Life History

Other facts

Notes

• U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
  Henery D McSwain
  Birth Year 1922 Arkansas
  Residence Beckham County, Oklahoma
  Enlistment 15 Oct 1942 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Education 3 years of high school
  Occupation Unskilled construction
  Married
  Height 70 inches, Weight 153
  
  In 1930, Burward is the youngest of three brothers in his parents home.  Because he was born in Arkansas, we can tell his parents moved to Oklahoma after 1923.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Beckham County, Oklahoma, 10 April, Elk Township, District 5-121, page 5A, Hse #78, Fam #79
  McSwain, John Head M W 56 First married at age 26 [abt 1900] AR NC NC Cotton Farmer
  McSwain, Bessie [Vessie] Wife F W 44 First married at age 19 [abt 1923] AL AL AL
  McSwain, Burward Son M W 7 AR AR AR
  
  In 1940, Burward is reported as Henry D McSwain.  We may take from this that his first name was Henry (but it could be the middle.)  The D may be from the enumerator's understanding of Burward as Durward.  But a public directory, as well as his grave and his Social Security records have his name as Henry D McSwain.  Does this indicate that his middle name was really Durward?  Two family genealogies do indeed report his name that way.
  
  1940 Federal Census, Beckham County, Oklahoma, 9 April, Elk Township, District 5-12, page 4A, Hse #68, Rents $2
  McSwain, Allen C Head M W 11 Married Grade 8 Arkansas Same house in 1935 Farmer [b abt 1938]
  McSwain, Mariam N Wife M W 22 Married Grade 6 b Oklahoma Rural Beckham County OK in 1935 [b abt 1918]
  McSwain, Vessie Mother F W 55 Widow Grade 6 b Alabama Same house in 1935 [b abt 1885]
  McSwain, Henry D Brother M W 17 Single Grade 8 b Arkansas Same House in 1935 No Occup [b abt 1923]
  
  U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1
  Henry D McSwain
  Birth 12 May 1922
  Phone Number 794-5692
  Address:
  5808 NW 58th St, Warr Acres, OK, 73122-7321
  104 Baer Dr, Moore, OK, 73160-2318 (1993 1994 1995 1996 1997)
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
  Amarillo, Texas, City Directory, 1957, p 542
  McSwain Henry D (Leona) serv dept Gunn Bros Service Center h 1532 E 7th Ave
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
  Amarillo, Texas, City Directory, 1958, p 429
  McSwain Henry D (Leona) servmn Gunn Bros Service Center h 1532 E 7th Ave
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
  Amarillo, Texas, City Directory, 1959, p 464
  McSwain Henry D (Leona V) serv mgr Gunn Bros Service Center h 1532 E 7th Ave
  
  U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
  H. D. McSwain
  Born 12 May 1922
  Died 6 Nov 1996
  Last Residence Oklahoma City, Cleveland, Oklahoma 73160
  SSN 445-18-8281 issued Oklahoma (Before 1951)
  
  U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
  Henry D McSwain
  SFC US ARMY WORLD WAR II, KOREA
  Birth 12 May 1922
  Death 6 Nov 1996
  Smith Cemetery, 301 N Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73160
  
  Find a Grave tells us the cemetery is actually in Moore, not Oklahoma City, and the county of Cleveland matches this, though a part of Oklahoma City also is in Cleveland County.
  
  Henry D McSwain
  Birth May 12, 1922
  Death Nov 6, 1996
  Parents:
  John Allison McSwain (1873 - 1938)
  Vesta Estella Weaver McSwain (1885 - 1964)
  Spouse Leona V McSwain (1931 - 1999)
  Son Keith Allen McSwain (1954 - 2016)
  Siblings:
  Ruby M McSwain Sullins (1905 - 1992)
  Jewel Rebecca McSwain Loyd (1907 - 1953)
  John Edwin McSwain (1912 - 1968)
  Chester Allen McSwain (1918 - 1973)
  Burial Smith Cemetery, Moore, Cleveland County, Oklahoma
  Created by Phil & Donna Strickland Jan 28, 2009
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #33343500, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=MCS&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=38&GScntry=4&GSsr=241&GRid=33343500&&ftm=1
  
  I found only one other McSwain in the Smith Cemetery, one Leona V McSwain.  It seems reasonable to assume this is Henry's wife.  There is no grave photo to confirm if the graves share a stone or are side by side.  Only closeups of the two footstones are shown.  But one genealogy that has a wife for Henry reports her as Lois Marie Dodson.
  
  Maybe he had two wives, Lois being the first and Leona the second.  Leona is the only wife I have found documentation of with Henry D McSwain.  Oklahoma does not make its marriage records avaialble online or through services like Ancestry.
  
  I found Lois Dodson in the right place, at age 4 years in Elk City, Beckham County, Oklhaoma, with her parents.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Beckham County, Oklahoma, 17 April, Elk City Ward 4, District 10, Page 11B, 701 West 10th St, Hse #218, Fam #279
  Dodson, Roy Head Owns $1000 M W 39 Married at age 18 years MO MO MO Oil Mill Mgr
  Dodson, Myrtle Wife F W 36 Married at age 16 TX KY MO
  Dodson, Walter W Son M W 19 Single OK MO TX Odd Job Laborer
  Dodson, Elva M Dau F W 17 Single OK MO TX Housework
  Dodson, Edith M Dau F W 9 Single OK MO TX
  Dodson, Mildred R Dau F W 6 Single OK MO TX
  Dodson, Ruby L Dau F W 5 Single OK MO TX
  Dodson, Lois M Dau F W 4yrs1mo Single OK MO TX

Sources

• 1. 1940 Federal Census, Beckham County, Oklahoma
  • 9 April, Elk Township, District 5-12, page 4A, Hse #68, Rents $2
• 2. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
• 3. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
• 4. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
• 5. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 6. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
• 7. 1930 Federal Census, Beckham County, Oklahoma
  • 10 April, Elk Township, District 5-121, page 5A, Hse #78, Fam #79
• 8. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Amarillo, Texas, City Directory, 1957, p 542
• 9. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Amarillo, Texas, City Directory, 1958, p 429
• 10. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Amarillo, Texas, City Directory, 1959, p 464
• 11. Obituaries from Oklahoma