🏠 » Genealogy » Swafford family

Compiled and written by Kimberli Faulkner Hull
Granddaughter of Lora E. Swafford Faulkner
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© Kimberli Faulkner Hull

Lora E. Swafford was born on 20 July 1888, in Bainbridge, Williamson County, Illinois to William R. Swafford and Nancy Mariah Brack.¹

[Open Endnotes in separate tab]

As a young girl, Lora’s family moved to Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri where she grew up with her siblings, Dora, Joshua, Thomas, and Jessie.² Laura also had two additional older siblings, Edward and Ada.³

Lora married Charles Fountain Faulkner on 7 March 1908 in Shelby County, Tennessee.⁴

Their first child, William Melvin, was born in Tennessee.⁵ They soon moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where their daughter, Frances M., was born in St. Louis in 1909.⁶

Lora, Charles, and their children lived with Charles’ step-father, Philip Taylor, and Charles’ half-siblings in Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois following the death of Charles’ mother, Fanny, in 1909 in Tennessee.⁷ Charles and Lora’s third child, Philip Lawrence, was born in Cairo in 1916.⁸ The family soon moved to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and continued to grow with Carl, Clarence Charles, Dorthy, Ernest L., and Abe born between 1918 and 1930.⁹

In Chicago, Charles operated a business, printing and distributing circulars in the Chicago area and the boys would help distribute the circulars.¹⁰ By 1942, Charles and Lora had moved to 7217 S. Stewart and Charles was working for Kane Watch Service on Wacker in Chicago.¹¹

Charles and Laura remained living in Chicago throughout their lives.¹²

Most of their children moved out of state, however, some would return for visits or occasions, and Clarence Charles’ family lived nearby.¹³

Lora E. Swafford Faulkner died on 31 January 1964 in Burnham, Cook County, Illinois, at the age of 75. She was cremated.¹⁴

Lora E. Swafford Faulkner Documentation with transcripts/abstracts
Lora E. Swafford descendant DNA matches

Endnotes

1. Williamson County, Illinois, Birth Record Vol. 1, p. 295, Lorra E. Swafford, 20 July 1888.

Williamson County, Illinois Birth register. No: [blank]. Date of return: [blank]. Name of child: Lorra E Swafford. Sex: Female. No. of Child of this Mother: 7. Race or Color: White. Date of Birth: July 20 88 Place of Birth: Bainbridge, Ill. Nationality of Father: USA. Place of Birth: Tenn. Age: 36. Nationality of Mother: USA. Place of Birth: Ill. Age: 30. Full Name of Mother: Nancy M Swafford. Maiden Name of Mother: Brack. Residence of Mother: Bainbridge Prec. Full Name of Father: William R Swafford. Occupation: Farmer. Name and Address of Medical Attendant/Name and Address of Person making certificate/Returned by: Da

Note: Name is spelled as Lorra in record; she used Lora throughout her life. Also, most of the children born to William R. and Nancy Swafford, including Lora, used a variety of birth dates/years throughout their life; dates vary on documents.

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2. 1900 U.S. census, Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri, population schedule, p. 79 (penned), enumeration district (ED) 17, sheet 20, family 397, Ranyall Swafford household.
– Ranyall Swafford, farmer, age 47, married 22 years, born Aug 1852 in Tennessee
– Nancy Swafford, wife, age 42, married 22 years, born Nov 1857 in Tennessee, 10 children born, 7 living
– Dora Swafford, daughter, single, age 20, born Feb 1880 in Illinois
– Joshua Swafford, son, single, age 16, born Dec 1883 in Illinois
– Thomas Swafford, son, single, age 14, born Jun 1885 in Illinois
– Lora Swafford, daughter, single, age 12, born Jul 1887 in Illinois
– Jessie Swafford, daughter, single, age 9, born Nov 1890 in Illinois

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3. 1880 U.S. census, city, Williams County, Illinois, southern precinct, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 164, page 30B, dwelling 267, Runnels Swafford household.
– Runnels Swafford, age 24, farmer, born in Tennessee, parents born in Tennessee
– Nannie Swafford, age 21, wife, born in Illinois, parents born in Tennessee
– Eddie Swafford, age 2, son, born in Illinois
– Addie Swafford, age 1, daughter, born in Illinois, illness: chills

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4. Shelby County, Tennessee, Marriage Licenses 1 Jan-30 Apr 1908, marriage license with return, Faulkner–Swafford, 7 Mar 1908. Also, Shelby County, Tennessee, Marriage Licenses and Bonds, B1:530, marriage bond, Faulkner–Swafford, 7 Mar 1908.
Shelby County, Tennessee, Marriage license: Chas. F. Faulkner and Mrs Nora Swafford, 7 Mar 1908; return same day. Marriage by Justice of Peace. Marriage Book B 1, p. 530. Note: Lora’s name was spelled as Nora instead of Lora and it states her title was “Mrs.” No other previous marriages have been found for Lora Swafford.

