Life History

Notes

• The name is more often found as Lyda or Lida, and it is likely this was actually the spelling more commonly used.  I even found the Social Security records recording her name as Lida B Criswell.  Though some early patchy sources seemed to indicate the actual name was Lydia, it appears it was likely Lida.  The only document I have found where it isspelled Lydia is the 1900 census, which is not very reliable, being filled with all kinds of errors of spelling and dates and birth states.
  
  In 1900 it appears to be Lida's family living next door to Thomas' family.  Her mother is a widow managing the home with 6 children.  Lydiais 13 years old.  The family name is spelled Cocran (for Cochran).
  
  1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 June, District 7, Sheet 11B, Prairie Township, Hse/Fam #193
  Cocran, Rosa Head W F July 1854  45 Widow 11 children, 6 living MS NCMS  Farmer
  Cocran, Connie L Dau W F Nov 1875  24  MS MS MS
  Cocran, Leviticus B Son W M Sep 1880  19  MS MS MS  Farm Laborer
  Cocran, Addie M Dau W F Mar 1885  15  MS MS MS
  Cocran, Lydia Dau W F Apr 1887  13  MS MS MS
  Cocran, Belle L Dau W F June 1889  10  MS MS MS
  Cocran, Hallie M Son W F Oct 1891  8  MS MS MS
  
  Lyda (Lydia?) was married to a McSwain before marrying Thomas Criswell, but I have not discovered the first name of this first husband.  Inthe 1910 census in Prairie Township, Arkansas County, Lydia is married to Thomas Criswell, at age 24, and they have been married 4 years.It is his first marriage, but her second.
  
  Living with them is Albert McSwain "Step-son" of Thomas; Lydia (Lida)is shown as in her 2nd marriage:
  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  AR  MS MS
  Criswell, Meoma B  Dau F W 1  AR MS AR
  McSwain, Albert  Step-son  Male W 5  Ark  Ark  Ark
  
  This would mean Albert was born about 1905.  Albert is 14 in the 1920census report for the family.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 6 February, Prairie Township, District 16, Page 7B, Hse #135, Fam #141
  Criswell, Thomas  Head  Owns Farm, M W 40  MS GA MS Farmer
  Criswell, Lyda  B Wife  F W 33  AR MS MS
  McSwain, Albert L  Son  M W 14  AR AR AR [born abt 1906] Farm Laborer
  Criswell, Neoma  B  Dau  F W 10  AR AR AR [born abt 1910] Farm Laborer
  Criswell, Sadie I  Dau  F W 7  AR AR AR [born abt 1915]
  Criswell, Hallie J  Son  M W 15  AR AR AR [born abt 1915]
  Criswell, Lucious H  Son  M W 3yrs 0mos  AR AR AR [born abt January 1917]
  Criswell, James B Son  M W 7 months  AR AR AR [born abt June 1919]
  
  In 1930, this son of Lida is reported as Lee.  It appears that his name was Albert Lee McSwain.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 April, District 25, Page 7A, Prairie Township, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse #124, Fam #125
  Criswell, Thomas  Head  Male W 52  age at marriage 27   MS SC AL
  Criswell, Lyda  Wife  Fem W 43  M age at first marriage 15  AR MS MS
  McSwain, Lee  Son  Male W 25  Ark  Ark  Ark
  
  Lee's age matches the age of Albert in 1910.  Lee is reported as son of Thomas rather than step-son.  This may indicate that Thomas adoptedAlbert Lee.
  
  Information in 1930 is not in the same format as in 1910, age at first marriage is reported, but not how long these tow have been married.  I note that in 1910, Albert was 5 years old, and Lydia is 24.  Shehas been married to Thomas Criswell 4 years.  This would mean she wasfirst married at least two years or so before her second marriage.  This would put her age at first marriage about 18.
  
  The 1930 census, however, says she was 15 when first married.  If this is correct, then she and her McSwain husband were married about 4 years before Albert was born.  Her first husband would have died about the time Albert Lee was born, or soon thereafter.  There is about a year's period between the birth of Albert and the second marriage.  Lydaand Thomas married about 1906, to have been married 4 years before the census of 1930.  That census was April, so they would have married between January and April in 1906.
  
  It appears that Thomas and Lyda moved to Texas.  It was in Texas thatLida's Social Security Number was issued.
  Lida B. Criswell, Born 14 Apr 1887 Died 15 Jul 1988 State (Year); Last Residence 76365 Henrietta, Clay, Texas; SSN 450-86-4730 issued Texas 1965
  The Texas Death Index reports her death with the same date as SSDI, but gives the location as Wichita County.  I expect she died in a hospital in Wichita falls, Wichita County.

Sources

• 1. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 21 April, District 25, Page 7A, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse #124, Fam #125
• 2. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 20 April, Prairie Township, District 18, Page 3A, Ethel & Point Rd, Hs
• 3. Social Security Death Index
  • Lida B. Criswell
• 4. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 16 June, Prairie Township, District 7, Sheet 11B, Hse/Fam #193
• 5. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 20 April, Prairie Township, District 18, Page 3A, Hse/Fam #121
• 6. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
• 7. Edith Marie McSwain Jenkins, Personal Knowledge
• 8. Simons Genealogy
  • Thomas Jefferson Criswell Individual, no longer online
• 9. Gravestone of Lucious and Alfred Criswell, Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas
• 10. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • Hse #124, Fam # 125
• 11. Essex Funeral Home Registry
  • BOOK XIV - 23 January 1965 - 30 October 1968, p 106
• 12. SSDI Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 6
  • Social Security Death Index, Date of Import: 11 Apr 2007, Internal Ref
• 13. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 20 April, Prairie Township, District 18, Sheet 3A, Hse/Fam #121