James B CRISWELL Someone CONNELLY Mini tree diagram
Martha J RAGSDALE

Martha J RAGSDALE1,4,2,3,5

about 18671,2,3 - after 1940

Life History

about 1867

Born in Arkansas.1,2,3

before Aug 1913

Death of Someone CONNELLY in Arkansas County, Arkansas.5,2

18th Aug 1913

Married James B CRISWELL in Arkansas County, Arkansas.6,2

after 1940

Died in Arkansas

Other facts

 

Married Someone CONNELLY

Notes

  • I cannot tell from the information available exactly when Martha married James Criswell.  The 1900 census reports that James' second wife Janie Holden had one child, John H, age 4 in the 1900 census.  Jerry Griffitts reports a child Caldonia born in 1901, who was his grandmother.  In the 1910 census with James household, we find Caldonia, age 9, but also Mattie (whose entry looks like Wattie).

    In the 1910 census we see Janie as James' wife with her 1.5-year-old Noah Criswell.

    1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 18 April, Prairie Township, Country Road, District 15, page 2A, Hse/Fam #18
    Criswell, James Head M W 39  2nd marriage, married 3 years  MS SC AL Farmer
    Criswell, Janie C Wife F W 32   2nd marriage, married 3 years  Borne 6 children, 5 living  AR NC NC
    Criswell, Bryan R  Son M W 10  AR MS AR Farm Laborer [born 1900]
    Criswell, Noah D  Daughter [sic] M W 1yr 6mos  AR MS AR [born Oct 1908]
    Holden, Caldonia Step-daughter F W 9 AR MS AR [born abt 1901]
    Holden, Mattie Son [Step-Son] F W 6 AR MS AR [born abt 1904]

    It appears that Jane died before the 1920 census, but it is not clear just when.  I have found no record of her death.  Jerry Griffitts reports (with no source documentation) that she dies in 1930, but it is clear that the wife in 1920 here is not Jane, who should be about 42, but Mattie age 53.

    The Arkansas marriage record provides details of the third wife.

    Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
    J B Criswell, Gender Male, Age 43 (born abt 1870), Residence Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas
    Name Mattie Connelly, Gender Female, Age 46 (born abt 1867), Residence Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas
    Marriage 18 Aug 1913 Arkansas County
    Marriage License Date 15 Aug 1913

    An old photo has Mattie's name as Mattie Ragsdale Conley Criswell.  This seems to indicate that her maiden name was Ragsdale, and Conley (Connelly) was her first marrired name.

    "James and Mattie Criswell:  This picture was taken in 1937 according to the writing on the back.  It also says that her name was Mattie Ragsdale Conley Criswell, so guess she was married once before James Criswell."
    --  Susan Criswell Ecker, comment on a photo she posted on Ancestry.com on Mattie's profile, accessed 8 December 2018

    In 1920, Noah is the youngest child in the household at age 11.  This also seems to indicate that Martha never had any children with James.  She was already 53 in that year.

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 February, Prairie Township, Country Road, District 15, page 6A, Hse/Fam #109
    Criswell, James Head M W 49  MS SC SC Farmer
    Criswell, Mattie Wife F W 53  AR AR AR
    Criswell, Myrtle Dau F W 25  AR MS AR Farm Laborer
    Criswell, Robert Son M W 20  AR MS AR Farm Laborer
    Criswell, Noah Son M W 11  AR MS AR

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 22 April, Prairie Township, Ethel & Chute Rd, District 7, page 7B, Hse #127 Fam #128
    Criswell, James B  Head M W 59  MS SC USA Farmer
    Criswell, Martha J Wife F W 63  AR TN TN
    Criswell, Nixie M  Granddaughter F W 14 AR AR AR Farm Laborer

    I have not figured out the parents of James' granddaughter Nixie reported in the household in 1930.

    1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 April, Ethel, District 1-24, page 7A, Ethel Rd, Hse #92, Rents Farm, $20 value
    Crisswell, James Head M W 69 Grade 4 b Mississippi same house in 1935
    Crisswell, Martha Wife F W 73 Grade 2 b Arkansas same house in 1935

Sources

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