CLIVE M. SWAIN

 CLIVE M. SWAIN 

            Clive Milrey “Pete” Swain was born 23 Sep 1876 in Prentiss, Ohio County, the son of Percipial Arthur Swain and Wilemina Elmira Anglea.  Pete was one of six children: his siblings were Effie T. Swain Taylor (1879-1975); Royd Swain (1881-1969); Premley E. Swain (1883-1884); Archie B. Swain (1885-1959); and Robert I. Swain (1889-1978). 

            Pete and Mittie Gentry obtained a marriage license 21 Nov 1899 and were married two days later.

            Pete and Mittie had two children, and infant that died at birth in 1913 and Willie Pearl Swain (Ayer) (1915-1999). 

        Pete registered for the draft (WWI) 12 Sep 1918.

            Pete’s father, known as Uncle Sip, was very active in raising and racing horses, and several of Pete’s close relatives were in the blacksmith business. His WWI Draft registration listed his occupation as a blacksmith. In 1919 Pete purchased part interest in a shoe and leather repair business located in Hartford.  The 1910 and 1920 census shows him living in Centertown, near some of his relatives, and lists his occupation as a blacksmith. Pete and a relative, J. B. Swain, owned a blacksmith shop in Centertown known as Swain & Swain. This business was closed in January 1921 after J. B. Swain died. Shortly thereafter, Pete was in the automobile repair & servicing business in Centertown (might have been a gas station). 

            Pete died in Colorado 30 March 1922. He had moved to Colorado in an effort to recover from tuberculosis.  

             Pete had a Will that was signed 27 March 1922, about a week before he died.  Although he died in Colorado his estate was probated in Ohio County.

Swain Family

Swain Family:  The first Swain to come to Ohio County was Henry "Harry" Swain, who was born 25 Sept 1780 in NC.  Henry died 7 Jan 1856 in Ohio Co. I am told that Henry was buried in the Swain Family Cemetery [possibly called the Hudnall Cemetery], which is located above Green River at the mouth of the Thoroughfare on Highway 169 below Prentiss and Schultztown. I am not certain of the location of the 116 acre Swain farm and family cemetery, but I think the following maps are close:

Henry married Mary Howell 25 Jan 1808 in Logan County, KY. She died in Ohio Co. 13 Sept 1843.  Henry and Mary had the following children:

   1. Peyton T. Swain, born about 1810 and he died after 1863.

   2. James H. Swain, born about 1812; moved to Missouri; and died 1 June 1847 in Mexico during the Mexican War. James married Nancy Terrence in Ohio Co. in 1833 and married Mildred P. Cason in MO in 1840.

   3. Nancy Swain, born about 1814 and died 20 Dec 1853 in Ohio County.

   4. Mary D. Swain, born about 1819 and died about 1882 in Ohio Co. Mary married John W. Haws in 1844 in Butler Co.; and married Nicholas Taylor in 1854 in Butler Co.

   5. Martha Swain, born 3 May 1822 and died 21 Jul 1899. Martha married Phillip Davenport in 1844 in Butler Co.

   6. Elizabeth Swain, born about 1825 and died 26 Oct 1911 and is buried in Butler Co. Elizabeth married Woodson Legrand in 1857 in Ohio Co. 

   7. Henry Allen Swain, born 26 March 1827 and died 31 March 1878 in Ohio Co. Henry married Eliza Jane Garner Morton "Maud" 20 Feb 1851 in Ohio Co. and they had ten children (see below).

  8. Rhoden Burgoyne Swain, born 1 Jan 1832 and died 2 Apr 1908 in Ohio Co.  Rhoden married Nancy Jane Smith about 1850 and that marriage ended in divorce. Rhoden next married Elizabeth Mary Davenport in 1867 in Ohio Co.

