Swafford, Benjamin P.

SWAFFORD, TEMAN

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/12/2013 at 08:35:36

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

SWAFFORD, BENJAMIN P.—Jefferson Twp—pg 971-2. Farmer and stock-raiser, section 13, P.O. Belle Plaine. Was born in Mercer county, Illinois, March 4, 1842, where, after finishing his education, he engaged in farming till 1861, when he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Illinois infantry, and served in the western army for three years, and participated in thirty-two battles, besides many minor engagements, the principal of which are as follows: Belmont, Missouri; Farmington, Mississippi; Adairsville, Chicamaugua, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Iuka; two at Nashville, two at Corninth, Strawberry Plains and Resace. September 20, 1864, on being discharged, he returned to Mercer county, Illinois, engaging in farming till 1866, when he came to Iowa and located in Iowa county, where he farmed till 1868, and then moved to his present location. He owns eighty acres of well improved land, with a good new house beautifully located. Mr. S., while in the army, was taken prisoner and suffered much in Libby Prison, where he saw many die for want of food. He was married, July 2, 1864, in Muscatine, Iowa, to Miss Jane Teman, a resident of Illinois and a native of Germany, aged twenty-one. They have six children: Fred (aged fourteen), Ettie (aged twelve), Omer (aged six), Carrie (aged five), John Y. (aged one) and an infant (aged one month). Lost one in 1877, Eva M. (aged six).