Life History

Notes

• In 1900 Bertha and here brothers and sisters are living with their widowed mother.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 20 June, Prairie Township, District 7, page 15A, Hse #254, Fam #261
  McSwain, Sarah  Head W  F  Jan 1856  44  AR MS TN Farmer
  McSwain, Edna  Dau  W  F  Oct 1877  22  AR NC TN
  McSwain, Albert  Son W  M  Nov 1879  20 AR NC TN Farm Laborer
  McSwain, George  Son W  M  Aug 1884  15 AR NC TN
  McSwain, Belle  Dau  W  F  June 1889  11 AR NC TN
  McSwain, Bertha  Dau  W  F  June 1893  6 AR NC TN
  McSwain, William  Son W  M  May 1896  4 AR NC TN
  
  After the death of her parents, Bertha and her brother Will became wards of John and Mary Henderson, living nearby.  I have not found a family relationship with the Hendersons and do not know why they were the ones who became the guardians for the children.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 2 May, North Prairie Township, District 12, page 6B, Hse/Fam #116
  Henderson, J M Head M W 51 Married 30 years IL TN TN Farmer Rents
  Henderson, Mary Wife F W 58 Married 30 years 5 children/4 living Miss LA AL No Occupation
  Henderson, Nina Dau F W 26 Single AR AR MS School Teacher
  Henderson, May Dau F W 23 Single AR AR MS School Teacher
  Henderson, Murray Son M W 16 Single AR AR MS Farm Laborer
  McSwain, Bertha Ward F W 16 Single AR NC AR No Occupation
  McSwain, Will Ward M W 3 Single AR NC MS Farm Laborer
  
  ---------------------------
  Bertha M. McSwain O'Dell
  Birth Jun. 17, 1893 Arkansas
  Death Oct., 1972 Almyra, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  
  Daughter of William McSwain and Sarah Ann Isabelle Lowe.
  Wife of James M. O'Dell who she married on 12/30/1914 in Arkansas County, Arkansas.
  
  The 1930 US Census shows Bertha and her family were living in Prairie, Arkansas County, Arkansas. The following family members are listed as living in the home:
  Head James M Odell M 37 Illinois
  Wife Bertha M Odell F 36 Arkansas
  Daughter Mildred Odell F 14 Arkansas
  Son James A Odell M 12 Arkansas
  Daughter Helen A Odell F 10 Arkansas
  Son William M Odell M 8 Arkansas
  
  Bertha's daughter Mildred would serve as a nurse with the Navy in World War II but would die in a drowning accident in Puerto Rico in 1943. Bertha's sons would also serve in the war with James Arthur O'Dell serving in the Navy and son William Merle in the Army Air Corps.
  
  Spouse James M. O'Dell (1892 - 1976)
  Children Mildred Pauline O'Dell (1915 - 1943)
  Burial De Witt Cemetery, De Witt, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Created by Rick Lawrence Mar 05, 2013
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #106216056, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106216056
  ---------------------------

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 20 June, Prairie Township, District 7, page 15A, Hse #254, Fam #261
• 2. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 3. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 2 May, North Prairie Township, District 12, page 6B, Hse/Fam #116
• 4. RootsWeb Trees
• 5. Williams School Photo, 1914
  • "Summer of 1914" Photo story on summer school at William School, Deluce, http://www.rootsweb.com/~ararkans/pix14.html