When Dial O'Daniel Criswell was born on 11 October 1889, in Coke, Texas, United States, his father, Leander Harvey 'Lee' Criswell, was 40 and his mother, Emmariah Adaline 'Emma' Neeley, was 37. He married Wilhelmina Van Hees on 26 April 1938, in San Joaquin, California, United States. He lived in Greer, Oklahoma Territory, United States in 1900 and Justice Precinct 1, King, Texas, United States in 1910. He registered for military service in 1918. He died on 5 December 1963, in Alameda, California, United States, at the age of 74, and was buried in San Bruno, San Mateo, California, United States.