   9. Homer C. Swain, born about 1837 and died before 1 Sept 1856. Homer married Mary A. Howerton in Ohio Co. 28 Nov 1877.

Next generation. The children of Henry Allen Swain:

   1. Mary Frances Swain, born 30 Dec 1851, and died 8 Feb 1947 in Butler Co. Mary married James R. Read 28 Oct 1869 in Ohio Co.

   2. Peridope Swain, born 5 Aug 1853.

   3. Percipial Aurthine Swain "Sip", born 5 Aug 1853 and died 7 March 1951 in Beaver Dam. Percipial married Wihelmina Elminia Angle 17 Nov 1875 and they had five children.  "Sip" Swain (198) died at age 97. His obituary stated that he was a sterling citizen of quaint individuality and would be remembered for his dapper manner, long locks of hair, and friendly jollity. He was an accomplished fiddler and maker of fiddles, a horse racing devotee and hiking enthusiast. He was a farmer, merchant, blacksmith, and postmaster, living most of his life in the Prentiss community. He was buried in Slaty Creek Cemetery, Ohio County, Kentucky.

   4. Peyton Timoleon Swain, born 21 Jul 1855, and died 2 June 1935 in Butler Co. Peyton married Laura E. Turns 3 Oct 1878 in Ohio Co.

   5. Finis Leona Swain, born 7 June 1857, and died 21 Apr 1937 in Ohio Co. Finis married Samuel William Leach 10 Jan 1874 in Ohio Co. and they had four children: Henry Oscar, Harney Leslie, Clyde Fielding, and Chester Finis Leach. Her obituary states: 

Venerated Woman Dies at Beaver Dam.  Mrs. Finis Leona Leach, 79 years of age, died at her home in Beaver Dam at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, after having been ill for a number of years and bedfast for the last two years.  Her death was attributed to a complication of diseases.  Mrs. Leach was a native of Ohio County, born near Cromwell, a daughter of the late Allen and Lyda Morton Swain.  She was the widow of Samuel William Leach, who preceded her in death a number of years ago.  She was an admirable woman and a member of the Baptist church.  Surviving relatives are three sons, Oscar, of Cincinnati, Clyde, of Lexington, Chester, of Owensboro, eight grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Frank Cooper, and two brothers, Sip and Harper Swain, Ohio County.  Funeral services were conducted at the home at 1:00 p.m. last Thursday, and also a short service at the Leach cemetery, near Rob Roy, where commitment was made.  Services were in charge of the Rev. J. L. Sullivan, pastor of Beaver Dam Baptist church.  Ohio County News, April 30, 1937.

Finis was my great-grandmother. Here is her photo:

   6. Laura Lelah Swain, born 1860. Laura married John S. Buckley.

   7. Jefferson Davis Swain, born Feb 1863, and died 12 June 1905 in McLean Co.  Jefferson married Elizabeth H.

   8. Ellis Harper Swain, born 12 march 1865, and died 12 march 1962 in Ohio County.

   9. John Wilkes Booth Swain, born 19 Nov 1868, and died after 1910. John married Iona Alice Carter 20 Feb 1895 in Ohio Co.

   10. Elida Quantrilla Swain, born 2 Jan 1871, and she died 7 May 1968 in Ohio Co., having married Frank Cooper 19 Oct 1892 in Ohio Co.

   The following is a family history narrative sent to me by Marguerite Leach (1908-2007); Marguerite was my cousin:

My father was Clyde Leach and my mother was Sylvia May McCoy.  Father was born 29 Sep 1879 and died 9 Aug 1962.  Mother was born 1 May 1887 and died 2 Oct 1980. My grandfather was Samuel William Leach and my grandmother was Finis Swain. Grandfather and grandmother had 4 sons, Oscar, Harney Leslie, Clyde and Chester.

Grandmother Leach had a brother we called Uncle Sip who raised trotting horses.  I remember watching them race at the Ohio County Fair.  The horses pulled a sulky while racing. 

