Life History

Notes

• Albert McSwain is first reported in the census in 1910 as the stepson of Thomas Criswell.  This is the basis on which we know that his mother Lydia Cochran was first married to a McSwain before marrying Thomas Criswell.
  
  Albert's father was also named Albert.  He was the son of William W McSwain and Sarah Ann Isabella Lowe.  Albert Sr's date of death is given as 1904, while Albert Jr was born in 1905.  So Albert never knew his father.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 20 April, District 18, Sheet 3A, Prairie Township, Hse/Fam #121
  Criswell, Thomas  Head  Male W 30  Marriage 1 4 years  MS SC AL
  Criswell, Lida  Wife  Female W 24  Marriage 2 4 years  Ark  MS MS
  McSwain, Albert  Step-son  Male W 5  Ark  Ark  Ark
  
  This census age would mean Albert was born about 1905.  We get the exact birth date from the Social Security Death Index, 23 February 1905.
  
  In 1930, this son of Lydia is reported as Lee.  It appears that his name was Albert Lee McSwain.  But his memorial on Find a Grave, with a photo of the gravestone, has Albert Levi.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 April, District 25, Page 7A, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse #124, Fam #125
  Criswell, Thomas  Head  Male W 52  age at marriage 27   MS SC AL
  Criswell, Lyda [Lydia]  Wife  Fem W 43  M age at first marriage 15  AR MS MS
  McSwain, Lee   Son  Male W 25  Ark  Ark  Ark
  
  Lee's age matches the age of Albert in 1910.  Lee is reported as son of Thomas rather than stepson.  His marriage record has his name as simply Lee McSwain.  And his listing in the 1940 census has him as Lee McSwain, when he is living with cousins, Mack Criswell and his wife Louie McSwain Criswell.
  
  1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 6B, Oak Flat School and Church Rd, Hse #99, Owns $500
  Criswell, Mack Head M W 35 Grade 8 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Fisherman
  Criswell, Louie Wife F W 27 Grade HS-1 b Arkansas place house in 1935 Housekeeper
  Criswell, Lucius M W 9 Single Grade 3 b Arkansas same place in 1935
  Criswell, Robert M W 6 Single b Arkansas same place in 1935
  McSwain, Lee Cousin M W 35 Grade 2 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Farm Laborer
  
  Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
  Lee McSwain
  Age 35, Birth Year abt 1905
  Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas
  Spouse's Name Ethil Lyghtle
  Spouse's Age 21
  Spouse's Residence Saint Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas
  Marriage 23 Dec 1940 Arkansas County
  Marriage License Date 23 Dec 1940
  
  U.S.Social Security Death Index, Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2 M-Z, Ed. 6
  McSwain, Albert
  Birth date 02/23/1905
  Death date 05/00/1966
  Social Security #431-48-9776 Issued in Arkansas
  
  I found his memorial on Find a Grave has his name as Albert Levi, along with a photo of the gravestone he shares with Edith.  This is the only reference I have seen to his middle name as Levi.  Everywhere else it is Lee.
  
  Albert Levi McSwain
  Birth Feb 23, 1905
  Death May 16, 1966
  Spouse Ethil J McSwain (1919 - 1987)
  Children Alta Mae McSwain Carver (1935 - 2013)
  Burial Saint Charles Cemetery, Saint Charles, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Created by Dale Houghton Mar 09, 2012
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #86503546, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=86503546

Sources

• 1. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
  • Memorial #86503546, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=86503546
• 2. 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 4 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 6B, Oak Flat School and Church Rd, Hse #99, Owns $500
• 3. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 4. SSDI Broderbund Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 6
• 5. Essex Funeral Home Registry
  • Location: http://www.argenweb.net/arkansas/essex_funeral_home_records.htm;
  • BOOK XIV - 23 January 1965 - 30 October 1968, p 106
• 6. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 21 April, District 25, Page 7A, Prairie Township, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse #124, Fam #125
• 7. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 20 April, Prairie Township, District 18, Page 3A, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse/Fam #121
• 8. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
  • Memorial #106315730, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106315730
• 9. Gravestone of Alta Mae and Millard Carver
• 10. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
• 11. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 12. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
• 13. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 14. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
• 15. DeWitt (Arkansas) Era-Enterprise