to Sinia, and she grieved her brother's loss all of her life. Sinia said that her mother sent them to work and took their money. Asa was a night yard clerk for the railroad, and Sinia worked as a telephone operator. Sinia blamed her brother's death on neglect and thought that he starved to death. 

Sinia and friends

The back of this picture reads "left to right, Sinia Belle Bethell, Katie Bailey, Marion Cook, Anna Woodruff."

Two of these other girls appear on the Oklahoma Baptist Children's Home roll as well.

Sinia is 3rd from right. 

Sinia Bethell is second from the left, back row. 

Oklahoma City Baptist Children's Home

This picture has haunted us for years. We knew that it had to be an orphanage that the children were in. We have been looking in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, all to no avail. Then another stroke of luck, we spotted this building on the web site for the Oklahoma Baptist Children's Homes. Again, Asa and Sinia were found in the log. They were signed in by their mother in 1903. According to the record Opal was residing in El Reno, OK. Even though their father is still living, they are listed as half orphans and available for adoption! Opal signs them out in 1909.

Link: Oklahoma City Baptist Children's Home

Arthur William Bethell Marries Estelle Hunt

Arthur married Estelle Hunt, exact date unknown. They had 8 children. Estelle the oldest was born in 1906. The other children were Evelyn, Arthur William Jr., Marjorie, Hortense, Dorothy, Charles and ***

Arthur and Estelle seperated in the early 1930's.
Arthur died in 1961 and is buried in Brinkley, Arkansas. 

Leath Orphan Asylum

Apparently Opal was unable to care for the children so Asa and Sinia were placed in an orphanage. We have been searching for years to find which institutions they were in. Finally, this year after calling many orpanages we struck gold. A nice lady at Porter-Leath, Memphis, TN. took the time to look in the old logs and found "Acie" and "Sana" Bethell, signed out to their uncle Robert Hodges from Des Arc, on 1 Sep 1900. Asa was 6 and Sinia was 4. It also said that both parents were living. There was no intake record and no other information.

Link : Leath Orphan Asylum History

Another surprise, in the 1900 US Census, Opal Bethell is in Joplin, Missouri. She is listed as a divorcee, her occupation is music teacher.

Asa and Sinia

Arthur and Opal had two children, Arthur Asa Bethell and Sinia Belle Bethell. Asa's date of birth, given by Opal on his death certificate, was 07 Jul 1894. Sinia was not sure of her date of birth. She thought it was 11 Oct 1893, but according to census records, and other records we have found, it was more likely 1896. Accounts given to us by Arthur William's nephew, John Pinckney Bethell, indicate that Arthur left Opal and the children in Memphis, TN.

 

Arthur William Bethell and Opal Hodges

Arthur William Bethell and Opal Hodges were married on 18 Oct 1893, in Des Arc, Arkansas. Arthur was 21 and Opal was 16. Her legal guardian, attorney Fred Clark gave his written permission for her to be married.