1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 14 August, page 134, Hse/Fam #967 George W McSwain 40 M Farmer $230 Real Estate $404 Personal born North Carolina Lucinda McSwain 42 F born North Carolina William McSwain 1 M born North Carolina William McSwain Birth 31 Mar 1859, Death 29 Jun 1945 Parents George Washington McSwain 1821 - 1909, Lucinda P Wright 1819 - 1897 -- Blanton Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/9854432/person/-729178190 This genealogy has the date of death on day after that recorded on the death certificate, where the typed date is March 30 1859. The Hamrick Data Pages reports this child of George Washington McSwain and Lucinda Wright, providing a middle name, but has only an estimated birth date, earlier than the exact date provided by the Blanton genealogy. McSwain, William Kaiser "Berry" (*1852 - ) father: McSwain, George Washington (1821 - ) mother: Wright, Lucinda (1818 - ) spouse: Ledford, Millie (*1856 - ) -- Hamrick Data Pages, http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hamrick/wga75.html North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975 Certificate #17661 William Mcswain White Male, Age 86, Widowed Residence Rt 4, Shelby, Cleveland, North Carolina Birth 30 Mar 1859 Cleveland, North Carolina Death 29 Jun 1945 Township 7, Cleveland County Immediate cause of death Senility Occupation Farmer Father George Mcswain Mother Lucinda Wright, b NC Informant Landrum Lovelace, b NC Burial 30 June 1945 Poplar Springs Cemetery, Rt 3, Shelby, North Carolina By Lutz-Sustell Funeral Home, Shelby Registered 27 September 1945 Note that the certificate actaully reports that the cause of death was Senility.
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 13 July, PO not named, page 73, Hse/Fam #48 George McSwain 32 M Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $75 Personal Estate born NC Hannah McSwain 35 F born NC William McSwain 4 M b NC 1870 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 13 July, Township 3, PO Stices Shoals, page 15 (scan 116), Hse #109, Fam #115 McSwain, Thomas 74 M Farmer $200 Real Estate $100 Personal born North Carolina [b abt 1796] McSwain, Hannah 45 F W Keeping House born North Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1825] McSwain, William K 14 M W Farm Laborer born North Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1856] William died in 1915. Death Certificate, North Carolina William Kine McSwain Born 15 Jun 1856 in Cleveland County, North Carolina Occupation Farming Died 16 Jul 1915, Cleveland County NC Cause of Death Stroke Father George McSwain, born Cleveland Co Mother Hannah McSwain, born Cleveland Co Informant J D McSwain, Shelby, Rt 3 Burial 17 July 1915 in Mt. Sinai Baptist Cemetery, Cleveland County NC By James Hamrick, Undertaker, Shelby, Cleveland Co NC Certificate Registered 6 August 1915
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 1 August, page 50, Hse/Fam #361 B H McSwain 33 M Farmer $800 Real Estate $260 Personal b NC [b abt 1827] Mary McSwain 33 F b TN [b abt 1927] William M McSwain 7 F born Arkansas [b abt 1853] 1870 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 7 July, Township 3, Stices Shoals, p 1, Hse/Fam #4 McSwain, Mary 41 F W Keeping House $600 Real Estate Value $150 Personal b NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1829] McSwain, Wm M 16 M W Farm Laborer b NC Cannot read or write [born abt 1854] Death Index 1925-28 Cleveland County, North Carolina Township 3 Book 9, page 186 McSwain, Wm M 5-31-26 Father McSwain, Hicks William's gravestone reports his birth date as 25 June 1852, but his obituary, inlcuded in the Find a Grave memorial, reprots the date as 24 June 1852. ------------------------ William Mastin McSwain Birth Jan. 25, 1852 Cleveland County, North Carolina Death May 31, 1926 Cleveland County, North Carolina William Mcswain death date: 31 May 1926 death place: Earl, Township 3, Cleveland, North Carolina Married White Male age at death: 74y 4m 6d birth 24 Jan 1852 Cleveland County Father: Hicks Mcswain born Cleveland County mother: May Rippey born NC occupation: Farmer Buried New Hope Cemetery 01 Jun 1926 Family links: Parents: Berry Hicks McSwain (1828 - 1864) Mary Rippy McSwain (1821 - 1887) Spouse Julia Etta Sepaugh McSwain (1861 - 1940) Children: Philip Houston McSwain (1880 - 1957) Georgie E. McSwain Weaver (1882 - 1966) Elijah Martin McSwain (1886 - 1953) Baxter Converce McSwain (1893 - 1918) Mattie Belle McSwain Hopper (1896 - 1977) Burial New Hope Baptist Church, Earl, Cleveland County, North Carolina, Plot: Old Section, Middle Created by Elizabeth Dec 27, 2007 -- Find A Grave Memorial #23574845, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23574845 ------------------------
