Life History

Notes

• 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 24 June, Ward Township,District 44, page 16B, Hse #272, Fam #280
  McSwain, Thos M Head  W M Mar 1855 45 Married 19 yrs NC NC NC FarmerRents
  McSwain, Mary J Wife W F June 1862 37 Married 19 yrs 7 children/6living AR TN TN
  McSwain, Walter E   Son W M Aug 1883 16  Single AR NC AR Farm Laborer
  
  Walter married about 1908 or 1909.  In 1910 he is living in aneighboring county, White Oak Township of Franklin County.  His wife'sname is scrawled and uncertain.  It appears to begin with the letter Uor V.  In the 1920 census she is clearly Deana L.  I suspected hermaiden name was Burnett, since they are living as a second family inthe same household with an older couple named Burnett, with otherchildren still in the household.  This is confirmed by the Californiadeath record of their some Willard Thomas McSwain, which reports hismother's maiden name as Burnett.
  
  California Death Index, 1940-1997
  Willard Thomas McSwain
  Sex: Male
  Birth 4 Dec 1915 Arkansas
  Death 11 Jul 1994 San Joaquin
  Mother's Maiden Name: Burnett
  Social Security #551266136
  
  In 1910 Walter is married and the couple are living with her parentsFred and Rebecca Burnett.  The wife's name is scrawled and hardlyreadable. Walter's daughter is also hard to make out, being alsooverwritten.  Another genealogist has suggested the name is Hermond,which makes sense, and could also match the equally hard to read 1920census entry.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas, 22 April, White OakTownship, District 52, page 6B,  Hse/Fam #76
  Burnett, Fred M  Head  M W  59 Married 41 years Ark Unknown NC FarmerOwns
  Burnett, Rebecca Wife F W 60 Married 41 years 12 children/9 living ARAL 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  Head 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]
  
  When I saw that the 1910 census gave Walter the middle initial of U,but everywhere else it was E, I thought his middle name might havebeen Eugene.  But the WWI draft registration record reports his fullname as Walter Edmond McSwain.
  
  World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  Walter Edmond Mcswain
  Residence Altus, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Birth Date: 2 Aug 1884
  Rural Letter Carrier, Altus, Arkansas
  Wife Deana McSwain, Altus
  Medium Height and Build, Blue Eyes, Black Hair
  Registered 12 Sept 1918 Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas
  
  The date of birth here is one year later than that reported by the1900 census, a common occurrence.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas, 31 January, Altus,District 47, page 3B, Hse #57, Family #65
  McSwain, Walter E Head Owns M W 35  AR NC AR Farmer (b abt 1884)
  McSwain, Deana L Wife F W 31  AR AR AR (b abt 1888)
  McSwain, Hermond H Dau F W 10  AR AR AR (b abt 1909)
  McSwain, Inice I Dau F W 8  AR AR AR (b abt 1911)
  McSwain, Walter E Jr Son M W 6 AR AR AR (b abt 1913)
  McSwain, Willard E Son M W 4yrs9mos AR AR AR (b abt 1915)
  McSwain, David L Son M W 1yr6mos AR AR AR (b abt 1918)
  
  Note that the name of Walter's wife is Deana here.  I later foundtheir marriage record, which spells her name Dena.  But Walter's WWIregistration card spells her name Deana.
  
  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
  
  Deana died soon after the 1920 census, as David L, born in 1918, isthe last child in Walter's new blended family in 1930 with his secondwife.  Her three chidlren in the household are probably named Malone,spelled Maloan here.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Polk County, Arkansas, 8 April, Ozark Township,District 19, page 4A, Hse #66, Fam #68
  McSwain, Walter E Head Rents M W 45  First married at age 21 AR NC ARFarmer
  McSwain, Kate A Wife F W 39 First married at age 19 AR TX TX
  McSwain, Walter E Son M W 16 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer
  McSwain, Willard C Son M W 14 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer
  McSwain, David L Son M W 12 Single AR AR AR
  Maloan, Willard S Stepson W 19 Single OK IL AR Farm Laborer
  Maloan, Richard R Stepson M W 12 Single OK IL AR
  Maloan, Mary F Stepdau F W 12 Single OK IL AR
  
  Social Security Death Index
  Walter McSwain
  Born 2 Aug 1884
  Died Mar 1977
  Last Residence Houston, Perry, Arkansas 449-01-6377
  SSN 449-01-6377 issued Texas (Before 1951)

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 24 June, Ward Township, District 44, page 16B, Hse #272, Fam #280
• 2. 1910 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas
  • 22 April, White Oak Township, District 52, page 6B,  Hse #76, Fam #77
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas
  • 31 January, Altus, District 47, page 3B, Hse #57, Family #65
• 4. 1930 Federal Census, Polk County, Arkansas
  • 8 April, Ozark Township, District 19, page 4A, Hse #66, Fam #68
• 5. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 6. Social Security Death Index
• 7. California Death Index, 1940-1997
• 8. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
• 9. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957