Ada Bell Perry was born on January 10, 1871, in Missouri to Susan Frances Foley, age 33, and John R. Perry, age 30. She married James H. Claiborne on March 17, 1890, in Kansas City, Kansas. They had seven children in 19 years of marriage.

Their children are:
Herbert Madison "Pearl" "Clay" Claiborne 1890–1959
Edgar James "Ed" Claiborne 1893–1975
William McKinley Claiborne 1896–1938
Grace May Claiborne 1900–1960
Walter Perry Claiborne 1903–1962
John Roosevelt "Jack" Claiborne 1906–1986
Ada Viola Claiborne 1909–2000

Ada Bell died on May 3, 1910 in her home which was located one mile northwest of Piper, Kansas. The cause of her death was heart disease.

Ada Bell (Perry) Claiborne was 39 years of age at the time of her death. Her youngest daughter, Ada Viola, was just over a year old and her oldest child, Herbert (who was affectionately called Pearly) was age 19. This left her husband, James, with 7 children to care for as a widower. It was a difficult time for James.

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1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Ada Perry
Home in 1880: El Dorado, Butler, Kansas
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of Household: Dau (Daughter)
Father's name: John R. Perry
Father's birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's name: Susan F. Perry
Mother's birthplace: Missouri
Race: White Gender: Female
Household Members:
Name Age
John R. Perry 39
Susan F. Perry 42
Winfield Perry 21
Adaline Perry 19
Edward Perry 17
Julia F. Perry 14
John W. Perry 12
Ada Perry 9
Ephraim Perry 7
James Perry 2

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OBITUARY:
CLAIBORNE—Mrs. Ada, 39 years old, wife of James H. Claiborne, died yesterday of heart disease at the home, a mile northwest of Piper, Kas. Mr. Claiborne is a road overseer of Prairie Townshi8p in Wyandotte County.

Funeral arrangements have not been made.