From the Census of 1900, James L. lived in Indiana but moved or was in Kansas at the time of the birth of his second Son (Clarence b:9-Feb-1886). Apparently, he moved or went back to Indiana after that, since his other children were born in Indiana. I've heard a story that two of his children ( Clarence and Ester) lived with another family for a while due to abuse from their step mother.
I have found a James Vest that lived with a family named "Via".