Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 497
JOSEPH B. SWAIN

The town of Pisgah, Harrison county, Iowa, has no more public-spirited citizen than its present mayor, Joseph B. SWAIN. He located in Pisgah in 1900, and was one of the charter members of the town and president of the first town board. He is now serving his sixth term as mayor, a fact which speaks highly of the regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

Joseph B. SWAIN, the son of Thomas and Catherine (BRICHON) SWAIN, was born near Jacksonville, Illinois, in Morgan county, April 5, 1854. His father was born in Worcestershire, England, in 1818, and his mother in Scarboro, England, in 1833. They came to the United States in 1826 and 1838, respectively, with their parents. His father's parents settled in Morgan county, Illinois, where they bought twelve hundred and eighty acres of land from the government at one dollar and a quarter an acre. Thomas SWAIN lived in Morgan county, Illinois, until his death, February 6, 1910, at the age of ninety-two. Thomas SWAIN was twice married. He had three children by his first union, and after his first wife's death he married Catherine BRICHON, and to this second union five children were born, Joseph B. being the eldest.

Joseph B. SWAIN lived with his parents until he was thirty-eight years of age. He then moved to Nebraska and bought a quarter of a section of land in Chase county, on which he lived until 1900. In that year he traded it for land and property in and near Pisgah, Harrison county, Iowa, where he has since lived. Pisgah had not yet been incorporated as a city when Mr. SWAIN came to this county, and he was one of the men instrumental in making it a municipality. Upon coming to Pisgah he engaged in the implement and grain business and also bought and sold hogs. He was actively engaged in business for ten years, and then retired from active work and rented his farm and other town properties.

Mr. SWAIN was married, February 7, 1878, to Hannah PARRISH, who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, a daughter of James L. and Matilda (STOUT) PARRISH. Her father was the owner of the woolen mills in Athens, Illinois. Mr. SWAIN and his wife are the parents of seven children, six of whom are living, Edwin L., Carl S., Rilla, Lloyd B., Edith, Harry and Homer, the latter being deceased. Edwin L. married Cora TERRILL, and is a farmer now living is Pisgah. He has two daughters, Greta and Erma. Carl S., who is engaged in the garage and machine business at Pisgah, married Pearl FLORA, and has two children, Mabel and Paul. Rilla, who married Arthur TERRILL, a harness marker of Pisgah, has one son, Leo. Lloyd B. married Sadie PERRIN, and lives in Pisgah, where he is engaged in the garage business. He has one child, Byron Orville. Edith is the wife of Fay JONES, a merchant at Pisgah, and has one son, Royal. Harry, who is not married, lives with his parents in Pisgah. He is engaged in the garage with his brother, Lloyd.

Mr. SWAIN is a Republican, and while living in Illinois, served as treasurer of his township for nearly sixteen years. He has been a justice of the peace since he was twenty-one years of age and has been mayor of Pisgah five terms, and is now serving his sixth term. He has been an active factor in the life of Pisgah since the town was incorporated. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all of the chairs. He formerly was a member of the encampment, but has dropped his membership since there is no lodge near his home. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are generous contributors to its support.

The mother of Mr. SWAIN is still living and is now ninety years old. It is interesting to note that Mr. SWAIN was a schoolmate of William Jennings Bryan, and that in a class of thirty Mr. Bryan was about the tenth from the bottom in his grade. Mr. SWAIN has many interesting incidents to tell of the boyhood days of Mr. Bryan. He says the Nebraskan always was a very good-natured lad, and when he became older took a great deal of interest in unfortunate children. Upon several occasions after he was grown he brought out small parties of blind children to the home of Mr. SWAIN for an outing. He was very particular that the children were well provided for, and at the table would cut their meat for them. Mr. SWAIN is actively interested in every measure of reform, and since becoming a resident of this county has never failed to give his support to such measures as he felt would be of general benefit to the people of the county.

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