1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 5 September, page 319 (scan 160), Hse/Fam #620 Hugh K McSwain 33 M Farmer $200 Real Estate b North Carolina Ulissa McSwain 32 F b North Carolina William S McSwain 9 F b North Carolina 1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 1 August, page 51 (scan 430), Hse/Fam #363 H K McSwain 43 M Farmer $900 Real Estate $1914 Personal born No Carolina [b abt 1817] Catherine McSwain 37 F born So Carolina [b abt 1823] William S McSwain 19 M Farm Laborer born No Carolina [b abt 1851]
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 4 August 1860, p 54, Hse/Fam #385 George McSwain Sr 61 M Farmer $100 Personal Estate b NC Catherine McSwain 40 F b NC William W McSwain 5 M b NC William W McSwain, born in North Carolina, is found in Tennessee in the 1870 census. 1870 Federal Census, Giles County, Tennessee, 15 August, Pulaski, Civil District 4, Enumeration District page 41, Hse/Fam #306 McSwain, Phelp 21 M W Farmer NC McSwain, Catheron 52 F W Keep House NC McSwain, Login 18 M W Farm Labor NC McSwain, George 17 M W Farm Labor NC McSwain, Nancy 15 F W NC McSwain, William 12 M W Farm Labor NC McSwain, James 10 M W Farm Labor NC He is in Tennessee with his widowed mother and other brothers, except Francis, who has already moved on with some other McSwains from North Carolina to Ethel, Arkansas, where we will find William and his mother and brothers in 1880. They got to Ethel, Arkansas, on the White River, before December 1876, because William married in Arkansas County in December 1876. It was enough prior to that date that he coudl meet get acquainted with Sarah Ann, who is reported born in Arkansas. Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 Sarah Lowe Wm W Mc Swain Bond 29 Dec 1876 for $100 by W W McSwain & Jesse Benthall Marriage 31 Dec 1876 Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States Solemized by J A Moore, Minister of the Gospel Age 19, Birth Year (Estimated) 1857 Spouse's Name Sarah Lowe Spouse's Age 20, Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1856 Filed 12 January 1877 William W McSwain is reported as simply William in the 1880 Arkansas County, Arkansas, census. 1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 10 June, Prairie Township, District ?, page 16, Hse #109, Family #112 William McSwain W M 23 Head-Farmer NC NC NC Sarah McSwain W F 23 Wife Hsekeep Ark Tenn Tenn Albert McSwain W M 7mos born Nov 1879 Son Ark NC Ark His gravestone has only the initials W W. In Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas, there is one gravestone for three people, WW, Sarah and their son Albert. There is a range of dates, rather than discrete information on each person. The second date is faded. It seems to read "1895 to 1904." The date 1895 must be the date Albert died, since William and Sarah's second son was born in 1896. Neither Sarah nor William show up in the 1900 census. Since the range of dates ends in 1904, at least one of the parents lived till then. It is likely that William died before the census, since his household is not reported in the census. Jerry Gallagher provides information on this family. Researcher Paul Sarrett has information on earlier generations of McSwains in North Carolina, where William and his family came from. I reference them in some information. Before making a connection with any McSwains in North Carolina, I had determined that William was a brother of the other two McSwains that show up for the first time in the 1880 Arkansas County census. Katy, a window age 60, seemed to be the mother of three young men who apparently moved with her to Arkansas. These were William, Phillip K, George and J L, later determined to be Julus L[ogan] reported in earlier North Carolina censuses. When I found the Cleveland County, North Carolina, censuses or 1850 and 1860, this was confirmed. I also found later about the young brother Francis moving early to Arkansas. He is already in Prairie Township, Arkansas County, near Ethel, which becomes the new home of the McSwain clan. A Judith N McSwain also moved to Arkansas, with her husband Edwin Padgett, to Ethel, and in later life to Ward in Lonoke County, over a hundred miles to the northwest. I suspected Judith's family were kin to this Arkansas family of McSwain pioneers, but could not confirm it till months later I had finally located Katy and her husband George quite some time later in the NC census. Judith was a second cousin of George and Catherine's children. A grandson of Phillip named Lester was also reported in 1900, and I later made contact with Lester's grandson, who indicated that Lester's mother was a daughter of Philip who died in childbirth, of whom we have no clear record. (See discussion on Cyrus Lester and Phillip's daughter Maggie E.)
