These children appear in the 1900, but not the 1880, census with our subject.  Based on the limited information from the censuses, one interpretation is that they are the illegitimate children of Parlee HARPER, adopted by our subject.

Secondary sources assert that Maggie is the daughter of our subject and his second wife, Clara, but based on the 1900 census, Maggie is our subject's niece, not his daughter.

1a.  D.L. Murray & N.R. Murray.  1995.  Marriage Index:  AR, MO, MS, TX, 1766-1981 (Broderbund CD-5):  not found, but there are no Clark Co., AR, records on this CD.

1b.  D.L. Murray & N.R. Murray.  1995.  Marriage Index:  Arkansas, 1779-1992 (Broderbund CD-6):  not found, but there are no Clark Co., AR, records on this CD.

1c.  LDS.  Family Search: Internet Genealogy Service:  IGI - International Genealogical Index (online at FamilySearch.org).

Thomas Abraham THOMAS Birth: 25 Dec 1852, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales Death: 22 Feb 1931, Curtis, Clark, Arkansas; Burial: Hart's Chapel, Clark, Arkansas Father: Nathan THOMAS; Mother: Rachel EDMUNDS Source: patron submission

Thomas Abraham THOMAS Spouse: Martha ODIN Birth: About, 1856, Illinois Death: 1880; Burial: Springdale, Clark, Arkansas Source: patron submission

Thomas A. THOMAS Husband Age at Marriage: 28 Marriage:  16 Jan 1881, Clark, Arkansas Spouse: Clove CALLAWAY Wife Age at Marriage: 32 Source: Marriage Records, 1818-1970. Clark County (Arkansas). County Clerk

Thomas Abraham THOMAS Marriage: 27 Jul 1884, Clark, Arkansas Spouse: Nancy Parlee HARPER Birth: 09 Feb 1854, Comeland Ridge, Clark, Arkansas Death: 03 Feb 1934, Curtis, Clark, Arkansas Father: John Calvin HARPER; Mother: Nancy E. BASS Source: patron submission

2.  1880 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #49 of 52):  Caddo Twp., Clark Co., AR, Roll T9_40, p. 452A, PN 49, SD 2, Ed 32, enumerated 23 Jun 1880, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1880 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

1880:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).
2	3	4	5	6	8	9	10	13	24	25	26
435	Thomas Thomas A	W	M	27			/	Farmer	Wales	Wales	Wales
	______ Martha	W	F	22	Wife		/	Keep House	Illinois	Ill	Ill
	______ Mary	W	F	5	Dau	/			Pa	Wales	Ill
	______ Abram	W	M	2	Son	/			Pa	Wales	Ill
	______ Nathan	W	M	22	Bro		/	Farmer	Wales	Wales	Wales
	______ Annie	W	F	35	Sister in law		/		Wales	Wales	Wales
	______ David? N	W	M	5	Nephew	/			Pa	Wales	Wales
	______ Nathan W	W	M	3	Nephew	/			Pa	Wales	Wales

3.  1890 Census:  the 1890 Census Population Schedules were destroyed.

4.  1900 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #42 of 42):  Caddo Twp., Clark Co., AR, Roll T623_53, p. 275B, SN 21, SD 5, ED 8, enumerated 28 Jun 1900, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1900 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

1900:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

27

392

392

Thomas Abraham

Head

W

M

Dec 1852

47

M

15

Wales

Wales

Wales

1875

25

Na

Saw Mill Laborer

Y

Y

Y

O

H

______ Parlee

Wife

W

F

Feb 1853

47

M

15

9

8

AR

TN

TN

Y

Y

Y

______ Mindy

Dau

W

F

Aug 1878

21

S

AR

Wales

AR

Y

Y

Y

______ Sidney

Son

W

M

Aug 1880

19

S

AR

Wales

AR

Saw Mill Laborer

0

Y

Y

Y

______ Nathan

Son

W

M

Jan 1888

12

S

AR

Wales

AR

At school

6

Y

Y

Y

______ William

Son

W

M

Apr 1890

10

S

AR

Wales

AR

At school

6

Y

Y

Y

______ David

Son

W

M

Nov 1891

8

S

AR

Wales

AR

At school

6

Y

Y

Y

______ James

Son

W

M

Sep 1892

7

S

AR

Wales

AR

At school

6

Y

Y

Y

______ Ira?

Son

W

M

Jan 1894

6

S

AR

Wales

AR

N

N

Y

______ Harvey

Son

W

M

Jan 1897

3

S

AR

Wales

AR

______ Maggie

Niece

W

M

Feb 1882

18

S

AR

Wales

AR

Y

Y

Y

Who is Mindy?  Where was she in 1880?  Is she adopted?  If Mindy and Sidney are Martha's children, they should show their mother born in Illinois, not Arkansas.  Are Mindy and Sidney adopted?  If they were Parlee's children, then they would have to be illegitimate because Parlee married our subject under her maiden name.  Or are we incorrect about the identity of Parlee's parents and HARPER was not her maiden name?  Parlee indictes eight children living, and there are eight children listed, supporting that Mindy and Sidney are hers.  Maggie is supposed to be our subject's daughter with his second wife, Clara, but if so, why is she labeled "niece"?

5.  WorldConnect / Ancestry World Trees (online at RootsWeb.com/Ancestry.com).