1850 Federal Census, Attala County, Mississippi, 2 September, Township 12, page 106B (scan 212), Hse/Fam #155 James Christwell 33 M Farmer b South Carolina Mary M Christwell 37 F b South Carolina Cannot read & write Martha J Christwell 15 F b South Carolina Caroline Christwell 14 F b South Carolina William H Christwell 10 M b South Carolina Margaret R Christwell 7 F b South Carolina James H Christwell 5 M b Miss Mary Ann Christwell 2 F b Miss 1860 Federal Census, Attala County, Mississippi, 26 September, Township 13, Range 5, PO Attalaville, page 233, Hse #1574. Fam #1616 James Criswell 44 M Farming $500 Real $250 Personal South Carolina [born abt 1816] Mary Criswell 48 F South Carolina [born abt 1812] Martha J Cane [Criswell] 25 F SC William H Cane [Criswell] 18 M SC Laborer in Farm J Henry Cane [Criswell] 14 M Mississippi Mary A Cane [Criswell] 12 F Mississippi Young R Cane [Criswell] 8 M Mississippi Sarah E A Cane [Criswell] 5 F Mississippi Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982 Mr James Henry Criswell Birth 22 Mar 1846 Mississippi Residence Precinct 2, Sheridan, Texas for 62 years Farming on own farm, last worked 15 years ago. Widowed, Spouse Mary Janes Criswell Father James Henry Criswell born Alabama Mother Mary Jane Cain born South Carolina Informant T H Criswell, Sheridan, Texas Age at Death 88 yrs, 9 mos, 20 days Death 12 Jan 1935 Precinct 2, Sheridan, Colorado, Texas Cause of Death Angina Pectoris, contributory Acute Bronchitis Burial 13 January 1935 Cheetham Cemetery, Sheridan, Texas Filed 3 June 1935, Filed Stae 5 June 1935
The Simons genealogy gives the name as Jesse B. No source is given for the name or date of birth in this source. The gravestone has Jesse Q, and the Essex Funeral Home burial registry gives the full name as Jesse Quitman. I have not found information that would indicate two different persons named Jesse Criswell. The names of Jesse (Jessie) B and Jesse (Jessie) Q (Quitman) seem to refer to the same person. But it is not clear what the initial B means or why it appears sometimes. Only one child named Jesse appears in the Criswell or Simons genealogies I have found. The greatest difference, however is in the birth date. Simons reports July 1892, while the grave has 9 September 1895, a difference of 3 years and 2 months! I have found no sources in the Simons online information, so I have gone with the firm date I have seen. The other information of this individual and family are so similar this must be the same family, despite the great discrepancy of birth dates. Also the age of the mother is a bit of a problem. Simons is the only source where I have found the family as a whole, originally online but no longer posted. Others I found later are similar. If the dates of birth and ages of parents are correct, Martha A Jackson Criswell remained fecund into her fifties. This is quite unusual, but the information seems to make sense otherwise. Martha would have been 52 when Jesse was born. The 1900 census reports Jessie and his siblings in their parents' home in Prairie Township of Arkansas County Arkansas. This census reports birth month and year of birth: 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 June 1900, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195 William H Criswell Head W M Mar 1840 60 Alabama Alabama Alabama Martha A Criswell Wife W F Apr 1840 60 Alabama Georgia Georgia Thomas Criswell Son W M Mar 1881 19 Miss Alabama Alabama Robert F Criswell Son W M Aug 1882 17 Miss Alabama Alabama Joseph L Criswell Son W M Jul 1884 15 Miss Alabama Alabama Edward M Criswell Son W M Jun 1886 13 Miss Alabama Alabama Maggie E Criswell Dau W F Apr 1888 12 Ark Alabama Alabama Lee R Criswell Son W M May 1890 10 Ark Alabama Alabama Jesse B Criswell Son W M Sep 1892 7 Ark Alabama Alabama This census reports both William and Martha born in Alabama. Most sources report his birth place as South Carolina. The latter seems to be correct. The Simon Family genealogy reporting on the Criswells gives his and his wife's birth as Attala, Mississippi, where many of their children were born. In several of the children's census reports, their father's birthplace is reported as South Carolina, and once in Harvey's record, it is North Carolina. Martha's birth state is usually reported as Alabama. In the censuses for 1910 and 1920, William is reported as born in South Carolina. In 1880, the record for his son James indicated that William (James' father) was born in Alabama, as the 1900 census. Subsequent censuses, however, reported James' father born in South Carolina, matching the earlier reports for William himself. I find that family genealogies usually report William was born in South Carolina, Abbeville District, specifically. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 April, Prairie Township, District 13, page 1A, Hse/Fam #7 Criswell, William H Head M W 69 Married 43 yrs SC SC SC Farmer Martha A Wife F W 59 Married 43 yrs AL TN GA Criswell, Maggie D Dau F W 20 AR SC AL Criswell, Lee J Son W M 18 Ark SC AL Criswell, Jesse B Son W M 15 Ark SC AL [born abt 1895] Cochran, Hal Hired Man W M 18 Ark Miss Miss I also find another entry for what seems to be the same person. Jesse Criswell, age 14, is listed in the household of his brother Thomas, 4 days later. Thomas is a son of William and Martha, so this must be the same Jesse (Jessie, Jesse B or Jesse Q). Jesse's information is the same in this entry as for that for Jesse B in the household of his parents, except for one small difference. The age for Jesse B is 15. the age for Jesse in Thomas' household appears to have been entered as 15, then a 4 written over the 15. If his birthday was in September, then his age was actually 14 at the time of this April census. I have found several double enumerations for persons in Prairie Township families in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 20 April, District 18, Sheet 3A, Prairie Township, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse/Fam #121 Criswell, Thomas Head Male W 30 Marriage1 4years MS SC AL Criswell, Lida Wife Female W 24 Marriage2 4years Ark MS MS McSwain, Albert Step-son Male W 5 Ark Ark Ark Criswell, Jesse Brother Male W 14 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer In 1920, Jesse's name is spelled Jessie, which is usually the female spelling of the name. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 5 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 1A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #4 Criswell, William H Head Rents Farm M W 74 Widowed SC SC SC Farmer Criswell, Jessie [sic] Son M W 24 Single AR SC SC Farm Laborer Criswell, Maggie Dau F W 30 Single AR SC SC Criswell, Woodrow Grandson M W 4 Single AR AR AR After finding him in all these censuses, I found Jesse's Draft Registration for both WWI and WWII. For WWI, he is registered as simply Jesse Criswell, and he signed it as Jesie Criswell (only one S). But for WWII, his name is Jessie Quitman Criswell and he signed it Jessie Criswell. For both Draft Registrations he is living at Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas. Ethel is his birthplace. His birth date is given as 9 September 1895. He is described as being of medium height, and slender build, having Grey eyes and Brown hair. In 1917, he is a single Farmer. he says he is supporting his father, although the census for 1920 reports that William is Head of the house and a Farmer. The 1942 registration gives his wife's name as Lavada Criswell. He is self-employed, but his occupation is not given, presumably a Farmer. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 April, District 7, Sheet 5A, Prairie Township, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse #88, Fam #89 Criswell, Jesse Q Head M W 34 Married at 24 AR SC AL Farmer Criswell, Nevad (Lavada) M Wife F W 28 Married at 18 TX AR Indiana Criswell, W H Son M W 8 AR AR AR Criswell, Nora M Dau F W 4yrs 1mo AR AR TX Notice that the birthplace of the mother of the two children is different. But the information indicates that this couple have been married for about 10 years, and that Lavada is the mother of both children. Jesse and Lavada must have married in 1920. 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 18 April, Prairie Township, District 1-18, page 9B, Oak Flat Rd, Hse #146 Rents $500 Criswell, Jessie Head M W 45 Grade 3 b Ark same place in 1935 Farmer Criswell, Lavada Wife F W 37 Grade 8 b Ark same place in 1935 Housekeeper Criswell, W H Son M W 18 Grade 3 b Ark same place in 1935 Farm Laborer Criswell, Nora Dau F W 14 Grade 6 b Ark same place in 1935 Criswell, Jessie Jr Son M W 4 Grade 2 b Ark same place in 1935 Criswell, Audrey Dau F W 4 Grade 0 b Ark Criswell, Woodrow Nephew M W 24 Grade 0 b Ark same place in 1935 Jessie Quitman Criswell Birth Sep. 9, 1895 Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas Death Jun. 16, 1975 Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas Father William Henry Criswell (1841 - 1924) Spouse Lavada May West Criswell (1902 - 1997) Burial Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Arkansas County, Arkansas Created by Susan Criswell Ecker Aug 07, 2013 -- Find A Grave Memorial #115058481, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=115058481
1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #19 Criswell, Edward Head Rents Farm M W 34 MS MS MS Farmer Criswell, Ella Wife F W 23 AR AR AR Criswell, John Son M W 4 Single AR MS AR 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Prairie Township, District 25, Page 8B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #152, Fam #153 Criswell, Edd R Head Rents farm M W 44 Widower MS SC MS Farmer Criswell, John E Son M W 14 AR MS AR [born abt 1916]