After William W McSwain and his wife Sarah Lowe McSwain died, their two children were taken in by the Henderson family. I have not learned if there was a kinship relationship with the Hendersons. I found the 1910 census enumerating Bertha and Will McSwian only in February 2011. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 2 May, North Prairie Township, District 12, page 6B, Hse/Fam #116 Henderson, J M Head M W 51 Married 30 years IL TN TN Farmer Rents Henderson, Mary Wife F W 58 Married 30 years 5 children/4 living Miss LA AL No Occupation McSwain, Bertha Ward F W 16 Single AR NC AR No Occupation McSwain, Will Ward M W 3 Single AR NC MS Farm Laborer It appears that our William W McSwain, son of William W and Sarah Lowe McSwain, moved to Texas after the death of his parents and little brother Albert. An entry for a person of that name matching his details is found in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas in 1930. Other McSwains with connections to our Arkansas family made their way to Texas. Some in the same family seem to have migrated directly from North Carolina. In the Texas census, we do notice that the parents of this William W McSwain are both reported as born in Arkansas. This should be North Carolina for his father and Tennessee for his mother. But this kind of discrepancy occurs all the time in the censuses, and is thus not definitive. 1930 Federal Census, Kerr County, Texas, 8 April, Justice Precinct 1, Kerrville, District 133, page 7A, Hse #139, Fam #146 McSwain, William W Head M W 34 Married at age 24 AR AR AR Assistant Landscaper McSwain, Opal F W Wife 30 Married at age 23 IL IL IL Grocery Store Clerk McSwain, Harold W Son M W 6 Married at age 24 AR AR IL Note that William and Opal were married in Arkansas, since their son Harold was born there. This seems to mean that Opal's parents moved to Arkansas from Illinois, then William and Opal moved to Texas. They are living in the same house with a family named Kelly, all of whom, parents and children, were born in Texas. The Kellys and the McSwains are all in household #139, and the Kelly family is numbered Family #145, while William and Opal are Family #146. Head of the Kelly family, Herbert J Kelly, is a Construction Contractor. William's occupation is reported as Landscape Assistant. Perhaps he is working in the construction business of Mr Kelly, in the landscaping of the plots for the new houses. It is interesting that living next door the Kellys is another family named Kelly, but they are from Irish Free State (which we now know as the Republic of Ireland). Herbert is 53 years old, while the neighbour, Paul J Kelly, is 40. The World War I registration of William McSwain in 1917 seems to match with these entries. This provides us with William's exact birth date, plus specify the birth place as St Charles. This matches the presence in 1870 of his uncle Francis next door to John F McSwain and family in Prairie Township. The 1870 census did not specify a location in Prairie Township of Arkansas County, but in 1880, John and his wife Mary and their son George F McSwain (spelled McSwane in this census and in 1880) are specifically located in St Charles. The information we have about William's parents, William W and Sarah Lowe McSwain seems to put them in southern Prairie Township, in or near the Ethel community, a few miles south of St Charles, in 1880, when William is reported as a child in their household. St Charles was the closest town, where a doctor likely would have been living, so Sarah might have had her children in town. Or William might have stated the place of birth as St Charles since that was the nearest town. U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 William McSwain, age 21 Residence W Main St, Paragould, Greene County, Arkansas Born 30 May 1897, St Charles, Arkansas County, Arkansas Grey Eyes, Black Hair; single Occupation well driller for Lane and Boler Registration 5 June 1917, Paragould, Arkansas There is a one-year discrepancy in the birth date reported on the Draft registration and other sources. The 1900 census reports William's birth date as May 1896. Jerry Gallagher follows this date from the census in his genealogy. The draft registration however, which William signed, says 30 May 1897. William married Frances Opel Ellis in 1922. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 Opal Ellis Gender: Female Age 23, Birth Year abt 1899 Residence: Saint Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas Spouse's Name: Wm W McSwain Spouse's Gender: Male Spouse's Age: 26 Spouse's Residence De Witt, Arkansas, Arkansas Marriage 24 Dec 1922 Arkansas County Marriage License Date 23 Dec 1922 Arkansas Birth Certificate DeWitt, Lagrue Township, Arkansas County, Arkansas William Harold McSwain Born 7 October 1923 Father W W McSwain Age 27, Born Arkansas, Day Laborer, Residence DeWitt Mother Opel Ellis Age 27, Born Illinois, Housewife, Residence DeWitt Filed 11 November 1923 1930 Federal Census, Kerr County, Texas, 8 April, Justice Precinct 1, Kerrville, District 133, page 7A, Hse #139, Fam #146 McSwain, William W Head M W 34 Married at age 24 AR AR AR Assistant Landscaper McSwain, Opal F W Wife 30 Married at age 23 IL IL IL Grocery Store Clerk McSwain, Harold W Son M W 6 Married at age 24 AR AR IL 1940 Federal Census, Kerr County, Ohio, 13 April, Kerrville, District 133-1B, page 8A, 805 Moore St, Hse #192, Owns $2500 McSwain, William W Head M W 44 Grade 6 b Ark lived in same place 1935 Asst Landscape Gardener for Gov Hospital McSwain, Opal Wife F W 40 Grade HS-1 b Ill In same place in 1935 McSwain, Harold Son M W 16 Single Grade 6 b Ark In same place in 1935 The Texas Death Index reports the death of a William W McSwain in McLennan County (Waco area) in 1941. This could be the same William W McSwain. One genealogy references this TDI report for our William, but reports his death occurred in Kerr County (where he was living). He is buried in Kerr County. The death info on the military grave matches the death report in McLennan County. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Certificate #47119 William W. Mcswain Death 3 Oct 1941 McLennan County The Military Cemetery listing reports that William was buried the same day he died. This seems unlikely, especially if he was buried in a national cemetery, and thus likely with military honors. Kerrville National Cemetery, Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas McSwain, William W d. 10/03/1941 US Army, PVT, TX Plot: 2C 0 6, bur. 10/03/1941 -- http://www.interment.net/data/us/tx/kerr/kerrnat/index.htm
