Alex Wilkerson/Margaret Sanders/Tilman Jones
I hope someone out there can help with these lines. There is so much confusion on the marriages of Tilman Jones {my gg-grandfather} to his second wife Margaret Sanders, and then her marriage to Alex Wilkerson.
Here is the problem: Tilman Jones, b. 1840 GA married Margaret in Texas around 1878-79. She is on the 1880 Tom Greene Co. federal census. Tilman is not. I am assuming that he was pioneering his way west thus left his new wife and daughter living next door to her parents. Tilman died in Tombstone, Arizona in 1918 and is buried there. On the 1910 Cochise Co., AZ census he lists himself as married {obviously to Margaret Sanders}.
However, Margaret is listed on 1900 and 1910 federal census reports as Margaret or Maggie Wilkerson. She married Alex Wilkerson after her marriage to Tilman Jones, but lists herself as a widow on both of these census reports. BUT, Alex Wilkerson died after this in 1929 in Texas.
SO, does anyone know why Margaret married Alex Wilkerson while Tilman Jones was still alive, since he lists himself as married to her on the 1910 census? AND why she is listed as Alex Wilkerson's widow in 1900 & 1910 since Alex didn't die until 1929?
Any thoughts would be so helpful. Thanks so much!