Robert H. Swan

    Robert H. Swan, farmer, Hanover Township, is a son of John and Mary B. (Thorn) Swan. His father was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States when a young man, and entered a farm in this county when James Monroe was President.

    He died in 1860, at the age of 66 years, leaving a widow and eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. His mother was a native of Kentucky and died in 1868, at the age of 60 years.

    Robert H. Swan was born June 15, 1849, upon the farm on which he now resides, in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana, and was reared there. He attended the common schools and the College at Hanover, and the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio.

    He took charge of the arm when only 17 years og age, and though almost without stock or farming tools, and with an invalid mother and two sisters to support, by perseverance and energy, he succeeded in making a living and stocked his farm well and put it in a good state of cultivation. His farm contains 160 acres of land well improved, and is situated four miles southwest of Hanover.

    In 1875 he was married to Miss Mattie L. Arnott, daughter of Rev. Moses Arnott, who was pastor of Carmel U .P. church for twenty-eight years. She died in 1884, leaving three children, two of whom are now living, one boy and one girl -Mary Prudence and Robert Arnott. In 1885 Mr. Swan married again to Miss Emma O., daughter of Wm. McDonald, a farmer of this county. there are no children by this marriage. Mr. Swan is a member of the Carmel Church, and acted as one of the trustees of that church for six years.

    In 1881 he engaged in mercantile business in Hanover, where he remained in business for two and one-half years, when he sold out and went to Kansas.

    He engaged in the confectionery business in Clay Centre, the county seat of Clay County, Kansas, and continued in business there for eight months, when he came back to his farm in this county, and has been there ever since.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.