Willamette was first reported in the 1860 census at only 1 year old, but was reported as male. With the ette ending, this was surely a girl. But who knows what the enumerator heard? The children may not have been present for viewing when the enumerator was given the names. 1860 Federal Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, 18 July, PO Albemarle, page 129 (scan 65), Hse #936, Fam #940 Martin M McSwain 30 M Farmer $100 Real Estate $100 Personal born NC [b abt 1830] Sarah A McSwain 27 F born NC [b abt 1833] John McSwain 9 M born NC [b abt 1851] James E McSwain 6 M born NC [b abt 1854] Williamette [sic] McSwain 1 M born NC [b abt 1859] Albert Murrey 21 M Day Laborer born NC [b abt 1839] The 1870 enumerator either heard the name as simply William, or converted it to that by the time he got it on the paper. Both censuses report this child as Male. 1870 Federal Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, 19 August, Center, PO Albemarle, page 8, Hse/Fam #54 McSwain, M 41 M W Farmer $200 Real Estate $200 Personal born South Carolina [b abt 1829] McSwain, Sarah A 35 F W Keeping House b NC [b abt 1835] McSwain, Charles J 19 M W At Home born NC [b abt 1851] McSwain, James E 16 M W At Home born NC [b abt 1854] McSwain, William 12 M W At Home born NC [b abt 1858] McSwain, Nicey E 8 F W At Home b NC [b abt 1862] McSwain, Eldridge T 5 M W At Home born NC [b abt 1865] McSwain, George D 1 M W At Home born NC [b abt 1869] But in 1880, the matter seems to be clarified, when we have a correlation of the name form and the gender report, with the individual reported as Mettie and Female. Ancestry, however, muddies the waters with a mistranscription as Nettie, another similar nickname. 1880 Federal Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, 2 June, Centre [sic], District 202, page 3, Hse/Fam #3 McSwain, M W M 50 Husband Farmer NC NC NC b abt 1830] McSwain, Sarah A W F 47 Wife Keeping House NC NC NC [abt 1844] McSwain, Mettie W F 21 Dau At Home NC NC NC [abt 1859] [matches Williamette and William] McSwain, N E W F 18 Dau At Home NC NC NC [abt 1862] McSwain, George W M 10 Son At Home NC NC NC [abt 1870] McSwain, Gabriel W W M 7 Son At Home NC NC NC [abt 1873] McSwain, Nancy G W F 3 Dau At Home NC NC NC [abt 1877]
Though most public records refer to him as Wirt B, Edith McSwain says that her family called him Barnard, pronouncing the name "Bonnard." Wirt's son Ken says his dad went by Wirt, because he did not like the name Barnard (Bonnard). ------------------------- ...he was born in Ethel as were most of the other McSwains of his era. We didn't move to Scott until 1946 when he was 27 years old, and where I started school in the first grade. He took a job at Old River Fishing Club, near Scott, where he was the manager. He had no association with Scott prior to that. He was called Wirt in his earlier years - did not like the name Barnard [pronounced Bonnerd] and never used it - and was called Mac by everyone after we moved to Scott. Since you live in Arlington, you might be interested in this tidbit. One of dad's best friends after we moved to Scott was Pat Jones, who owned a grocery store in North Little Rock. They were fishing and drinking buddies. Pat's son is Jerry Jones, owner of The Dallas Cowboys and your neighbor in Arlington. Jerry and I were buddies as youngsters and were at the U of A at the same time, but we drifted apart after our childhood. Jerry owned a hunting retreat in Arkansas not far from Scott, and would always go there with his family, including his mom and dad, on the day after the big game on Thanksgiving day. I would often be visiting dad for Thanksgiving and we would usually go to Jerry's retreat for a short visit with him and his family. Jerry sent a large selection of foods for Dad's funeral in 1999, from The Dallas Cowboys. -- Kenneth Wirt McSwain, Facebook Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 30 March 2012 ------------------------- Ken comments again about his father's preference for the name Mac. "Actually he preferred Mac because kids used to tease him and call him Wart. He never forgot that and when he moved to a new location, told people to just call him Mac. That may have started at Scott, when I was 5, but Mac was his preferred name and all the Club members called him that." -- Kenneth Wirt McSwain, Facebook Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 31 March 2020 Robert Collins includes Wirt and his second wife Inez Sanders Collins in his Collins genealogy on Ancestry World Tree. He reports that the family knew Wirt as Mac. -- http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1524466&id=I527645346 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 February, District 16, Page 7A, Ethel & Chute Rd, House #121, Fam #125 McSwain, James M Head M W 35 AR NC NC Farmer McSwain, Ruth L Wife F W 33 OK IN AR McSwain, Bernetta O Dau F W 14 AR AR OK Farm Laborer McSwain, Ruth A Dau F W 9 AR AR OK McSwain, Marvin J Son M W 6 AR AR OK McSwain, Thad M Son M W 3yrs 2mos AR AR OK McSwain, Wirt B Son M W 8- 1/12 [this should read 9 months] AR AR OK In 1930, 11-year-old Wirt is in a houseful of siblings because his father has remarried after the death of his mother. James Magnus McSwain and Martha Annie Padgett McSwain have now merged their families into one household. