Are all of these inconsistencies a hint that there is something wrong?

Question

In the profile for John Joseph Swafford, the story notes many discrepancies between the facts and the narrative. 

Ancestry trees also show a different parent for Mary Josephine Cullum (who has a younger sister named Mary according to the profile).

One ancestry profile states John Swafford is the actual father. 

Can anyone find proof to show either. Mary Josephine has not been found on the 1880 Census. She married in 1883.

Comments

Mary F I Swafford

 in the 1870 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Mary F I Swafford
Age in 1870:	5
Birth Year:	abt 1865
Birthplace:	Alabama
Dwelling Number:	364
Home in 1870:	Collins, Jackson, Alabama
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Post Office:	Big Coon
Inferred Father:	John Swafford
Inferred Mother:	Berilla Swafford
Household Members:	Name Age John Swafford 43 Berilla Swafford 34 Sarah C Swafford 13 Eliza C Swafford 12 Allen B Swafford 11 Marion C Swafford 10 Margaret I Swafford 9 John H Swafford 7 Mary F I Swafford 5 Jessee T Swafford 3 Samuel S Swafford 2 Matilda S Swafford 11/12

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Mary I. Swafford

 in the 1880 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Mary I. Swafford
Age:	15
Birth Date:	Abt 1865
Birthplace:	Alabama
Home in 1880:	Jackson, Alabama, USA
Dwelling Number:	62
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Marital status:	Single
Father's name:	John Swafford
Father's Birthplace:	Alabama
Mother's name:	A. Swafford
Mother's Birthplace:	Alabama
Occupation:	At Home
Neighbors:

Household Members:	Name Age John Swafford 53 A. Swafford 43 Sarah C. Swafford 23 Eliza C. Swafford 22 Allen B. Swafford 21 Marion C. Swafford 20 John H. Swafford 17 Mary I. Swafford 15 Jesse T. Swafford 13 Samuel S. Swafford 12 Matilda Swafford 11 Jacob Swafford 10 Warry P. Swafford 7 Thomas E. Swafford 2

Answer 1

The census records listed above by Betty Fox for Mary I or Mary F I Swafford are for Mary Frances (Swafford) Rice, born 1864. There is no evidence in these records for a second Mary born about 1860.

The familysearch.org profile for Mary Josephine (Swafford) Collum shows as one of its sources an 1870 census record showing her as daughter of John and Mary Swafford in Rogersville, Lauderdale Co., AL (for the census record see https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/M7V9-5HR). This supports your suggestion that Swofford-184 is actually her father.