WILLIAM C. SWAN.

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         A farm of one hundred and twenty acres located on section 29 and 32, Morning Sun township, well repays the efforts of William C. Swan, who has been engaged in its cultivation for twenty-two years. He was born in Louisa county on the 19th of April, 1861, and is a son of the late Joseph and Molly Bell (Hamilton) Swan, natives of Pennsylvania and Iowa respectively. The father came to Louisa county in 1840 and purchased forty acres of land but disposed of this later and subsequently bought eighty acres elsewhere, to which he added at various times until he had acquired four hundred and fifty acres, where he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He passed away in 1899 and was laid to rest beside his wife in Elmwood cemetery, Morning Sun. At the time of his demise Mr. Swan was about seventy-six years of age, but his wife was only fifty-one at the time of her death, which occurred in 1872. They were the parents of six children, all but one of whom are living, and in order of birth they were as follows: Joseph J.; Elizabeth Grace, who is deceased; George L.; William C.; Alex C.; and Erasmus M., all residents of Morning Sun township.

         A student of the district schools, William C. Swan continued to be engaged in the acquirement of his education until the completion of the regular course. After laying aside his text-books he engaged in agricultural pursuits under the . . .

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. . . supervision of others until he had attained the age of twenty-three years, when he rented eighty acres, which he cultivated for five years. At the expiration of that period he bought eighty acres, which formed the nucleus of his present homestead. He makes a specialty of the breeding and raising of Poland China hogs, in addition to which he also engages in general farming. Both branches of his business having yielded lucrative returns, it has been possible for him to extend the boundaries of his original tract and his farm now comprises one hundred and twenty acres. It is well improved, plentifully stocked and in a good state of cultivation, as a result of his well applied energy.

         The marriage of Mr. Swan and Miss Anna Eliza Ellen McClure was solemnized on the 4th of September, 1885. Mrs. Swan is a daughter of Alex and Julia (Montgomery) McClure, who were the parents of seven children: Mary Susan, the wife of C. F. Hewett, a resident of Louisa county; Hester, who married R. W. Breckenridge, of Clarion, Iowa; James V., who is living in Murray, this state; Anna Eliza Ellen, now Mrs. Swan; Emma, the wife of J. C. Callwell, of Creston; Frank, of Cody, Wyoming; and one who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Swan have been born eight children: Joseph F., who is living at home; Charles C., a resident of Marengo, Iowa; Viola Bell, who married Walter O. Swan, of Morning Sun; and Oscar Knox, Vera L., Gladys Julia, Alta May and Marcus McClure, all of whom are at home.

         Mr. Swan exercises his right of franchise in support of the candidates of the republican party and has several times been elected to the office of township trustee. The family attend the services of the Presbyterian church, with which the parents have long been affiliated and among whose members they have many friends.