Daughter of George Wyman Shrake and Lena Dell Ree Lee Shrake.

Married to Earl Higginbotham on December 21, 1915.

Earl and Bessie were the parents of Velma Dell Higginbotham Strickland del Mendiola Neel [19 Sep 1916-Jun 1990] .

Married to Joe Cox.
**********************************
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie Shrake
Age: 12
Birth Date: Oct 1887
Birthplace: Kansas
Home in 1900: Liberty, Linn, Kansas
House Number: 2
Sheet Number: 5
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 86
Family Number: 86
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital status: Single
Father's name: George Shrake
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's name: Della Shrake
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Occupation: At School
Attended School: 7
Can Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
George Shrake 42
Della Shrake 38
Cora Shrake 14
Bessie Shrake 12
Lettie Shrake 11
Grace Shrake 10
Effel Shrake 1

Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925
Name: Bessie Shrake
Census Date: 1 Mar 1905
Residence County: Linn
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Lincoln
Birth Place: Kansas
Family Number: 120
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Birth Year: abt 1888
Race: White
Household Member(s):
Name Age
Geo W Shrake 47
Della Shrake 43
Bessie Shrake 17
Dick Shrake 16
Grace Shrake 14
Ethel Shrake 6
Roy Shrake 4

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie E Shrake
Age in 1910: 22
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Kansas
Home in 1910: Miami, Miami, Kansas
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital status: Single
Father's name: George W Shrake
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's name: Della R Shrake
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Native Tongue: English
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
George W Shrake 52
Della R Shrake 48
Bessie E Shrake 22
Ethel L Shrake 61
Leroy L Shrake 9

Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925
Name: Bessie E Shrake
Census Date: 1915
Residence County: Miami
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Marysville
Birth Place: Kansas
Family Number: 7
Gender: Female
Age: 26
Birth Year: abt 1889
Race: White
Household Member(s):
Name Age
Geo W Shrake 57
Della R Shrake 54
Bessie E Shrake 26
Ethel C Shrake 16
Roy Shrake 14

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie E Higginbotham
Age: 32
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Kansas
Home in 1920: Miami, Miami, Kansas
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital status: Divorced
Father's name: George W Shrake
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's name: Della R Shrake
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
George W Shrake 61
Della R Shrake 58
Leroy L Shrake 18
Bessie E Higginbotham 32
Velma D Higginbotham 3

Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925
Name: Besse Shrake
Census Date: 1925
Residence County: Miami
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Miami
Birth Place: Kansas
Family Number: 5
Marital status: Single
Gender: Female
Age: 35
Birth Year: abt 1890
Race: White
Relation: Daughter
Household Member(s):
Name Age
Geo Shrake 67
Della Shrake 64
Roy Shrake 24
Besse Shrake 35
Velva Shrake 8

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie E Cox
Birth Year: abt 1888
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Kansas
Marital status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Homemaker?: Yes
Home in 1930: Miami, Miami, Kansas
House Number: 23
Dwelling Number: 183
Family Number: 183
Age at first Marriage: 28
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Servant
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Household Members:
Name Age
George W Shrake 72
Bessie E Cox 42
Velma Higginbothan 13

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Bessie E Cox
Age: 52
Estimated birth year: abt 1888
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Kansas
Marital status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1940: Miami, Miami, Kansas
Inferred Residence in 1935: Rural, Miami, Kansas
Residence in 1935: Rural, Miami, Kansas
Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
Sheet Number: 6B
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: 0
Household Members:
Name Age
George W Shrake 82
Bessie E Cox 52