Life History

Other facts

Notes

• The 1900 census reports Edward with his parents and siblings in the northern half of Prairie Township of Arkansas County, Arkansas.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 June 1900, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195
  William H Criswell Head  W M  Mar 1840  60  Alabama Alabama Alabama
  Martha A Criswell Wife W F  Apr 1840  60  Alabama Georgia Georgia
  Edward M Criswell Son  W M  Jun 1886  13  Miss Alabama Alabama
  
  Note that while the 1900 census erroneously reported both Edward's parents as born in Alabama, in 1910 and 1920 his parents' own enumeration correctly reports his father's birth in South Carolina.  In 1900 and 1910 his mother was correctly reported as born in Alabama.  But in Edward's enumeration in 1920, both his parents are reported as born in Mississippi as he was!
  
  1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 16 April, Prairie Township, District 13, page 1A, Hse/Fam #7
  Criswell, William H  Head M W 69 Married 43 yrs SC SC SC Farmer
  Martha A  Wife F W 59 Married 43 yrs AL TN GA
  
  U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  Ed Ragan Criswell
  Residence Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  Birth Date 20 Dec 1885
  Employed in Farming for J B Horton, Ethel, Arkansas
  Nearest Relative (Wife) Mary Ella Criswell, Ethel, Arkansas
  Tall, Medium Build, Blue eyes, Brown Hair
  Registered 12 September 1918 Stuttgart, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  
  In 1920 Ed's father William is a widow.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 5 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 1A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #4
  Criswell, William H  Head  Rents Farm  M W 74 Widowed SC SC SC Farmer
  
  The entry for Edward and his own family in the 1920 census gives an age which matches the birth date reported in the 1900 census.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #19
  Criswell, Edward  Head  Rents Farm  M W 34 MS MS MS Farmer
  Criswell, Ella  Wife  F W 23 AR AR AR
  Criswell, John Son M W 4 Single AR MS AR
  Criswell, Velma Dau F W 2 Single AR MS AR
  Criswell, Lena Dau F W 3mos Single AR MS AR [born Sep-Oct 1919]
  
  I incidentally found it interesting that from the 5th of January 1920, when William's household was enumerated, it took 4 days to get to Edward's house in the same district, just a few houses down the road, and 2 pages later in the census record, when Edward's family was listed on 9 January.  January 5 was on a Monday, and the 9th was on Friday.
  
  Here we find that Edward and Ella have been married about 5 years and have three children, John, Velma and Lena.
  
  In 1930, we find that Ella has passed away since the last census.  There is an additional child, Mary F, age 8.  This means that she was born in 1921 or 1922.  So Ella passed away between 1921 and 1930.  I have not yet (as of April 2008) found a Death Index entry for her.  The child Ella matches the child listed as Velma in 1920.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Prairie Township, District 25, Page 8B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #152, Fam #153
  Criswell, Edd R Head   Rents farm M W 44  Widower MS SC MS Farmer
  Criswell, John E  Son M W 14  AR MS AR [born abt 1916]
  Criswell, Ella D  Dau F W 12  AR MS AR [born abt 1918]
  Criswell, Mary F  Dau FW 8  AR MS AR [born abt 1921]
  
  1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 6B, Oak Flat School and Church Rd, Hse #96, Rents $2
  Criswell, Ed Head M W 54 Widow Grade 5 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Farmer
  Criswell, Learner Dau F W 22 Divorced Grade 4 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Housekeeper
  Criswell, Francis Dau F W 18 Single Grade 6 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Housekeeper
  Criswell, Peggie Joe Granddau F W 5 Single b Arkansas same place in 1935
  Criswell, Elsie Niece F W 15 Grade 2 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Housekeeper
  
  I see that Ed's daughter Learner (Leanore?) is divorced, but is enumerated under her maiden name.  It appears that the granddaughter Peggie Joe is her daughter.  Even Peggie Joe is named a Criswell.
  
  U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
  Edd Reagan Criswell
  Residence Ethel, Arkansas
  Age 56, Self-Employed
  Birth 20 Dec 1885 Goodman, Mississippi
  Contact (wife) Frances Criswell, Ethel, Arkansas
  Signed E R Criswell
  (back)
  6' 165 lbs, Blue eyes, Brown Hair, LIght complexion
  Registered 27 April 1942 DeWitt, Arknasas, Arkansas
  
  Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
  Ed Rag Crisswell
  Age 63,Born abt 1886
  22 Oct 1949 Arkansas County
  Volume 56, Certificate #11040

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 16 June, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 11B, Hse #192, Family #195
• 2. Simons Genealogy
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 9 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Country Road, Hse/Fam #19
• 4. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 25 April, Prairie Township, District 25, Page 8B, Ethel & Chute Rd, Hse #152, Fam #153
• 5. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
• 6. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 7. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• 8. 1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 4 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 6B, Oak Flat School and Church Rd, Hse #96, Rents $2
• 9. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 10. Gravestones of Chute Cemetery