The 1880 census shows the Williams-Franklin families in separate households in Denison and Sherman.  George and Clara had moved in with her mother, Rebecca, at 703 W. Bond Street in Denison.  Although it had been Rebecca's home for many years, George was listed as the head of the household.  It is noted in column 11 that Rebecca is "divorced."

Also living there was Clara's 16-year-old sister, Ida Williams.  Eight-year-old  William Franklin was listed as the son of George and Clara.  Whether he was the biological  son of both, or either, is open to question.  When William was born in 1872, Clara was only sixteen.  She would not marry George for another six years.  The two of them had a brand-new baby, Chester, born June 7th, a week before the census taker came to their house on June 14th.  Chester's name is not listed on the census form because he was born six days after the June 1st cutoff date.  Years later his biography woul say that he was "the only child" of George and Clara.  William Franklin may have been George's son from a previous union.  What became of him after 1880 is unknown.

On June 1st the census taker came to David Williams' house on N. Travis Street in Sherman.  He found Ida WIlliams there and recorded her age as 15.  Thirteen days later it was recorded as 16 when she was counted again at her mother's house in Denison.  Also living with David in Sherman was Ida's 11-year-old brother Clarence and 4-year-old sister, Trassa,  A 24-year-old housekeeper, Celia Banfay, was at the same address.   In columns 9 and 11 David is listed as "single" and a "widower."