When I was a child we lived near the Swain farm.  My mother called Uncle Sip's wife " Aunt Willie", and I remember mother telling me to run over to Aunt Willie's home and borrow a cup of flour.  To get there I had to go through the field where Uncle Sip had his horses and they were very big and I was afraid of them.  My father, Clyde Leach, would keep the (racing) time for Uncle Sip with Uncle Sip's stop watch.  After Uncle Sip died my father ended up with the stop watch, possibly by inheritance, and I got it when father died.  I gave it to Otis Leach, who lived in Owensboro, and his son, Billy Leach has it now. 

I remember that Uncle Sip and Grandmother Leach (Finis) had a sister that we called Aunt Lydia, and that she married a Cooper and had two children, Juanita and Corbit. Corbit was a Mason and was very good to Uncle Leslie's widow, Ella, after Uncle Leslie died (Uncle Leslie was also a Mason).  I remember that Aunt Lydia lived west of Beaver Dam, near Centertown. 

Uncle Sip had a daughter named Effie T. Swain that married Richard (Dick) Taylor. They had two children, Ruby and Wilma, who were friends of mine.  I remember that Effie had a family bible that had all of the Swain family information. 

I remember spending the night with Grandmother Leach (Finis) when I was quite young.  She cooked in the fireplace.  I slept upstairs in a little room.  She had a shawl that hung on a nail that she called a facinator. When Uncle Oscar's wife died I was small and they held the wake at Grandmother Leach's house.  

SWAIN FAMILY

SWAIN FAMILY

My paternal great-grandmother was Finis Louise Swain (1857 – 1937), who married Samuel William Leach (1851 – 1918) in 1874. They lived their entire lives in Ohio County and had four children (Henry Oscar, Harney Leslie, Clyde Fielding, and Chester Finis).

Her obituary is as follows:

Venerated Woman Dies at Beaver Dam.  Mrs. Finis Leona Leach, 79 years of age, died at her home in Beaver Dam at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, after having been ill for a number of years and bedfast for the last two years.  Her death was attributed to a complication of diseases.  Mrs. Leach was a native of Ohio County, born near Cromwell, a daughter of the late Allen and Lyda Morton Swain.  She was the widow of Samuel William Leach, who preceded her in death a number of years ago.  She was an admirable woman and a member of the Baptist church.  Surviving relatives are three sons, Oscar, of Cincinnati, Clyde, of Lexington, Chester, of Owensboro, eight grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Frank Cooper, and two brothers, Sip and Harper Swain, Ohio County.  Funeral services were conducted at the home at 1:00 p.m. last Thursday, and also a short service at the Leach cemetery, near Rob Roy, where commitment was made.  Services were in charge of the Rev. J. L. Sullivan, pastor of Beaver Dam Baptist church.  Ohio County News, April 30, 1937.

A brother of my great-grandmother was Percipal Aurthine Swain, who was called “Uncle Sip.”  The following is taken from my notes on him:

Uncle Sip Swain told his barber one autumn day in 1888 that this was his last haircut until a Democratic President was elected. He wanted a Democrat in office to help obtain post office service. Grover Cleveland was soon thereafter defeated, and Uncle Sip wore his hair long for four years. He was determined that his neighbors should have mail service, so for a full year he walked nine miles each way to town twice a week to carry the mail himself. He was the object of such Republican ribaldry as changing a popular song, "Johnny, Get Your Hair Cut" to "Sippy, Get Your Hair Cut." When Cleveland was elected in 1892, Ohio County held a parade led by a brass band and a huge wagon converted into a float and escorted Uncle Sip to Beaver Dam for his haircut which was watched by 3,000 Democrats. A blue ribbon was tied around a lock of his hair and sent to Grover Cleveland. He served as the Postmaster for Prentiss, KY for more than 40 years.