1870 Federal Census, Attala County, Mississippi, 23 August, Beat 4, PO Kosciusko, page 131, Hse/Fam #50 Criswell, Wm F 28 M W Farmer $50 Personal b South Carolina Criswell, Mary E 21 F W Keeping House born Mississippi Criswell, Jno H 5 M W born Mississippi 1880 1880 Federal Census, Attala County, Mississippi, 24 June, Beat 4, District 17, p 51, #461, Fam #465 Criswell, William 40 Farmer MS MS MS (b abt 1840) Criswell, Martha W F 38 Wife Keeping House b MS MS MS (b abt 1842) Criswell, John W M 12 Son MS MS MS (b abt 1868) Even though his middle initial is reported in the 1870 census as H, in genealogies it is J and some have his full name as John Jefferson Criswell. The name on John's grave is John J Criswell. Censuses report his wife as Sarah Ann or Sallie. Knowledgeable genealogies report her maiden name as Bishop. This is confirmed in the 1900 census, where a Robert Bishop in their household is reported as John's brother-in-law. 1900 Federal Census, Attala County, Mississippi, 27 June, Beat 4, District 10, Page 18B, House/Family #320 Criswell, John Head W M June 1867 32 Married 12 yrs MS TX SC Farmer Owns Criswell, Sallie Wife W F Aug 1871 26 Married 12 yrs 6 children/6 living MS MS SC Criswell, Sam Son W M Dec 1888 11 MS MS MS Criswell, William Son W M Feb 1891 9 MS MS MS Criswell, John H Son W M MS MS MS Criswell, Mandy Dau W F Jan 1895 5 MS MS MS Criswell, Della Dau W F sept 1896 3 MS MS MS Criswell, Charlie Son W M June 1848 2 MS MS MS Adams, Tommie Cousin W M Sept 1890 9 Single MS MS MS No Occup Burnam(?), James Brother (? Boarder?) W M Sept 1879 20 Single MS Germany SC Farm Laborer Cotten, Henry Boarder W M May 1881 19 Single MS SC SC Farm Laborer Meeks, Sih (?) Servant B M Jan 1887 13 Single MS MS SC Farm Laborer Bishop, Robert Bro-in-law W M Nov 1872 27 Single MS MS MS No Occup Cleghorn, Joe Boarder W M Mar 1875 25 Married 2 years (no wife reported)MS MS MS Farm Laborer John J Criswell Birth 1867 Death 1941 Spouse Sarah Criswell (1871 - 1954) Burial Greenville Cemetery. Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi Created by Mimosa May 19, 2015 -- Find A Grave Memorial #146711753, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=146711753
The 1900 census gives birth month and year of birth: 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 June 1900, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195: William H Criswell Head W M Mar 1840 60 Married 40 years Alabama Alabama Alabama Martha A Criswell Wife W F Apr 1840 60 Married 40 years 11 children/9 living Alabama Georgia Georgia Thomas Criswell Son W M Mar 1881 19 Miss Alabama Alabama Robert F Criswell Son W M Aug 1882 17 Miss Alabama Alabama Joseph L Criswell Son W M Jul 1884 15 Miss Alabama Alabama
Place of birth is assumed due to birth of preceding and following children. Family residence and his residence at time of death place are both Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas. There is a discrepancy between the date of birth on the gravestone and that reported by Mary Simons in the Simons genealogy. Simons has a birth date May 1890, from the 1900 census, 1 year and 4 months earlier than the date reported on Lee's gravestone, 1 September 1891. Simons also reports the name as Lee R, while the gravestone has Lee J. The 1910 census also reports him as Lee J. However, the 1900 census also reports Lee R Criswell. I suspect that Simon followed the date in the 1900 census. I have not found a statement of sources for the Simons online genealogy. The WWII Draft Registration reports his birth date as 1 Sep 1890, where the WWI registration has the date 1 Sep 1890. The full name of Lee Jackson is shown on the Burial Registry of Essex Funeral Home, DeWitt, Arkansas. The middle name Jackson also seems more likely because this is his mother's maiden name. With such discrepancies one might think there were two persons with similar names. However, the total family information is so utterly similar, this does not seem likely to represent two different families. Similar discrepancies occur on the information for Jesse Criswell, with an even greater difference in the birth date: Simons July 1882 Grave 9 September 1895 The 1900 census reports his birth date as May 1890. And, consistent with that date, his age is reported as 10. The April 1910 census age of 18 matches the birth date in September 1891. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 June 1900, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195: William H Criswell Head W M Mar 1840 60 Alabama Alabama Alabama Martha A Criswell Wife W F Apr 1840 60 Alabama Georgia Georgia Lee R Criswell Son W M May 1890 10 Ark Alabama Alabama Where I have not found other sources for most members of this family, I initially followed Simons. Gradually some other sources developed that have contributed or clarified information. All facts are sourced. The Social Security Death Index reports Lee's birthday as 9 January 1891, a year later than his 1900 census report and his WWI registration. But his WWII registration reports 1891. This is the date I have followed, since these match the date on his gravestone. (Though I have known some gravestone dates to be wrong.) Social Security Death Index, Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 6 Criswell, Lee Birth 9 Jan 1891 Death Jan 1975 Last known residence