John N. Swofford was 6 years old when his mother, Malinda Gregory Swofford, died. His father, James, soon married Susan Tippet, older sister of Elizabeth Maria Tippet Green who became John’s wife.
John N. Swofford b 22 Nov.1856 in Davies Co.Mo d. 07 Jan 1937 in Carroll Co. Arkansas– buried at McCullough Cem. Stone Co. Mo.
+Elizabeth Maria (Bettie) Tippet Green b 23 July 1850 m. 14 April 1878 Davies Co. Mo. d. 01 Dec. 1935 Carroll Co. AR. McCullough Cem.
Children of John N & Elizabeth Maria (Bettie) Tippet Green:
1. Frank Isaac Swofford b 31 Oct 1878 Davies co. Mo. d 23 Jan 1960 in Carroll Co AR.
+Paulina Wise b.30 Jan 1881 m 03 Nov 1897 in Carroll Co. AR d. 22 May 1961
2. James Albert Swofford b 14 Feb. 1880 Davies Co Mo. d 20 Nov 1960 in Carroll Co. AR.
+Eva Ellen Bull b 19 Oct 1885 m 30 April 1905 in Carroll Co. AR d 17 June 1962
3. Charles Henry Swofford b 01 Feb. 1882 Davies co. Mo. d 31 Aug. 1958 Carroll Co AR
+Sarah Elizabeth (Lizzie) b.10 Feb. 1887 Stone Co. Mo. m. 09 Oct. 1904 Carroll Co. AR. d 08 Nov. 1950 Carroll Co AR both buried at McCullough Cem Stone co. Mo.
4. John Swofford b 15 Mar 1884 d 19 Mar. 1884 Carroll Co. AR.
5. Madison Elbert Swofford b 01 Mar. 1885 Carroll Co. AR. d 28 Jan. 1971 Barry Co. Mo.
+Docia Evaline Garrison b 06 Sept. 1885 Stone Co. Mo. m 09 Oct 1904 d 05 Oct 1965 Green Co Mo (St. John’s hospital) buried McCullough Cem .Stone Co. Mo. On 61st. ann.
6. Rosa Alice Swofford b16 Sep. 1887 Carroll Co. AR. d 27 June 1942 Carroll Co. AR
+Elza Arthur Williams b 25 jan 1885 m 09 June 1907 Carroll Co. AR d 01 Sep 1935 bur. High Cem. Carroll Co. AR.
7. Cora Elizabeth Swofford b. 27 Mar. 1890 Carroll Co. AR. d. 26 Sep.1958 Boone Co. AR.b High Cemetary, Carroll Co. AR
+Edgar P. Cudney b 15 Nov 1884 m. 22 Sep 1909 Carroll Co. AR d 08 Nov. 1967 Nauvoo, Mo
8. John Oscar b 09 July 1892 Carroll Co. AR d 06 Sep 1972 Carroll Co. AR.
+Eva Chloe Plumlee b. 03 Aug. 1892 m. 05 Nov. 1911 in Carroll Co. AR. d 25 Dec. 1967 Carr Lane Mo. both buried at Hale Cem. Carroll Co. AR
9. Clarence Martin Swofford b 23 Oct 1895 Carroll Co. AR. d 05 July 1979 Carroll Co AR
+Alta Sarah Plumlee b. 15 Feb. 1895 m. 25 Dec. 1913 Carroll co. AR. d 30 Mar. 1981 Carroll Co. AR. both buried at Hale Cem. Carroll Co. AR.
Descendants of Elizabeth Maria Tippet and George Green
George Green was born April 16, 1845 m. abt.1867 Livingston Co. mo. d.22 Dec. 1874
Children of Elizabeth Tippet Green and George Green:
1. Eva Alice Green b. April 11, 1868 Davies Co. Mo d. Jan. 28 1886 Carroll Co. AR.bur. McCullough Cem.
2. William James Green b.Sep.11 1869 Davies Co. Mo. d.Mar.4,1933 Stone Co. Mo. bur. at McCullough Cem. Stone
3. George Coleman Green b. 13 Nov. 1871 Davies Co. Mo d. 04 May 1917 Stuart OK.
+Ida Lee Verner McAlester b.April 16, 1886 m. 1904 Elreno, OK. d 03 Feb. 1971 OK
4. Perry Cyrus Green b.Oct. 18 1873 Davies co. Mo. d Oct. 10 1959 Pheonix, AZ.
+Elizabeth Jane (Bettie) Wise b Feb. 18, 1881 AR. d. April 16, 1946 Pheonix, AZ.
UNCLE BILL GREEN
Written By Bettie Swofford Heatherly
William James Green was born Sept, 11, 1869 in Davies Co. Mo. He was the son of George and Bettie Tippet Green. He never married. He died March 4, 1933 in Stone Co. Mo.
I was only three when Uncle Bill died. I wish I had more time with him. I have heard the “Bill Green stories” all of my life. Walter Swofford, his nephew, was said to have entertained his children and grandchildren with the Bill Green stories. That would be Barbara Swofford Tyson of Tyson’s foods and her brother Michael and his children.
It is amazing that I recall him at all. But I do remember two occasions. That must tell you more about his presence than my memory. The first memory I have of him is as he rode up to our front gate on his beautiful horse and the big yellow dog that followed him. I do not recall what Bill looked like, but the horse and dog got my attention. The next memory is of the day he died. It is still a very plain vision. He was lying on a bed at Melvin’s house. They thought his death was due to impacted bowels. The family was gathered around him. Uncle Bill was giving away his possessions. And to everyone’s surprise he turned to me and told me to “take care of my dog.” He must have known how much I loved animals. They tell me that the horse and the dog kept trying to find Uncle Bill and eventually we lost the dog. Dad thought someone killed the dog and I recall him saying the worst thing that he could say about anyone, “that was just low down.”
They tell me Uncle Bill had an opinion about everything, even to how to make cream gravy. He said you needed to be sure the flour and bacon grease was cooked well before adding the milk. Then you must cook it until “buckeyes” formed on top. He was describing the stage of boiling he believed when the gravy would be done. Buckeyes were nuts from the trees of that region, so Uncle Bill thought the big dented bubbles looked like Buckeyes.
Bill, Eva, Coley and Perry spent their first years in the flat farmlands of North Missouri. Perry tells of their early childhood in his autobiography. He says they did not have toys, but the most beautiful woods to play in and knew every bird and flower by name. There was a creek to fish and wade in. Bill also encouraged them not to worry about what folks might say about their clothing, “you are just as good or better than any of them.” On one occasion Bill stopped two large boys from picking on a smaller one by knocking their heads together. Their names were Dillard Tuggle and Bert Box. (Appropriate names).
Bill made his living by taking photographs. He took most of the old family pictures found on this site. There is a large picture of my parents on our wall and early picture of my brothers and sisters were taken by him. On Mom and Dad’s picture where she is wearing a large hat, you will find a smear. They said Bill was chewing tobacco and dropped a little tobacco juice on the film. He just gave it a swipe and the evidence is left for us to see today!!!
Uncle Bill visited among the relatives and neighbors. In exchange for all the latest news of the neighborhood, he would spend the night and get warm meals. But everyone looked forward to his visits since it was a community without phones. In the early 1930’s any upbeat, positive visitor would have been a welcomed guest and it sure seems Uncle Bill qualified.