Parcipial Authine "Sip" Swain died on 07 March 1951 in Beaver Dam, Ohio County, Kentucky, at age 97. His obituary stated that he was a sterling citizen of quaint individuality and would be remembered for his dapper manner, long locks of hair, and friendly jollity. He was an accomplished fiddler and maker of fiddles, a horse racing devotee and hiking enthusiast. He was a farmer, merchant, blacksmith, and postmaster, living most of his life in the Prentiss community. He was buried in Slaty Creek Cemetery, Ohio County, Kentucky.

In addition to Uncle Sip, my great-grandmother had eight other brothers and sisters, i.e  Mary Frances, Peridope, Peyton Timoleon, Laura Lelah, Jefferson Davis, Ellis Harper, John Wilkes Booth, and Elida Quantrilla. All born between 1851 and 1871 in Ohio County. Most of the foregoing lived out their lives in Ohio County, although one or two moved to neighboring counties.

Their parents were Henry Allen Swain (1827 – 1878) and Elizabeth Jane Garner Morton (1829 – 1901) who also lived their entire lives in Ohio County.

            Obit from Jerry Long.  Died of pneumonia near Cromwell last Sunday.  Published 3 Apr 1878.

Hartford newspaper April 24,1901: MRS. ELIZA G. SWAIN died on the 19th at Prentiss, Ky.  Wife of ALLEN SWAIN, who died 23 years ago, she was called AUNT LIDA.

Henry Allen’s father was also named Henry (1780 – 1856) who moved to Ohio County about 1824. He was married to Mary Howell (1790 – 1843) and they had nine children: Peyton T., James H., Nancy, Mary D., Martha, Elizabeth, Henry Allen, Rhoden Burgoyne, and Homer C. (all born between 1810 and 1837).

The following is taken from my notes on Henry Allen:

Henry volunteered at Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky, on 19 August 1813 as a private for 3 months on the expedition to Canada and served with Capt. James Tyler's Company, 10th Regiment Kentucky Mounted Volunteer Militia in the War of 1812. He served until 20 September 1813 and was paid for 1 month, 2 days in the amount of 8 dollars, 51 cents. He was paid 13 dollars, 20 cents for the use of his horse at 40 cents per day.

Henry "Harry" Swain died on 07 February 1856 in Ohio County, Kentucky, at age 75. He was buried in Swain Cemetery, Ohio County, Kentucky. The cemetery [also called the Hudnall Cemetery] is located above Green River at the mouth of the Thoroughfare on Highway 169 below Prentiss and Schultztown.

Some members of the Swain family have tried to locate a Swain Cemetery in Ohio County.  I have two saved emails discussing the cemetery (although it appears that the Hudnall Cemetery is probably the same as the Swain Cemetery).

Date:    Tue, 11 Dec 2001

From:   "Swain, Ed"

Charles, I just ran across this message in my files and am passing it on. Doug, my brother, was looking for the cemetery that had Henry and Polly Swain and we had not found out that it was on the farm or where the farm was located.

From:     Doug Swain

Sent:       Sunday, March 29, 1998

To:          Swain, Ed

Subject:  Ohio County

 Ed:

       I went to Ohio County today looking for the Swain Cemetery. I don't  know if I found it or not. The first cemetery I went to was south of  Schultztown. There was one stone with Swain on it. It was of the young  daughter of P.T. and L.E. Swain, named Premley E., born Nov 21  1883 died Aug 7 1884. There were a few graves with just rough sandstone  rocks for markers, with no names.

       The second cemetery I went to was in the area called Schultztown. It  was the Schultz Cemetery. There were no markers in this cemetery with  Swain on them.

       The third cemetery was between Prentiss and Schultztown called Slaty Creek. There were a number of Swains in this  cemetery. I didn't write them down, just took pictures. I will let you  know the complete details when I get the pictures back. Some names I can  remember are Mittie, Willie, and Leonard.

       I talked to a couple of people in the area and they did not know of  a cemetery named Swain. It could be possible that the first cemetery or  the last might have been the Swain Cemetery. The second cemetery was the  Schultz cemetery and it had some very old Schultz stones in it, so it is  doubtful that it is the Swain Cemetery, and there were no Swains there  either.

