Life History

Notes

• Dena married Walter E McSwain 28 Feb 1909 in Franklin County, Arkansas.
  
  Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
  W E McSwain
  Age: 24, Birth Year 1885
  Residence Coal Hill, Johnson, Arkansas
  Spouse's Name Dena Burnett
  Spouse's Age 20
  Spouse's Residence Altus, Franklin, Arkansas
  Marriage 28 Feb 1909 Franklin County
  Marriage License Date: 22 Feb 1909
  
  In 1910 they are living in White Oak Township of Franklin County, Arkansas.  Actually Walter's wife's name is so scrawled, it is hard to tell what was intended.  It appears to begin with the letter U or V.
  
  The 1910 census was the first record I found for Dena, and had no information at that time on her maiden name, and only the first name Deana from the 1920 census.  The wife's name in the 1910 census is scrawled and hardly readable.  The daughter's name is also a mess, and not clear.  Another genealogist using Ancestry user has suggested the name was Hermond.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas, 22 April, White Oak Township, District 52, page 6B,  Hse/Fam #76
  Burnett, Fred M  Head  M W  59 Married 41 years Ark Unknown NC Farmer Owns
  Burnett, Rebecca Wife F W 60 Married 41 years 12 children/9 living AR AL TN
  Burnett, Susan  Dau F W 10  AR AR AR
  Burnett, Major Son M W 27 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer
  -- Hse #76, Fam #77 --
  McSwain, Walter U [Eugene?]  M W 25 Married 1 yr AR AR AR Farmer Rents
  McSwain, Venie (?)  Wife F W 22 Married 1 yr 1 child/1 living AR AR AR
  McSwain, Hermond  Dau F W 1mo  AR AR AR [b abt May 1910]
  
  In the 1920 census Walter's wife is clearly listed as Deana L.  I suspected her maiden name was Burnett, since they are living as a second family in the same household with an older couple named Burnett, with other children still in the household.  Her maiden name is confirmed by the California death record of their son Willard Thomas McSwain, reporting his mother's maiden name as Burnett.
  
  California Death Index, 1940-1997
  Willard Thomas McSwain
  Birth 4 Dec 1915 Arkansas
  Death 11 Jul 1994 San Joaquin
  Mother's Maiden Name: Burnett
  Social Security #551266136
  
  Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
  Volume 66, Certificate #384
  Leona Den Mcswain
  Death 21 Nov 1922 Franklin County

Sources

• 1. 1910 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas
  • 22 April, White Oak Township, District 52, page 6B,  Hse #76, Fam #77
• 2. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas
  • 31 January, Altus, District 47, page 3B, Hse #57, Family #65
• 4. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
  • Volume 66, Certificate #384
• 5. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 6. California Death Index, 1940-1997
• 7. Social Security Death Index
• 8. 1930 Federal Census, Polk County, Arkansas
  • 8 April, Ozark Township, District 19, page 4A, Hse #66, Fam #68
• 9. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006