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5. Birth of William Melvin Faulkner.
State of Tennessee, Delayed Certificate of Birth, William Melvin Faulkner, 24 Feb 1908. Birth: 24 Feb 1908, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

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6. Birth of Frances M. Faulkner.
St. Louis City, Missouri, Registry of Births, Frances Faulkner, 10 Oct 1909.

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7. Davidson County, Tennessee Board of Health, death certificate, file no.674 (1909), Mrs. Margaret Francis Taylor, 24 June 1909; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

Also, 1910 U.S. census, Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 16, sheet 8-B, family 162, Philip Taylor household.
– Phillip J. Taylor, age 48, widowed, born Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, occupation: blacksmith, owns shop
– May Taylor, age 19, born in Illinois, both parents born in Ohio
– Margaret Taylor, age 19, born in Illinois, both parents born in Ohio
– William Taylor, age 12, born in Illinois, both parents born in Ohio
– Lora Faulkner, boarder, age 22, widowed, born in Tennessee, both parents born in Tennessee, occupation: sales woman, dry goods
– Milton, boarder, age 3, born in Illinois, both parents born in Tennessee
– Francis, boarder, age 1, born in Illinois, both parents born in Tennessee

Notes: All of the birth locations and parents’ birth locations are incorrect. Lora was listed as widowed; she would have been married in 1910. William Melvin is listed as Milton and Charles was not enumerated with the family.

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8. Birth of Philip Lawrence Faulkner.
United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Philip Lawrence Faulkner, serial no. 760, Local Draft Board no. 28, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

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9. Charles and Lora were living at 810 E. 57th St. in Chicago when Charles registered for the WWI draft. United States World War I Draft Registration Card, Charles Fountain Faulkner, serial no. 679, Local Draft Board no. 15, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Also, 1920 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, ward 7, enumeration district (ED) 444, sheet 4-A, dwelling [blank], family 71, Charles Faulkner household.
– Charles Faulkner, age 38, married, born in Kentucky, father born in U.S., mother born in Kentucky, occupation: distribution of circulars
– Lora Faulkner, age 37, married, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
– William Faulkner, age 13, born in Tennessee
– Francis, age 10, born in Missouri
– Phillip Faulkner, age 3, born in Illinois

Birth of Carl Faulkner.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, birth certificate no. 25156, Carl Faulkner, 19 July 1918.

Birth of Clarence Charles Faulkner.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, certificate no. 64421, Charles Clarence Faulkner, 10 Jan 1920. Notes: Birth record was registered in 1942. Also, name on record was listed as Charles Clarence Faulkner, but he used Clarence Charles Faulkner.

Birth of Dorthy Faulkner.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Courthouse, Cook County Clerk, Birth Index, certificate no. 11221, Dorthy Faulkner, 21 Mar 1922.

Birth of Ernest L. Faulkner.
State of Illinois, birth certificate, Cook County, Chicago, no. 29362 (1923) Ernest L. Faulkner, 16 July 1923; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Also, 1930 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Block no. 136, population schedule, ward 8, p. 5 (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 16-341, sheet 5-A, dwelling 46, family 113, Charles Faulkner household. Also, personal knowledge of the author’s father, Ernest L. Faulkner, son of Charles and Lora Faulkner, as told to Kimberli Faulkner Hull. Also, 1930 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Block no. 136, population schedule, ward 8, p. 5 (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 16-341, sheet 5-A, dwelling 46, family 113, Charles Faulkner household.
– Charles Faulkner, age 49, married, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Kentucky, occupation: circular disp in the advertising industry
– Lora Faulkner, wife, age 52, married, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
– William Faulkner, son, age 24, married, born in Tennessee, occupation: automobile mechanic
– Phillip Faulkner, son, age 14, single, born in Illinois, attended school
– Clarence Faulkner, son, age 10, single, born in Illinois, attended school
– Ernest Faulkner, son, age 7, single, born in Illinois, attended school
– Betty Faulkner, granddaughter, age 4 months, single, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois

