In late 1899, multiple newspapers ran the story of Mary Swartwood of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Why? Because she had just welcomed her 25th child.
She was only in her early 40s, but had married her husband (Samuel) at the age of 14 and had welcomed her first baby at the age of 15.
Here are the names and birth years of all 25 Swartwood kids:
- Walter, 1872
- Louis, 1873
- Thaddeus, 1875
- Maud, 1876
- Cora, 1877
- Blanche, 1878
- Mabel, 1879
- Herbert, 1880
- Warren, 1881
- Elsie, 1882
- Samuel, 1884
- Daniel, 1885
- Ruth, 1886
- Alonzo, 1889 (twin)
- Gertrude, 1889 (twin)
- Elmer, 1890
- Calvin, 1891
- Florence, 1892
- Esther, 1893 (twin)
- Benjamin, 1893 (twin)
- Earl, 1895
- Jessie, 1896
- Edith, 1897
- Lottie, 1898
- Arthur, 1899
Out of the 25 names on the list, which girl name and which boy name do you like best?
Source: “25 Children in 27 Years.” Hartford Weekly Times 26 Oct. 1899: 6.
Image: Ein Kinderfest (1868) by Ludwig Knaus
.jpg){kind=link}
I like Gertrude, Esther, and Walter, best.
I think Walter might be my favorite for boy names as well. For girls, I’d say Mabel.
Boy name: either Daniel or Louis.
Girl name: either Maud or Esther.
Maud, Cora & Esther
Thaddeus & Elmer
Mmm… most of us rather like Esther, it seems.
Walter (but I would pick Louis if it were spelled Lewis), and Edith.
Calvin and Lottie
Arthur and Esther