Life History

Other facts

Notes

• We find the Norsworthy family living on the White River in the small town of St Charles, Arkansas, where the ferry crossed over from Arkansas County to Phillips County, Arkansas.  Father Ben is a clerk in the grocery store.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 April, North Prairie Township, District 13, Page 2B, St. Charles Town, Hse/Fam #30
  Norsworthy, B S Head M W 38  Married 10 years AR MS AL Clerk, GeneralStore  Rents Home
  Norsworthy, Ella Wife F W 34  Married 10 years AR AR AL
  Norsworthy, William Son M W 11 AR AR AR Newsboy
  Norsworthy, Belle Dau F W 9 AR AR AR
  Norsworthy, John Son M W 6 AR AR AR
  Norsworthy, Herbert Son M W [Age not recorded]  AR AR AR
  
  Bernetta McSwain's parents are enumerated on the next page.  Herbert Norsworthy will marry Bernetta.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 18 February, North Prairie Township, District 15, Page 11B, St. Charles Town, Washington St, Hse #221, Fam #222
  Norsworthy, Ben  Head  Owns M W 48  AR AR AR Clerk, General Store  [b1863]
  Norsworthy, Ella Wife F W 44  AR AR AL [b 1865]
  Norsworthy, W B Son M W 20 AR AR AR Newsboy [b 1900]
  Norsworthy, John Son M W 15 AR AR AR
  Norsworthy, Herbert Son M W 13 AR AR AR
  
  Note that Ben and Ella's parents are now all reported as born in Arkansas.  The census month in 1920 was January.  The ages of Ben and Ellaare consistent in these two censuses, which tells us that their birthdays are after April in 1863 and 1865 respectively.  Similarly Williamand John age only 9 years between the censuses which tells us William's birth was in 1899 and John's in 1904
  
  Belle is apparently already married and in her own household.  It appears to be her living next door, as the 19-year-old wife of Jim Bob Morris, who is a rice farmer.
  
  We get Herbert's age for the first time in this census.  Since the census age is as of January, we can say he was born in 1906.  This is confirmed when we see his exact birth date of 12 September 1906 reportedon his gravestone in Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Ethel, Arkansas, a little south of St Charles.
  
  In 1930, we find Herbert reported as age 23, but still as having no occupation.  His father has moved from St Charles to the southern county seat of DeWitt, about 10 miles west.  He has also moved up from being a clerk at a General Store to owner of a Grocery Store.  There are apparently two grocery stores in the town, since one of Ben's neighbors a few houses down, John N Lorida (?) is described as Retail Merchant, Groceries.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 April, La GrueTownship, District 16, Page 3B, De Witt Town, Hse #66, Fam #75
  Norsworthy, Ben S  Head  Rents M W 58  Married at age 26 AR MS AL Proprietor, Grocery Store  [b 1863]
  Norsworthy, Luella Wife F W 54  Married at age 22 AR AL AL [b 1865]
  Norsworthy, Billy Son M W 31 Single AR AR AR Newsboy [b 1899]
  Morris, James B Son-in-law M W 31 Married at age 20 MO MO MO Salesperson, General Store [b 1899]
  Morris, Ida B Dau F W 29 Married at age 17 AR AR AR
  Norsworthy, Herbert Son M W 23 Single AR AR AR
  Morris, James D Grandson M W 10 AR MO AR
  Morris, Edwin Grandson M W 6 AR MO AR
  Morris, Robert S Grandson M W 2 AR MO AR
  
  We find Ben's wife Ella now named Luella.  The name could have been Lou Ella.  Son Wililam B is listed now by a nickname Billy.  We now find a confirmation that the Belle vviing next door to them was daughterBelle, since the Morrises are now sharing the same household and family number in this census.  We also learn from this census that her full name is Ida Belle.

Sources

• 1. Gravestone of Herbert and Bernetta McSwain Norsworthy, Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas
• 2. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 18 February, North Prairie Township, District 15, Page 11B, St. Charle
• 3. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 4 April, La GrueTownship, District 16, Page 3B, De Witt Town, Hse #66
• 4. Social Security Death Index
• 5. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 21 April, North Prairie Township, District 13, Page 2B, St. Charles To