Louise Katherine (Watkins) Swaim (1904 - 1976)

Born 26 Dec 1904 in Forsyth County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Wife of Delbert Curtis Swaim — married about 1927 in North Carolina

Descendants

Died Jan 1976 at age 71 in Forsyth County, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Janice Robertson [send private message]

Biography

Louise Katherine Watkins Swaim was born on December 26, 1904 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her mother passed away when Louise was only 2 years old. Soon after her father James Robert Watkins remarried to Effie Spaugh. Louise was sent to a girl's boarding school for her schooling. She was active in sports and played on the girl's basketball team for the school. She always said she was one of the first women to receive her driving license in Winston-Salem, N.C. She also modeled clothes for several of the dress shops in Winston-Salem before her marriage to Delbert. She was married in 1927 in Forsyth County to Delbert Curtis Swaim. They made their home on Old Thomasville Road just outside of the city limits of Winston-Salem, N.C. The home is still standing. Her husband Delbert spent a lot of time away from home. She was able to raise their 4 children almost on her own. After Delbert's death in 1952 she returned to work. She worked at a mill until her retirement when she turned 65 years old. Louise was important to me personally because she was a woman before her time. She was hardworking, independent and was able to provide for her family on her own. She was able to build her own home for herself and her children. This home was on Reed Street off of Thomasville Road. It is still standing. There was not anything that she could not do around the house. I remember that she dug out a 10 by 10 foot basement by hand under her house for storage of her canned goods. I also remember having to use the awful outhouse before she could afford to have a bathroom built on to her house. Louise passed away 1 month before she could see her first great grandson in January 1976. She is buried at Union Ridge United Med. Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina next to her husband Delbert. This personal family history is remembered by her granddaughter Janice Harper Robertson.

Sources

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See also:

Census Records 1910-1920

• "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (Link : accessed 30 April 2015), Louise Watkins in household of James R Watkins, Winston Ward 2, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 71, sheet 16B, family 330, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,124.

• "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (Link : accessed 30 April 2015), Louise Watkins in household of James R Watkins, Winston, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States; citing sheet 4A, family 64, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,298.

Census Records 1930-1940

• "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (Link : accessed 30 April 2015), Louise C Swain in household of Delbert C Swain, Broadbay, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0008, sheet 1B, family 21, line 93, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1689; FHL microfilm 2,341,423.

• "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (Link : accessed 30 April 2015), Louise Swainn in household of Delbert C Swainn, Broadbay Township, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 34-8, sheet 24B, family 473, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2907.

Death Records 1976

• "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (Link : accessed 30 April 2015), Louise Swaim, Jan 1976; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).