Her death certificate records Rhoda Toliver, age 66 yrs, 6 months, 16 days, born on 10 Jun 1861 in West Virginia, died on 26 Dec 1927 at Maben, Wyoming Co, West Virginia, married, father James Cline, mother’s maiden name Pricie Roberts, cause of death fractured skull, homicide, buried on 28 Dec 1927 at Maben, West Virginia, informant, Ery E. Cook, Maben, WV.

McDowell Co., West Virginia Marriage Record, Book 1, p. 118, lists the marriage on 18 May 1888 of Harvy Bailey, age 27, born in McDowell Co, WV, son of Harvey and Nancy, to Rody Cline, age 27, born in McDowell Co, WV, daughter of James and Pricy.

Although Harvey and Rhoda were not married until 1888, I believe all of Harvey’s children except Peggy were by Rhoda rather than Clemmie. My reasons for believing this are (1) the death certificates for Witcher, Clemmie and Anse all give their mother’s maiden name as Rhody Cline (or variant spelling), (2) the 1900 and 1910 censuses both list Rhoda as the mother of 10 children (8 or 9 living), (3) the 1900 census gives 18 years as the number of years Harvey and Rhoda had been married, which would be 1882 - the year Witcher was born, and (4) in the 1900 census, Harvey’s first wife Clemmie is living with their daughter Peggy in Mingo Co., WV, listed as the mother of 1 child, 1 living, while Harvey’s children Witcher, Clemmie and Anse are all in Rowan Co., Ky with Harvey and Rhoda.

While it is fairly common for death certificates to record a stepmother as a mother, such a large number of pieces of evidence all pointing to the same conclusion are very good circumstantial evidence. This was probably a case of a couple taking up housekeeping together before the prior marriage officially ended. It would be very similar to my great-great uncle Johnnie Pettit, who had three sons by Ty Trent while he was still married to Malissa Clark, presumably because she was reluctant to grant a divorce.

1900 census of McDowell Co., West Virginia, Sandy River district, enumerated 4 July, lists on p. 27A as family #465:
Bailey, Harvey, 40, b. Apr 1860, farmer; Rhody, wife, 42, b. June 1857, married 18 years, mother of 10 children, 8 living; Witcher, son, 18, b. June 1881; Clemma, dau, 16, b. Sep 1883; Anse, son, 13, b. Apr 1887; Albert, son, 10, b. Apr 1890; Jenett, dau, 8, b. July 1891; Dasy, dau, 7, b. May 1892; Wise, son, 5, b. Apr 1895; William J., son, 3, b. June 1897. All born WVa WVa WVa.

Note that the reported age and birthdate for Daisy are inconsistent. It is probably the age that is correct, since May 1892 would be too close to the birthdate for Jenett.

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearce precinct, enumerated 13 April, records on p. 6A as family #88/95:
Bailey, Rhodie, 48, widowed, mother of 10 children, 9 living, farm owner; Witcher, son, 27, divorced, farm laborer; Albert, 19; Wise G., son, 14; William J., son, 13; Daisy, dau, 16. All born WVa WVa WVa.

The next household is headed by George Wallace, who is married to Clemmie Bailey.

1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearcy precinct, enumerated 15 Jan, lists on p. 3B as family #58/61:
Bailey, Jay, 21, b. WVa WVa WVa, farmer; Lelia, 17, b. Ky Ky Ky; Rhoda, mother, 59, widowed, b. WVa WVa WVa.

Jay is apparently the son previously listed as William J.