Life History

Notes

• Elijah's mother died in childbirth with him, due to a hemorrhage of the uterus.  His surname is the same as his mother's because she married a McSwain cousin, Reuben McSwain.
  
  1880 Federal Census Mortality Schedules, Cleveland County, North Carolina, August 7, Sandy Rim, Enumeration District 71, Line 4
  J M McSwain
  White Female, Married
  Age 27, Est birth year 1853, Birthplace: North Carolina
  Death Nov 1879 Sandy Run, Cleveland, NC
  Cause of Death: Uterus Hemorrhage
  Normal Occupation Keeping House
  
  1880 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 3 June, Township 7, Sandy Run, District 71, page 5 (Scan 571A), Hse #46, Fam #47
  Reubin McSwain W M  34  Farmer NC NC NC [b abt 1846]
  J M McSwain W F 27 Wife Keeping House NC NC NC [b abt 1853]
  W E McSwain W M 9 Son NC NC NC [b abt 1871]
  P V McSwain W F 4 Dau NC NC NC [b abt 1876]
  E McSwain W M - born Nov 1879 NC NC NC
  
  In the 1900 census he is living with his uncle Berry and his aunt Berry's widowed sister Mary Lovelace.  Note that his birth date is reported incorrectly in this census, giving the year as 1800, when his mother's death and his birth were recorded in November 1879.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 15 June, Township 7, District 57, page 11A, Hse #176, Fam #181
  McSwain, Berry Head W M Sept 1841 58 Single NC NC NC Farmer Owns
  Lovelace, Mary sister W F  May 1830 70 Widow 2 children/1 living NC NC NC
  McSwain, William E Nephew W M Octo 1870 29 NC NC NC Teaching School
  McSwain, Lula Niece W F Feb 1874 26 Single SC SC SC
  McSwain, Pantha N Niece W F Jan 1877 23 Single NC NC NC
  McSwain, Elijah Nephew W M Nov 1880 20 NC NC NC At School

Sources

• 1. 1880 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 3 June, Township 7, Sandy Run, District 71, page 5 (Scan 571A), Hse #46, Fam #47
• 2. 1900 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 15 June, Township 7, District 57, page 11A, Hse #176, Fam #181