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 April, District 25, page 6B, Prairie Township, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #114, Fam #115 McSwain, James M Head M W 45 AR NC NC Farmer McSwain, Mattie A Wife F W 43 AR NC TN McSwain, That M Son M W 13 AR AR OK McSwain, Wurt B Son M W 11 AR AR OK McSwain, Bruce B Son M W 6 AR AR OK McSwain, Elsie E Step-Dau F W 20 AR AR AR McSwain, Nina M Step-Dau F W 14 AR AR AR McSwain, Hazel Bob Step-Dau F W 11 AR AR AR Rowland, Walton Cousin M W 18 AR KY AR Farm Laborer Note that in the census here Wirt's name is spelled Wurt. It is also mis-transcribed by Ancestry.com as Ward. Elsie, Nina and Hazel Bob are the daughters of Robert Perry McSwain, Mattie's first husband. The last child here is the son of Maggie McSwain Rowland Porter. The Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939 Vol 2, page 0835, Certificate 00217 Wirt B McSwain married Connie Jones License issued 20 August 1938 in Arkansas County Date of the ceremony not recorded 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 8 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 3B, Belleview Rd, Hse #47, Rents Farm, $800 value McSwain, Wirt Head M W 21 Grade 7 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Cotton McSwain, Connie Wife F W 20 Grade 11 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Housekeeper McSwain, Joice Dau F W 6mos b Arkansas Their son Kenneth Wirt McSwain tells me Wirt and Connie were divorced when Kenneth was 15 years old. This would make the divorce in about 1956. Wirt married widow Inez Sanders Collins some years later. In 1951, Wirt was in North Little Rock, running a restaurant with Ted Cavin. U.S. City Directories North Little Rock, Arkansas 1951, p 187 Spot Cafe (Ted Cavin, Wirt McSwain) 105 S Poplar St Ken adds some comments about his father and family and business friends. --------------- "Dad's hunting buddies around 1960: Wirt McSwain [far left], Collins Anderson (of Anderson's Minnow Farm near Lonoke), Calvin Butler, Herman Jones, Howard McSwain. Dad loved hunting and fishing and was a natural with it." "He was a man of many accomplishments and many friends, despite a difficult childhood and a 4th grade education. He also started several successful businesses and did well.by his family. His last business venture was a very successful store that catered to hunters and fishermen - McSwain's Sport Center [North Little Rock, Arkansas]. He sold the store several years before his death in 1999. Because he was so well known in the area, the new owners kept the name and it's still going strong today." -- Comments on Wirt McSwain photo from his son Kenneth Wirt McSwain, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154723848470182&set=a.128413740181.220655.835570181&type=1&theater¬if_t=like --------------- Wirt Barnard McSwain was a resident of Scott, Arkansas, when he died. Sources on counties and town locations indicate that Scott is in Pulaski County. At the time of his birth, I believe the town had not yet spilled over the county line from Lonoke County. ePodunk states: "The community straddles Pulaski and Lonoke counties; ePodunk links to the county with the greater share of population." -- http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=11701 Scott, Arkansas, information: -- http://www.arkansas.com/city-listings/city_detail/city/Scott "[Cousin] George [McSwain, son of Oliver and Bertie McSwain] said he used to go fishing with dad a lot when he was growing up." -- Kenneth Wirt McSwain, Thad's cousin, Facebook messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 16 June 2017 Ken McSwain tells another story about his father's legendary skills as a duck caller, as well as giving some insight into Wirt's business acumen. -------------------------- My dad, Wirt [Mac] had a lot of close friends and acquaintances, businessmen, because he had a terrific personality and told great stories, as well as a sharp mind. Being a champion duck caller introduced him to Wylie Cavin, who owned Sportsman's One Stop in Rose City [northeast of North Little Rock] (just down the street from Pat Jones, father of Jerry Jones [of Cowboys football team fame], owner of Pat's Supermarket. Pat was a businessman extraordinaire, and he and dad were running around and fishing buddies.) Wylie also had, just for the record, a brother Clint who owned a nearby liquor store, and another brother Ted, who managed a restaurant and a picturesque motel a couple of miles out of town, called Lakeview Restaurant. Ted was also a running buddy with dad. Wylie had gone duck hunting with dad (and brought my sis a double barreled 410 shotgun as a gift) and asked him if he would be willing to teach duck calling classes for young men at his store on Saturday mornings. Dad readily accepted, and as his young son, I was expected to participate. Dad could blow a caller as if he were a duck and the caller an extension of his body. He could make it talk. There was name for each call: feeding call, mating call, and long-distance hailing call, and maybe more. Dad knew the language perfectly so had no trouble calling in the ducks for the hunters to shoot. -- Kenneth Wirt McSwain, Facebook discussion, 4 December 2014, https://www.facebook.com/n/?orville.jenkins%2Fposts%2F10205060122640950&comment_id=10205091634588729&offset=0&total_comments=65&aref=116076074&medium=email&mid=aea5cc6G464f7b8aG6eb2e2aGeG993a&bcode=1.1417699224.AbmufRqtnNQDCMnH&n_m=orville%40jenkins.nu&lloc=1st_cta -------------------------- Here is another testimonial story about Wirt from his son Ken: --------------- "[Another photo] of Dad that I remember was when he was about 12 and it looked like he was sitting on the top of a doghouse or some such. I probably have lots of old photos tucked away, as well as a letter written by his dad, to his wife, when he was spending time in the woods hunting. He was evidently a pretty bright man, because when his friends got in trouble with the law and went to court, he represented them, although I'm sure he had no legal training. I don't know how much education he had, dad only made to the 4th grade then dropped out to help on the farm. The depression was hard times for everyone. He was born in 1919. -- Kenneth Wirt McSwain, Facebook Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 16 June 2017 --------------- "Greetings! I'm not sure how we are related. Saw your comments to Ken [McSwain] so decided to contact you. My grandmother was Maggie McSwain Rowland. Her parents were Phillip McSwain and Martha Padgett." -- Linda Hall, FB message to George McSwain, forwarded to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 11 February 2018 "I am the son of Oliver and Bertie McSwain. My grandfather and Ken's grandfather were brothers and my grandmother and Ken's grandmother were sisters, making my Dad and Ken's dad, Wirt McSwain, double first cousins, which is genetically equivalent to being half-brothers. "When I was growing up, I used to go fishing with Wirt McSwain when he came to Ethel to sport fish on the White River Wildlife Refuge near Ethel. "I grew up in Ethel, Arkansas. I am not sure that I knew your grandmother Maggie McSwain Rowland, but I do remember a Maggie Porter who lived near Ethel and that a man named Walton Rowland used to visit my dad from time to time. Maybe he is kin to you, possibly your dad?" -- George McSwain, FB message to Linda Hall, forwarded to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 11 February 2018 Gravestone of Wirt Barnard and Inez Sanders McSwain McSwain Wirt Barnard Apr 6, 1919 Jan 12, 1999 Inez Sanders Apr 9, 1915 11 Oct 2003 Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas
1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 15 April, Prairie Township, District 18, page 1A, Hse/Fam #5 McSwain, Russel A Head M W 28 Married 8 yrs AR NC NC Farmer Rents McSwain, Ethel E Wife F W 24 Married 8 yrs 3 children/2 living MS MS MS McSwain, Wylton F Son M W 4 Single AR AR MS 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 10 February, South Prairie Township, District 16, page 9A, Hse #158, Fam #167 McSwain, Russel A Head Rents M W 39 AR NC NC Farmer [b abt 1880] McSwain, Ethel E Wife F W 33 MS MS MS [b abt 1886] McSwain, Wylton Son M W 13 AR AR MS [abt 1906] Living next door to Russell McSwain's family is the family of John B Horton. Two years later John's daughter Eunice Horton will marry Russell's son Wylton McSwain. Wylton and Eunice got married about 1923. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 Wylton McSwain Age 17, Birth Year abt 1906 Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas Spouse's Name Unice Horton Spouse's Age: 21 Spouse's Residence: Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas Marriage 29 Sep 1923 Arkansas County Marriage License Date 29 Sep 1923 In about 1925, he and his wife Eunice moved to Dallas, Texas. In 1930 they are enumerated in Dallas, along with another couple who are sharing their home. 1930 Federal Census, Dallas County, Texas, 5 April, Dallas, District 52, Page 8A, 2025 Richardson St, Hse #205, Fam #245 McSwain, Wylton F Head Rents $11.50 M W 24 First married as age 18 AR AR AR Underground Work Power & Light Co McSwain, Eunice Wife F W 27 First married at age 20 AR MS MS Icer, Candy Factory McSwain, Bernie Son M W 6 AR AR AR McSwain, James Son M W 3yrs4mos TX AR AR [b abt Nov 1926] -- Fam # 246 -- Rauderman, William J Head Rents $7.50 M W 38 TX TX TX Underground Work, Power & Light Co Rauderman, Dorothy Wife F W 24 AR IL IL IL They were listed in the Dallas city directory in 1930 and 1934, along with Wylton's mother Eunice and his brother Lloyd and sister Nellie U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta) Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1930 Page 1412 McSwain Ethel (wid Russell A) h 1409 Seegar " Eunice Mrs icer Brown Cracker and C Co h 2025 Richardson [wife of Wylton] " R Lloyd attndt The Gas House h 1409 Seegar " William A r 3539 University blvd " Wilton F (Eunice) lab Dallas P & L Co h 2025 Richardson Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1934 Page 1051 McSwain see also MacSwain " Ethel E (wid Russell) home 1510 Beaumont " Eunice Mrs icing dept Brown Cracker and C Co 4 2013 Richardson Av " Lloyd (Mary) atndt Dallas Car Clnr Co 4 1510 Beaumont " Wylton F (Eunice) lab City Eng Dept h 2013 Richardson Av You can see tha indifferent records Wilton's name is spelled sometimes with a Y and sometimes with an I. On his sister's death certificate, he signed as information spelilng the name Wilton. But on his own death record the name is spelled Wylton. You would think the name would be spelled there as the family spelled it. What appears to be a death record for this Wylton McSwain is found in the Texas Death Index, recording his death in Dallas in 1966. I have not found other corroborating evidence to explain the interim years. Note that his marital status is Single, not Widowed. I do not have information on the he death date or place for our Wylton's wife Eunice. There was some indication they moved to California. Wylton's son Bernie died in Huntington Park, California. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Wylton McSwain Death 18 Mar 1966 Dallas County Gender: Male Marital Status: Single Since recording this death information for Wylton, I found that Eunice did not die until December 1966. So perhaps they were divorced at some point?