      

 Doug

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Email from Glenda Price:

I have these dates:

        Henry Allen Swain, born March 26, 1827 in Ohio (or Butler) County, KY, married on February 20, 1851 in Ohio County, KY to Eliza Garner Morton, born October 21, 1829 in Kentucky, and died April 19, 1901 in Ohio County, KY.  Henry Allen Swain died in 1878. 

            I have copied information from an Ohio County Will book that says:  "p. 435, Will of ELIZA G. SWAIN, gives to son ELLIS H. SWAIN the farm on which she now resides, about 25 acres, to be his for as long as he lives and then to descend to his heirs.  Should he die without children, then said land to descend to his brothers and sisters or their heirs.  To other children or their heirs, she gives farm lying on Green River, about 118 acres, which farm is to be sold and the proceeds divided equally.  This bequest to P. A. SWAIN, P. T. SWAIN, F. L. LEACH for LELAH BUCKLEY, dec'd, J. D. SWAIN, J. B. SWAIN, ELIDA COOPER, and ORPHA BUCKLEY, granddaughter, daughter of Lelah Buckley.  What goes to Orpha Buckley is to be held in trust for her until she reaches the age of 21 years or marries, with JAMES READ as trustee.  All of the personal property to go to her children and grandchild, said property to be sold and proceeds equally distributed.  Said personal property not to include certain articles of household and kitchen furniture which Ellis H. Swain, her son, owns in his own right and which articles he shall be allowed to select.  Appoints James Read, son-in-law, as sole executor.  April 15, 1901.  ALLEN GENTRY and H. B. TAYLOR, both of Prentis, Kentucky, witnesses,  Probated May 6, 1901."

I also have a listing of graves at the Swain farm, which I believe to be the 116 acres mentioned above.  Martha Leach, 1876-1917 is there. Henry and his wife Mary "Polly" Howell is there.  According to one reference, there are also 16 unmarked graves and evidence of more graves there. 

Here is what I have for Henry Allen SWAIN and Eliza Garner MORTON's children: 

Mary Frances SWAIN, b. 1851, Ohio Co, KY, m. James R. READ 

Parcipial Authine "Sip" SWAIN (1853-1951), b. Prentiss, Ohio Co., KY, m. Willelmina Elminia "Willie" ANGLE;

Peyton Timoleon SWAIN, b. 1855 in KY, m. Laura E. TURNS

Finis Leona SWAIN , b. 1857, KY, m. Samuel W. LEACH

Laura Lelah SWAIN, b. 1860, Ohio Co., KY, m. John S. BUCKLEY

Jefferson Davis SWAIN, b. 1863, KY

Ellis Harper SWAIN, b. 1865, KY

John Wilkes Booth SWAIN, b. 1868, KY, m. Iona CARTER

Elida Quantrilla SWAIN, b. 1871, KY

(I love these names--very unusual!)

This information came from a direct descendant of Parcipial's.

I agree that the Swain farm and cemetery are in the Prentiss vicinity.  The descendant I referred to above gave me a picture of the house in which he was born in Prentiss.  Yesterday I ran across this notation that the Hudnall cemetery (which is sometimes called the Swain cemetery and is where Henry Swain and Mary Howell are buried) is located on the north bank of the Green River at the lower mouth of the Thoroughfare at Hudnall's Landing.  (Hudnall owned the land, at least some of it, after the Swain's.)  Now, if I could just figure out which is the lower mouth of the Thoroughfare as it looks like both ends of the river meet the Green River.   Another description says that HudnaIl's Landing is just below the mouth of the Thoroughfare and up river from Rochester. I have been told that there is nothing left there any more due to damage by the cows. 

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Maps showing the approximate location of the Swain farm and possibly the cemetery. Note: These two maps show the same location - the scale changes with the second map.