Life History

Notes

• In 1870, George and his older brother Edward R McSwain are living with their uncle, Gabriel Washburn McSwain, the brother of their father George A McSwain, in Columbia County, Arkansas.  This seems to indicate that both George A and Martha Ranlde McSwain died before 1870.  I find no record for them after the 1860 census.
  
  1870 Federal Census, Columbia [Nevada] County, Arkansas, 8 July, Alabama Township, p 4, PO Falcon, Hse/Fam #32
  McSwain, Gabriel  53 M Teacher $600 Real Estate $500 Personal b North Carolina [born abt 1817]
  McSwain, Elizabeth 50 F North Carolina [born abt 1820]
  McSwain, Edward 14 M W North Carolina [born abt 1866]
  McSwain, George D 7 M W Arkansas [born abt 1863]
  
  A family researcher who is a descendant of George and Martha (Randle) McSwain confirms that Gaorge and Martha's three yougnest sons were taken in by Gaorge's brother's after they died.
  
  "Minor M. McSwain, George A. McSwain's brother, was my 2nd great-grandfather.  I see that Minor took in Thomas M. after George & Martha McSwain died, and that his brother, Gabriel McSwain took in the two youngest boys."
  --  Lea Harville Morgan, Ancestry Messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, Apr 06, 2016
  
  In 1880, George is living with the Hardgrave family in neighboring Johnson County, Arkansas.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 19 June, Horsehead Township, page 25, Hse #224, Fam #227
  McSwain, George  W M 17 Single Laborer [Head?] Ark -- --
  McSwain, Ellen  W F 41 No Relation Widow Keeping House TN NC TN
  McSwain, William  W M 21 Son Married Farmer AR TN TN
  McSwain, Martha W F 18 Dau Single At Home AR TN TN
  McSwain, George W M 13 Son Single  Works on Farm AR TN TN
  McSwain, Bernice (?) W F 6 Dau Single AR AR GA
  McSwain, Billie W F 17 Dau-in-law [wife of William] Single [sic] At Home AR AR GA
  
  The entries on this page are oddly labeled.  In more than one household the first entry is labeled by the job, not as "Head" or "Self" or blank as usual for a head of household in the 1880 census.  George is labeled in the relationships field as "Laborer"  He is single.  Ellen Hargraves appears to be the actual head of household, a widow with her children.
  
  Ellen's son William is reported as Married but his wife is reported only at the end of the list of children, Billie, age 17.
  
  David Holden comments that George's gravestone has his middle initial as W.  Find a Grave Memorial online has the details.  The following entry seems to be for George D McSwain.
  
  George W McSwain
  Birth 1864
  Death 1899
  Husband of Nan
  Son Casper J McSwain (1893 - 1964)
  Burial Hardgraves Cemetery, Johnson County, Arkansas
  Created by Bea Smith Daniel Nov 07, 2008
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #31213762, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McSwain&GSfn=George&GSiman=1&GScid=54194&GRid=31213762&

Sources

• 1. 1870 Federal Census, Columbia County, Arkansas
  • 8 July, Alabama Township, p 4, PO Falcon Arkansas, Hse/Fam #32
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 19 June, Horsehead Township, page 25, Hse #224, Fam #227
• 3. Lea Harville Morgan