Ethel, Arkansas 72048 SSN 431-66-1778 issued in Arkansas 1954 Lee's WWI and WWII Registration information is helpful. Some of the genealogies must not have had access to this. Both have his full name along with other helpful details. Lee signed with his full name Lee Jackson Criswell on both registrations. WWI -- Lee Jackson Criswell Born 1 Sep 1890, Ethel, Arkansas Residence Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas Occupation farming; married with one child (wife's name not given) Brown eyes, black hair Registered in Prairie Precinct, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 5 June 1917 WWII -- Lee Jackson Criswell Born 1 Sep 1891, Ethel, Arkansas Residence Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas Wife Carrie Criswell Employer Willie Padgett, Ethel, Arkansas Note that the year of birth is different on the two registrations. It appears that the correct year is 1891. The date of 1 September 1891 is reported by the Social Security Death Index, and is the date on his gravestone. Lee is recorded in the 1910 census as the son of William H and Martha A Criswell. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 April, Prairie Township, District 13, page 1A, Hse/Fam #7 Criswell, William H Head M W 69 Married 43 yrs SC SC SC Farmer Martha A Wife F W 59 Married 43 yrs AL TN GA Criswell, Lee J Son W M 15 Ark SC AL In 1920, Lee and Carrie have one child, Olan G. They are living next door to Thomas Jefferson and Lida B Criswell. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 6 February, Prairie Township (South), District 16, page 7B, Hse #134, Fam #140 Criswell, Lee J Head Owns farm M W 28 Ark GA MS Farmer Criswell, Carrie B Wife M F 25 MO US IN Criswell, Olan G Son M W 4 AR AR MO I note that the birthplace of Lee's parents are reported as father Georgia, mother Mississippi, while in 1910 it had been father South Carolina, mother Alabama. 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 8 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 3B, Belleview Rd, Hse #45, Rents Farm, $300 Criswell, Lee Head M W 49 Grade 5 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Farmer Criswell, Carrie Wife F W 48 Grade 6 b Missouri same house in 1935 Housekeeper Criswell, Melvin Son M W 15 Single Grade 7 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Criswell, Merry Dau F W 10 Grade 4 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Gravestones of Mt Pleasant Cemetery Criswell Lee J Sept 1, 1891 Jan 17, 1975 Carrie B Mar 2, 1892 (no death date) Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas Photos by Edith McSwain Jenkins, 27 June 2003 & 13 May 2017
1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #19 Criswell, Edward Head Rents Farm M W 34 MS MS MS Farmer Criswell, Ella Wife F W 23 AR AR AR Criswell, John Son M W 4 Single AR MS AR Criswell, Velma Dau F W 2 Single AR MS AR Criswell, Lena Dau F W 3mos Single AR MS AR [born Sep-Oct 1919] 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 6B, Oak Flat School and Church Rd, Hse #96, Rents $2 Criswell, Ed Head M W 54 Widow Grade 5 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Farmer Criswell, Learner (Lena) Dau F W 22 Divorced Grade 4 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Housekeeper Criswell, Peggie Joe Granddau F W 5 Single b Arkansas same place in 1935 Lena is enumerated under her maiden name and her daughter is also given the name Criswell. In December of that year she married Lloyd West. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 Lena Criswell Age 23, Birth Year abt 1917 Residence: Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas Spouse's Name: Lloyd West Spouse's Age: 28 Spouse's Residence: Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas Marriage 14 Dec 1940 Arkansas County Marriage License Date: 14 Dec 1940 Gravestone of Lloyd and Lena West, Chute Cemetery, Arkansas County, Arkansas West Lloyd Mar 24, 1912 - Aug 22, 1998 Lena Oct 31, 1916 - Sept 21, 1989
Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 Leona Criswell Age 16, Birth Year abt 1898 Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas Spouse W H Poston Spouse's Age 22 Spouse's Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas Marriage 29 Nov 1914 Arkansas County Marriage License Date 27 Nov 1914 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 23 April, Prairie Township, D 25, page 8A, Ethel and Chute Rd, Hse #136, Fam #137 Poston, W H Head Owns M W 37 First married at age 22 Illinois Illinois Illinois Farmer Poston, Leona Wife F W 31 First married at age 18 Arkansas Mississippi Arkansas Poston, Ethel Dau F W 14 Arkansas Illinois Arkansas Poston, Earl B Son M W 8 Arkansas Illinois Arkansas Poston, W H Son M W 1yr 5mos Arkansas Illinois Arkansas Leona Poston Birth Aug. 26, 1898 Death Jun. 22, 1951 Spouse William Poston (1892 - 1976) Burial Chute Cemetery, De Witt, Arkansas County, Arkansas Created by Lin May 02, 2011 -- Find A Grave Memorial #69234538, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69234538