After the death of his father, John Coleman Rheuark, Sr., young J.C. Rheuark was about 8 years old.  A family "friend" was supposed to care for J.C. and his siblings but unknown facts sent J.C. to live with Melvin & Elizabeth (Lizzie) West.  We find them in the 1910 census.  I believe J.C. became good friends with the son of the West family, also known as Melvin.  As a child I remember Melvin, Jr.'s son, W.M. West being part of our family get togethers.

I've tried to connect the dots as to how this West family came to care for young J.C.  Melvin, Jr. married Nancy Bell Rhuark, daughter of John Joseph Rheuark who was a first cousin of John Coleman Rheuark, Sr.  Young J.C.'s maternal grandmother was also a West, but those dots have not been connected yet.

Sometime after the 1910 census, young J.C. moved to Wilmington, N.C. and met and married Peanie Pierce/Williams (around 1917/18).