Life History

Notes

• In 1920, we find the first listing of Hazel Bob in the census with her family in Prairie Township, Arkansas County, Arkansas.  The census was taken at their house on 3 February, but the actual census date was 1 January.  This is why her age is given as 1 year, 2 months.  Her actual birthday was 18 October 1918.  I did not learn this actual birth date until I found her obituary online in March 2008, about 3 weeks after her death.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 3 February, South Prairie Township, District 16, Sheet 6B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #117, Family #121
  Robert McSwain Head Owns M W 37 Ark NCar NCar Farmer
  Annie M McSwain Wife  F W 33  Ark  NC/SC?  USA
  McSwain, Hazel Bob  Dau W F  1yr 2mos  Ark  NC  NC
  
  Hazel's father dieed 3 days after the 1920 census was taken at their home.  She was reported with her mother and siblings with her stepfather James Magnus McSwain, her father's cousin.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 22 April, District 25, page 6B, Prairie Township, Ethel & Point Rd, Hse #125, Fam #126
  McSwain, James M  Head M W 45 AR NC NC Farmer
  McSwain, Mattie A  Wife F W 43 AR NC TN
  McSwain, That M  Son M W 13 AR AR OK
  McSwain, Wurt B  Son M W  11 AR AR OK
  McSwain, Bruce B  Son M W  6 AR AR OK
  McSwain, Elsie E  Step-Dau F W 20 AR AR AR
  McSwain, Nina M  Step-Dau F W 14 AR AR AR
  McSwain, Hazel Bob Step-Dau F W 11 AR AR AR
  Rowland, Walton Cousin M W 18 AR KY AR Farm Laborer
  
  Hazel married Jack Porter in 1939.
  
  Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939
  Hazel B McSwain, Gender Female
  Spouse Jack Porter
  License Date 13 Jan 1939
  Marriage Date 14 Jan 1939 Arkansas County
  Registered Arkansas County Marriage Book Vol 2, Certificate #270
  
  Hazel McSwain Porter was living in West Helena at the time of the death of her step-brother Thad McSwain in March 2007.
  
  Because so little information has been available on Hazel Bob and here family, I am including here the entire obituary published online by Roller Funeral Home at the time of her death.
  
  ----------------
  Hazel Bob Porter, 89, of West Helena passed away Monday, February 18, 2008 in Helena. Mrs. Porter was born October 8, 1918 in Ethel, Arkansas to the late Robert Perry McSwain and the late Martha Ann Padgett McSwain. She was a member of Second Baptist Church of West Helena.
  
  She is survived by her sons, James W. Porter and wife, Dot, of Palm Bay, Florida and Joe Porter of West Helena; sisters, Nina Mae Ragan of Dewitt and Eunice Butler of Ethel, Arkansas; grandson, Terry Porter.
  
  She was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Jack Porter and both parents.
  
  Graveside services for Hazel Porter will be held Friday, February 22, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest Cemetery in De Witt, Arkansas. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Roller-Citizens. Reverend Luke Crisswell will officiate.
  
  Services directed by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, West Helena, (870) 572-2571.
  Roller-Citizens Funeral Home
  508 East Plaza Street
  West Helena, AR 72390
  --  Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=12494&locid=34
  ----------------
  
  Hazel Bob McSwain Porter
  Birth 8 Oct 1918 Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas, USA
  Death 18 Feb 2008 (aged 89) Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, USA
  Burial Cedarcrest Memorial Gardens, De Witt, Arkansas County, Arkansas, USA
  [The above obituary was included in the lnline memoiral]
  Parents:
  Robert Perry McSwain 1882-1920
  Martha Annie Padgett McSwain 1886-1971
  Spouse William E Porter 1913-1989
  Siblings:
  Elsie Elizabeth McSwain Wycough 1910-1984
  Nina Mae McSwain Ragan 1916-2010
  Created by Sandra 19 Feb 2008
  --  Find a Grave Memorial 24750022, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24750022/hazel-bob-porter

Sources

• 1. Obituary of Thad Mathew McSwain, DeWitt (Ark) Era-Enterprise 28 March 2007
• 2. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 3 February, South Prairie Township, District 16, page 6B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #117, Family #121
• 3. Obituary of Hazel Bob McSwain Porter, Roller Funeral Homes online
  • Name: Name: http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=12494&locid=34;;
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. Ida Foster, note on website
  • citing Memphis Comemrcial Appeal
• 6. Bobby Butler, McSwain family notes on census, compiled 1995
• 7. Social Security Death Index
• 8. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 9. Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939