For Abe Faulkner, no birth record was found. However, the author’s father frequently mentioned “his brother, Abe.”
Searches for Faulkner, Falkner, Fawkner, Fakner, Falknor, Falconer, Faulconer 1924-1934, of:
– “Cook County, Illinois Birth Index, 1916-1935,” Ancestry; no record found.
Notes: Only first and last name of child are listed, if Abe was a middle name it will not be found; parents also not listed in index. Faulkner child born with no first name, cert no. 6050096, Cook County, Illinois, [no first name] Faulkner, birth 9 Nov 1925 was a son of Leo Bernard Faulkner and Lucille Vines.
– “Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949,” Family Search; no record found.
Note: Parents listed for almost all records.
– Cook County Vital Records, Family Search; no record found.
Note: Birth certificates only available through 1922

Also, Charles Fountain Faulkner (1881-1955) and Abe Faulkner, ca. 1930, Chicago, Illinois; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull. Back of photo reads “Dad and Abe.” Handwriting of Lora Swafford Faulkner.

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10. 1920 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, ward 7, enumeration district (ED) 444, sheet 4-A, dwelling [blank], family 71, Charles Faulkner household.

Also, 1930 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Block no. 136, population schedule, ward 8, p. 5 (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 16-341, sheet 5-A, dwelling 46, family 113, Charles Faulkner household.

Also, personal knowledge of the author’s father, Ernest L. Faulkner, son of Charles and Lora Faulkner, as told to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

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11. When Charles registered for the WWII draft on 27 April 1942, Charles and Lora were living at 7217 S. Stewart, Chicago, Illinois, and Charles was working for Kane Watch Service at 211 Wacker Drive in Chicago. United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Charles F. Faulkner, serial no. 1891, Local Draft Board no. 29, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

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12. Personal knowledge of the author’s father, Ernest L. Faulkner, son of Charles and Lora Faulkner, as told to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

No census record enumerating the Charles and Lora Faulkner family has been located for 1940.

Residence 17 Nov 1937: When Charles registered with the social security administration on 17 Nov 1937, they were living at 6448 Stony Island, Chicago, Illinois, and Charles was working for Kane Watch Service at 54 West Randolph. Charles Fountain Faulkner, SS no. 360-09-0104, 12 Dec 1937, Application for Account Number (Form SS-5), Social Security Administration.

6448 Stony Island is located near the intersection of S Stony Island Ave and 65th Street East, across from Jackson Park. 6448 S Stony Island Ave, an apartment building. The Charles Faulkner household was not found.
1940 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, ward 6, enumeration district (ED) 103-346, sheets 17A-17B, 6448 S. Stony Island Avenue.

Residence 27 Nov 1942: When Charles registered for the WWII draft, their address was 7217 S. Stewart, Chicago, Illinois. United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Charles F. Faulkner, serial no. 1891, Local Draft Board no. 29, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

7217 S. Stewart Ave is near the corner of w. 72nd Street and S. Stewart Avenue, near Hamilton Park. In 1940, address 7217 S. Stewart was enumerated in enumeration district (ED) 103-1128, sheet 12 A. The Faulkner household was not listed.

1950 U.S census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 103-1649, sheet 26, dwelling 271, Charles Faulkner household.
Address: 8682 Vincennes Ave, Apt 2-4
– Charles Faulkner, age 68, married, born in Kentucky
– Lora Faulkner, age 62, married, born in Illinois, practical nurse

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13. “3 Brothers Meet at Wedding for First Time in 4 Years,” Pvt. Clarence Faulkner and Lillian Albert marriage announcement, Southtown Economist (Chicago, Illinois), 11 Feb 1945, p. 10, col. 3.

Also, Charles Faulkner (Chicago, Illinois) to Marshie and Gene Faulkner [grandchildren], letter, 27 Oct 1949; privately held by Marsha Faulkner Nagib, digital copy provided to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.

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14. State of Illinois, Cook County, death certificate, no. 0554 (1964), Burham, Cook County, Lora Swafford Faulkner; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
Note: Birth date and location are incorrect on the death certificate.

Also, Find A Grave, memorial 189702490, Lora E. Swafford Faulkner (1888–1964), cremation; memorial created by Kimberli Faulkner Hull (contributor 49572158).

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Citing this page: Kimberli Faulkner Hull, “Lora E. Swafford Faulkner,” Cool Adventures (https://cooladventures.com/genealogy/lora-e-swafford-faulkner-1888-1964/ : posted 2021).

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