1900 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 5 June, Rippys Township, District 50, page 4B, Hse #48, Fam #49 McSwain, Sarah E Head W F July 1846 53 Widow 3 children/3 living NC NC NC Farmer Owns McSwain, Zenus H Son W M April 1883 17 Single NC NC NC At School This indiviual's name on the death certificate is only Hicks McSwain, with the notation that he had (or they were told) no Middle Initial. However, some genealogies report his full name was Zenas Hicks McSwain. In the 1900 census above note that his name is spelled Zenus. North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1975 Hicks (NMI) McSwain Residence 312 Lilly St, Shelby, Cleveland, North Carolina Age 81, Birth 10 Apr 1883 Earl, Cleveland, North Carolina Occupation Painter, No SS# Death 21 Oct 1964 VA Hospital, Oteen, Asheville Township, Buncombe County Cause of Death Early bronchopneumonia, due to Pyelonephritis, due to prostate carcinoma with metastasis for 4.5 years Spouse's Name Hattie McSwain Father's Name H K McSwain Deceased Mother's Name Elizabeth Rippy Deceased Removed same date by Lutz-Austell, Shelby NC, for burial in Cleveland County, burial date not stated Social Security Death Index Hicks McSwain Last Residence North Carolina Born 10 Apr 1883 Died Oct 1964 SSN 242-36-1004 issued North Carolina (Before 1951)
Many features of this couple in Laurel Mississippi match George A McSwain, son of George Washington McSwain and his wife Hannah McSwain (maiden name). in Cleveleand County, North Carolina. After finding several later records, I found the 1900 census, which brought this identity into question. This census enumerates George and Charity already married and in Laurel, Mississippi, in 1900. George A in Cleveland North Carolibna was reported in the 1900 census with his mother still in Cleveland County, North Carolina. It seems likely the George A McSwain who was maried to Charity (maiden name unknown) in Laurel is not Georege and Hannah's son. I have not identified this couple further. 1900 Federal Census, Jones County, Mississippi, 21 June, Laurel, District 59, page 26B, Hse #501, Fam #508 McSwain, Charity R [Should be George A] Head W M Unknown Month 1850 45 Married 18 years NC NC NC Saw Mill Laborer Rents McSwain, Charley [should be Charity R] Wife W F Sept 1847 52 Married 18 yrs 2 children/2 living SC VA VA Cheek, M J Son[-in-law] W M July 1873 26 Widow MS SC GA Cheek, Idabelle Granddau W F Dec 1892 7 Single MS MS GA 1910 Federal Census, Jones County, Arkansas, 26 April, Laurel Ward 4, District 79, Sheet 12A, Hse #195, Fam #201 McSwain, George A Head M W -- Married 25 yrs [married abt 1885] NC NC NC Lumberer, Lumber Mill McSwain, Charity R Wife F W 60 Married 25 yrs 2 children/2 living SC SC SC Cheeks, Idabelle Granddau F W 17 Single MS SC SC U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989: Laurel, Mississippi, City Directory, 1912, p 160 McSwain George A (Charity) wks Eastman-Grardiner Co h 1147 13th Av 1920 Federal Census, Jones County, Mississippi, 4 January, Laurel Ward 3, District 88, Page 5A, 1147 13th Avenue, Hse #83, Fam #88 McSwain, George A Head Owns M W 58 Married NC NC NC Mill Laborer McSwain, Charity R Wife F W 70 Married SC SC SC "Mrs. C. B. McSwain, 72 years old, died at 9 o'clock last night at her home, 1147 Thirteenth avenue. She is survived by her husband. Funeral services were held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at the residence and interment was in Hickory Grove cemetery. Captain Widgery, of the Salvation Army, officiated." -- Laurel Daily Leader June 2, 1921, courtesy of Karen Sanford, Ancestry Trees,
In the 1880 census, the enumerator for their area had toruble with the names, spelling Puryear's name as Preior and Dulcinea as Dulcenia. Puryear's parents were living next door. 1880 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 23 July, Rippys, District 67, page 32, Hse/Fam #286 McSwain, Preior W M 34 Farmer Cannot read or write NC NC NC [b abt 1846] McSwain, Dulcenia W F 38 Wife House Keeper Cannot read or write NC NC NC [b abt 1842] McSwain, Ida W F 9 Dau Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1881] McSwain, Edgar W M 5 Son Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1885] McSwain, Willia[m] W M 2 Son Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1888]
"My dad’s stepmother was Norah Whalin, sister of Eldon and Kermit. I remember her talking of her famous family in Texas. My dad, Lester Reeves, is now 96 and recently turned over to me the family photos and memorabilia. It will take me months to go through it all, my intention being to get items to people who would care about them most. Today I ran across articles related to the Wills band, Whalin photos and a letter from Eldon and Odella, dated 9-13-61, in which they reference 'the drunken man who killed Carroll and Cecil.'" -- Lynn Reeves, Geneanet Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 16 September 2018 Kentucky, County Marriage Records, 1783-1965 J McWhalen Cornelia A Bledsoe License issued 5 May 1890 Edmonson County, Kentucky, USA Marriage 8 May 1890 in Owen Gibson's home, Butler County, Kentucky Edmonson County Marriage Book, pp 350-351 Witnesses James Raymond, Ewing Patman Ceremony by L F Balton, Minister [This is the only marriage record on the page reporting that the ceremony was performed in a different county from the issuing county.] John's death certificate reported his wife as Ellen Whalin. His first wife Cornelia Bledsoe died in 1910. The Social Security record of his daughter Hannah reported her mother to be Martha E Flora, matching the name Ellen with the middle initial E. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 Hannah Belle Whalin [Hannah Whalin Wates] [Hannah Wates] Birth 30 May 1923 Anna Warren, Kentucky Death Date 29 Dec 1996 Father John M Whalin Mother Martha E Flora SSN 403305374 Sep 1943 Name listed as HANNAH BELLE WHALIN; May 1945 Name listed as HANNAH WHALIN WATES; 15 Jan 1997 Name listed as HANNAH W WATES This led to the Kentucky marriage record for John and Ellen. Kentucky, County Marriage Records, 1783-1965 J McWhalin Ellen Flora License issued 20 Apr 1912 Warren County, Kentucky Marriage 21 Apr 1912 Warren County, Kentucky Ceremony at the home of George Bracken by R S Hunter, Justice of the Peace Witnesses Charlie and Berthie Young, Geo Bracken and Mary Bracken Kentucky, Death Index, 1911-2000 John McWhalin Age 74 Death 5 Feb 1937 Warren County Residence Anna Record Book Volume 19, Certificate #9500 Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1965 John McWhalin Death Age 74 yrs, 5 mos, 18 days Birth 17 Aug 1862 Kentucky Farmer, Last worked October 1936, Residence Anna, Kentucky Father William Whalin, born Kentucky Mother Lucresia Doolin, born Kentucky Spouse Ellen Whalin Informant E G Whalin, Anna, Kentucky Death 5 Feb 1937 Richardsville, Warren, Kentucky, USA Cause of Death Lobar Pneumonia Burial 6 February 1937 Mt Pleasant Cemetery [Warren County, Kentucky], by HH Guy, Woodburn, Kentucky Certificate #9500 filed 30 March 1937, filed State 14 February 1958 Johnny Henry “Mack†Whalin Birth 17 Jul 1862 Warren County, Kentucky, USA Death 5 Feb 1937 (aged 74) Warren County, Kentucky, USA Burial Green River Union Cemetery, Richardsville, Warren County, Kentucky Mack used the spelling of McWhalin, which is on his death certificate Parents: William A Whalin Unk-Unk. Lucresia Doolin Unk-Unk. Spouses: Nelia McWhalin 1872-1910 (m. 1890) Martha Ellen Flora Whalin 1883-1959 (m. 1912) For Children See Martha Ellen Created by Don Burris 15 Jul 2010 -- Find A Grave Memorial 55001948, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55001948/johnny-henry-whalin There are two memorials for John on Find a Grave, both by the same manager. This is because there are two graves for him. Neither has a photo of the marker. The one below is in the same cemetery with his second wife Ellen. This is thus likely a memorial, and the one above is his actual burial place, since he died 22 years before her. Johnnie Henry “Mack†Whalin Birth 17 Aug 1862 Warren County, Kentucky, USA Death 5 Feb 1937 (aged 74) Anna, Warren County, Kentucky, USA Burial Mount Pleasant Church of Christ Cemetery, Richardsville, Warren County, Kentucky Johnnie used the spelling McWhalin. Parents William Goodman Whalin: 4/18/1839, Warren County - 3/31/1916 Butler County Lucretia F Doolin: 5/07/1835, Indiana - 12/05/1907, Butler County Martha Ellen Flora 11/05/1883-4/29/1959 Married 4/21/1912, Warren County For Children See Martha Ellen Spouse Martha Ellen Flora Whalin 1883-1959 Daughter June "Eldon" Whalin 1907-1991 Created by Don Burris 23 Sep 2010 -- Find A Grave Memorial 59100054, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59100054/johnnie-henry-whalin
"My dad’s stepmother was Norah Whalin, sister of Eldon and Kermit. I remember her talking of her famous family in Texas. My dad, Lester Reeves, is now 96 and recently turned over to me the family photos and memorabilia. It will take me months to go through it all, my intention being to get items to people who would care about them most. Today I ran across articles related to the Wills band, Whalin photos and a letter from Eldon and Odella, dated 9-13-61, in which they reference 'the drunken man who killed Carroll and Cecil.'" -- Lynn Reeves, Geneanet Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 16 September 2018 Whalin Kermit F Sept 6, 1905 May 5, 1978 Avo L Whalin Oct 26, 1911 Dec 29, 1961 Clairette Cemetery, Clairette, Erath County, Texas Photo by Ken Jones (now deceased), taken 15 September, posted on Find a Grave 2 Oct 2008, accesed 18 February 2019 Kermit Franklin Whalin BIRTH 6 Sep 1905 DEATH 5 May 1978 (aged 72) BURIAL Clairette Cemetery, Clairette, Erath County, Texas Spouses: Zelma B Whalin 1906-1984 (m. 1964) Avo Laura Mayfield Whalin 1911-1961 Son Carroll Mack Whalin 1933-1961 Created by Yerva Williams Nelson 18 Sep 2005 -- Find A Grave Memorial 11774225, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11774225/wha
"My dad’s stepmother was Norah Whalin, sister of Eldon and Kermit. I remember her talking of her famous family in Texas. My dad, Lester Reeves, is now 96 and recently turned over to me the family photos and memorabilia. It will take me months to go through it all, my intention being to get items to people who would care about them most. Today I ran across articles related to the Wills band, Whalin photos and a letter from Eldon and Odella, dated 9-13-61, in which they reference 'the drunken man who killed Carroll and Cecil.'" -- Lynn Reeves, Geneanet Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 16 September 2018