Helen Amanda SWANN

Father: James Thomas SWANN
Mother: Mary Elizabeth Tasker FITZWATER

Family 1: John H. STEVENSON (1886-1918)

(1) Source: Find a Grave.

  1. William Thomas STEVENSON
  2. Ward S. STEVENSON

Family 2: George Edward HOWDER

(1) Source: Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records via Ancestry.com. 
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 _James Thomas SWANN______________|
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|--Helen Amanda SWANN
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|_Mary Elizabeth Tasker FITZWATER_|
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Notes

Updated September 21, 2025. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) Information on the identity of Helen's parents via Find a Grave

Information on Helen's father, James Thomas SWANN (Memorial ID: 119463847): includes a copy of an undated newspaper obituary, approximately May 1909, somewhere close to Bloomington, Maryland. She is listed as Helen STEVENS of Keyser, West Virgina; with siblings Thomas SWANN, Arthur SWANN and Miss Edna SWANN.

Information on Helen's mother, Mary Elizabeth Tasker FITZWATER JONES SWANN (Memorial ID: 126455407): includes the text of an obituary probably from a newspaper, approximately December 1927, somewhere close to Bloomington, Maryland. She is listed as Helen STEVENSON of Washington, DC. Children from both of Mary FITZWATER's marriages are listed in addition to Helen: Mrs. William DANCER of Piedmont, West Virginia; Clarence JONES and "another married daughter" Nettie, near Baltimore, Maryland; Tom SWANN of Beryl, West Virginia; and Arthur SWANN of Cumberland, Maryland.

(2) 1900 United States Census for Maryland, Garrett Co., 4th Election District, Bloomington Town: Supervisor's District 4; Enumeration District 40; Sheet 2A; June 1, 1900.

Helen M. SWAN is the daughter of James T. SWAN (b. May 1838, a farm laborer) and Mary T. SWANN (b. Feb 1844). Helen was born in September 1886 and is 13 years old. Her siblings are Thomas (b. Dec 1880), Edna (b. Jul 1882), and Owen R. (b. Feb 1889). All members of the family were born in Maryland.

(3) 1910 United States Census for West Virginia, Mineral Co., New Creek Magisterial District, Keyser Town: Supervisor's District 2; Enumeration District 65; Sheet 32B, May 2, 1910.

Helen [SWANN] STEVENSON, along with her husband John H. STEVENSON (age 22, a telegraph operator) and son John William STEVENSON (age 9 months), reside with her husband's widowed mother, Rachel STEVENSON (age 53).

- Address: 61 James Street
- Age: 23; married for 2 years
- Motherhood: She has given birth to 1 child, presently living
- Birthplace: West Virginia, with her father born in Maryland and her mother born in West Virginia

(4) U.S., City Directories via Ancestry.com: Cumberland, Maryland

- 1919: STEVENSON Helen (wid John H), res 174 Maryland av.

(5) 1920 United States Census for Maryland, Allegany Co., Cumberland City, Ward 5: Supervisor's District 5; Enumeration District 14; Sheet 3A; January 26-27, 1920.

Helen May STEVENSON is head of household. Children in the household are William T. (age 10, b. Maryland) and Ward S. (age 8, b. West Virginia). Helen's brother A.O. SWANN (age 35, a widower) also resides in the housedhold.

- Address: 15 [illegible] street
- Home: Renting
- Age: 30
- Marital Status: Widow
- Birthplace: Maryland, as were her parents
- Occupation: Clerk; Railroad Co.

(6) 1930 United States Census for the District of Columbia, Washington City, Precinct 10, Part of Tract 15: Supervisor's District 1; Enumeration District 273; Sheet 15A; undated 1930.

Helen A. STEVENSON is head of household. Children in the household are William T. STEVENSON (age 20, b. Maryland, a clerk in public service) and Ward S. STEVENSON (age 18, b. Maryland, a clerk in a business office).

- Address: 2633 Adams Mill Road
- Home ownership: Renting at $47.50 per month
- Radio ownership: yes
- Age: 43 years old at time of census; 22 when first married
- Marital Status: Widow
- Birthplace: Maryland, with her parents born in the United States
- Occupation: Examiner, Bureau of Engraving
- Occupation Code: 7X49 (Clerks; Engraving etc.)

