Life History

Notes

• It seems there were two children in this family named Margaret.  Here Maggie E is reported at age 12, and with a birthday of April 1888.  I assume that Maggie here is, as usual, the nickname for Margaret.  But there is a child reported as Margaret who is age 3 in 1880.  That would make her age 23 in 1900.  But how could a 23 year old be mistaken for a 12-year-old, as Maggie is reported here.
  
  Thus I conclude that there wa an earlier child named Margaret, then a second child also named Margaret (called Maggie here).  Or maybe it is possible they named here Maggie, the nickname, as a primary name.  Was this because the earlier Margaret had died young?  This was sometiems the case with familes in the1800s.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Attala County, Mississippi, 24 June, Beat 4, District 17, p 51, #461, Fam #465
  Criswell, William 40    Farmer MS MS MS (b abt 1840)
  Criswell, Martha W F 38 Wife Keeping House b MS MS MS (b abt 1842)
  Criswell, Margaret  W F 3 Dau MS MS MS (b abt 1877)
  
  1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 June, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195
  Maggie E Criswell Dau W F  Apr 1888  12  Ark Alabama Alabama
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 April, Prairie Township, District 13, page 1A, Hse/Fam #7
  Criswell, William H  Head M W 69 Married 43 yrs SC SC SC Farmer
  Martha A  Wife F W 69 Married 43 yrs AL TN GA
  Criswell, Maggie D Dau F W 20 AR SC AL
  
  These two censuses show Maggie born in Arkansas, whereas a Simons family genealogy reports her born in Attala, Mississippi.  We know that the family lived in Attala before they moved to Ethel, Arkansas, so perhaps the genealogy generalized that as the birthplace of all the children as well.  John, the oldest son,  is the only child reported by the genealogy as born in Alabama.  Attala is also reported as the birthplace of father William H.  I have confirmed that this is an error.
  
  William was born in South Carolina.  The 1900 census erroneously reports him born in Alabama.  But all other sources indicate he was born in South Carolina, and some genealogies specifically give his birthplace as Abbeville District.  William's father James Henry was born in South Carolina.  It is possible that the family resided in Alabama for some time before moving on to Mississippi.  Perhaps further information will clarify if this accurate.  Maggie is still single and living in her father's household at age 30, at the time of the 1920 census.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 5 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 1A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #4
  Criswell, Maggie Dau F W 30 Single AR SC SC

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 16 June, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195
• 2. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 5 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 1A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #4
• 3. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 16 April, Prairie Township, District 13, page 1A, Hse/Fam #7
• 4. Private Genealogies