In the 1930 census of La Vernia, Wilson Co TX, it was stated that Richard Wells was a veteran of WW I. On his WWI draft registration card, dated 5 June 1917, he was still single.

1920 Census of Justice Pct 6, Wilson Co TX

Name Age
Ortelia Wells 56 head widow TX Germany Germany
Richard Wells 32 son single TX TX TX mechanic, garage

Richard Wells and Sallie Lay married in 1921, as indicated by the 1930 census of Pct 6, Wilson Co TX:

Name Age
Richard Wells 42 head m(33)* TX TX TX laborer, odd jobs
Sally C Wells 38 wife m(29)* none
Charlie Foegelle 37 lodger s manager, auto garage

*Age at first marriage.

1940 Census of Lavernia, Wilson Co TX

Name
Age
Richard Wells
51
Sellie Bell Wells
48

Aunt Sallie and Uncle Richard lived in LaVernia their whole lives. They had no children.231 Aunt Sallie was quite deaf and wore a hearing aid. She used to come from her home to visit the Heathcock family in San Antonio, bringing her possessions in a large round black valise.

The following was published in Gail Shriber’s Journal, written for the Wilson County Centennial in 1960:232

" Sallie Belle Lay, as a very young lady, married Richard M. Wells II. Here she found pleasure and fulfillment in living near and loving those she had known always. She passed on earlier this year, leaving many hearts to miss her coming and going and the children, to remember long, her cookie jar. Her father, F. Marion Lay and mother, Nancy Green Lay, kept the Lay Hotel here on Main Street for many a year, Mr. Lay serving the town as Justice of the Peace. Earlier he had been employed by the Kott and Sanders Store. The Lays got into the hotel operation by trading their home to the Cant (A.C.) Sculls for the hotel property. Mr. August Tampke filled the vacancy of Justice of the Peace after the death of Judge Lay."

Sallie still lived with her mother in 1920: La Vernia, Wilson Co TX (29 January 1920):

Name Age
Fanny M Lay 58 head widow MO TN TN
Salley Lay 27 dau single TX MO TX
Fred Lay 17 son single TX MO TX
Gilbert Lay 7 grandson single TX TX ??