(7) Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records via Ancestry.com

- Bride: Helen Amanda STEVENSON
- Age 45: Widowed (married 1 time previously)
- Birthplace: Bloomington, Md.
- Parents: Thomas T. SWANN and Mary Tasker FITZWATER
- Residence: Washington, D.C.
- Groom: George Edward HOWDER
- Age: 46
- Marital Status: Widowed (married 1 time previously)
- Birthplace: Newport, Kentucky
- Parents: Lewis HOWDER and Jane Frances HAYES
- Residence: Washington, D.C.
- Marriage: 4th December 1937
- Location of Marriage: Richmond, Virginia
- Officiant: Earl BORDEUAVE Jr, minister, Protestant Episcopal Church

(8) 1940 United States Census for the District of Columbia, Washington City, Police Precinct 4, Block 35: Supervisor's District 1; Enumeration District 335; Sheet 65A; April 19, 1940.

Helen A. [SWANN] HOWDER is married to George E. HOWDER, head of household. Helen furnished information to the census taker for this household.

- Address: 101 North Maryland Court Apts.
- Home: Renting at $38 per months; it is not a farm
- Age: 53, married
- Highest Grade of School Completed: Elementary School - 8th Grade
- Birthplace: Maryland
- Residence on April 1, 1935: Same Place
- At Work: Yes
- Number of hours worked previous week: 39
- Occupation: Clerk; U.S. Treasury
- Occupation Code: 266-97-2 (Clerical and kindred workers; Federal Government)
- Number of Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
- Salary: $1,620
- Income Other Than Salary: No

(9) U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men via Ancestry.com

Mrs. Helen A. HOWDER is listed as the mother of William Thomas STEVENSON. She resides at 1745 K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. (as does her son).

(10) 1950 United States Census for Maryland, Prince George's Co., Election District 6, Spaulding: Enumeration District 17-67; Sheet 74; June 1, 1950.

Helen [SWANN] HOWDER shares a residence with Irene FOWLER, head of household. Both of them are divorcées.

- Address: 4470 St. Barnabas Road
- Farm: No; Acres: No
- Age: 62; divorced
- Birthplace: Maryland
- Occupation Category: Keeping House

(11) Obituary via Newspapers.com: Evening star; Washington, District of Columbia; Sun, Sep 20, 1953; Page 75

"HOWDER, HELEN S. On Thursday, September 17, 1953, at George Washington Hospital, HELEN S. HOWDER, the beloved mother of William T. and Ward S. STEVENSON; sister of Edna DANCER of Piedmont, W. Va.; Arthur O. SWAN of Cumberland, Md. and Thomas SWAN; also two granddaughters. Friends may call at the Lee Funeral Home, 4th st. and Massachusetts ave. n.e., until 9:30 am Monday, September 21. Mass will be offered at St. James Church, 222 8th st. n.e., at 10 a.m. Interment Fort Lincoln Cemetery."

(12) Obituary via Newspapers.com: The Cumberland News; Cumberland, Maryland; Sat, Sep 26, 1953; Page 3

"MRS. HELEN S. HOWDER. WASHINGTON -- Services for Mrs. Helen STEVENSON HOWDER, 67, who died September 17 in George Washington Clinic, were conducted Monday at St. James Church, Washington. Interment was in the Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Washington. Survivors included two sons, William T. and Ward S., both of Washington; two brothers, Thomas P. SWANN, Piedmont and Arthur O. SWANN, Cumberland; three sisters, Mrs. Edna DANCER, Piedmont; Mrs. Benton HARSHBARGER, Bloomington, and Mrs. Netta RODGERS, North Carolina; and two granddaughters."

(13) Find a Grave

- Name: Helen Amanda SWANN STEVENSON HOWDER
- Birth: Sep 1886
- Death: 17 Sep 1953 (aged 66–67)
- Burial: Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Prince George's County, Maryland, USA
- Note: First husband was John Henry STEVENSON (Memorial ID: 102989916); 1886-1918
- Memorial ID: 94789987