Oscar McPherson Criswell, son of Joseph McDuffie Criswell and Caroline Susan Harrison Criswell, was born 10 December 1876 in Calhoun County, Alabama.  He married Rosabelle Venable in November 1897 in Alabama and brought his wife and son, Frank, to Texas in 1901.  Oscar died 30 January 1950; Rosabelle died 23 November 1945.  This couple raised five boys and five girls on a farm 6 miles north of Forney.  There is an indication that there were two babies born prior to the birth of Frank Criswell in 1900, but neither infant survived.  There is no record of their names or sex.

Their first (living) son was William Francis ("Frank") Criswell, born 17 April 1900, in Alabama.  He moved to Forney with his parents at the age of 1 year and grew up here.  He married Helen Melvina Trail and they had one daughter, Carlotta, sometimes called "Cris".  She married Dr. Billy B. Oliver and they had one son, Frank Edmond Oliver, and two daughters, Julie and Jan.

The second son was Oscar Louie Criswell, born 16 March 1902 in Forney.  He married Lillian Lucille Howe and they had two sons and two daughters, Louie Gilbert, Arthur Dan, Mary Kathryn, and Rose Eileen.  Gilbert married Mildred Whatley and had a son, Louis David, and a daugher, Kristy Darlene.  He later married Shirley McNair and had two more sons, Gilbert Michael and Oscar John.  Arthur Dan Criswell married Charlotte Ferguson and had two daughters, Dana Marie and Kathryn Eileen.  He later married Daphne Robinson but had no children with her.  Mary Kathryn Criswell married Arthur W. Schaale and they had a son, Richard William Schaale, and two daughters, Susan Elizabeth and Rebecca Eileen.  Rose Eileen Criswell married Lorenzo M. Johns, Jr., and had a son, Lorenzo, III, and two daughters, Eileen Michelle and Lillian Noel.

The third son of Oscar and Belle Criswell was Charlie Cole Criswell, born 3 June 1904 in Forney.  He never married and had no descendants.

The fourth son was Phil Criswell, born 19 December 1906.  He married Nettie Lanita Armstrong and they had one daughter, Carolyn Durstyne, sometimes called "Dutch".  She married Byron L. Williams and had two daughters, Karen Renee and Teresa Ann "Teri".  Phil and Nettie celebrated their 50th anniversary on 19 December 1982.

The first daughter of Oscar and Belle was Bessie Neva Criswell, both 31 December 1908. She married Lewis W. Hatley and had a daughter, Nancy Gail Hatley, and a son, Tony Goodwin Hatley.  Nancy married Gary Edward Vice and had two sons, Bryan Edward and Bradley Joseph, and a daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth.  Tony Hatley never married and had no descendents.  Bessie and Lewis celebrated their 50th anniversary on 24 December 1978.

The fifth son was Emmett "Buck" Criswell, born 6 November 1910.  He married Vinnie Marie Morton and they had a son, Stanley, and a daughter, Carol Ann.  Stanley married Wanda Jean Gann; they had no children.  Carol married Donald Lowery; they also had no children.

The second daughter of Oscar and Belle was Amy, born 18 October 1912.  She married Taylor Elmer Tapp.  There were no children.

The third daughter was Ola Modelle Criswell, both 10 January 1915.  She married Marvin Feagin and they had three sons, Marvin Leon, James Frank, and William Paul, and one daughter, Linda Kay.  Leon married Rita Jo Lawrence and had one daughter, Lisa Michelle.  Jimmy Frank married Roberta Burke and had two sons, James Roy and Marvin Robert, known as "Bo".  Jimmy Frank later married Shirley Payne, but had no children with her.  Paul Feagin married Patricia Ann Huvar and had two sons, Richard Russell and Michael Paul.  Linda Kay Feagin married Gary Stephen Harwell and had two sons, Gary Stephen, Jr., and Jason Lloyd.

The fourth daughter was Pearl Christine Criswell, born 28 December 1917.  She married Thomas Ivy Shaw and they had one son, Gary Wayne Shaw.  He married Betty Stevenson, who had a son from her first marriage, Steven Craig Cox.  Gary and Betty had no children together.  After Ivy's death, Christine married Bill Brown; there were no children to this marriage.

The fifth daughter of Oscar and Belle was Nina Pauline Criswell, always called "Polly". She was borth 14 July 1919.  She married James Claude Townsend and they had one daughter, Gayla Cheree, and one son, James Richard ("Rick").  Cheree married Randy Guy Cargill and had one daughter, Katharine Elizabeth.  Rick married Nancy Ann Jones and had a son and a daughter, James David and Bonnie Ann.  James and Polly celebrated their 50th anniversary on 9 April 1993.

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This is an amended transcript from material compiled by the late Johnnie Criswell Turpen, daughter of John Samuel Criswell and granddaughter of Joseph McDuffy Criswell.  Oscar McPherson Criswell was the brother of John Samuel Criswell and the son of Joseph McDuffy Criswell.