My Genealogy Hound

ELBERT M. SWAN, attorney and counselor-at-law, was born in Peoria, Ill., May 30, 1848, the younger of two children born to Thomas J. and Laura A. (Wyman) Swan. The father was a native of the capitol of West Virginia, and there began the study of medicine. He went to Europe, and attended lectures in one of the most renowned medical colleges of France, then returned to this country, and located at Kalamazoo, where he married, his wife being a native of Oswego, N. Y. In 1847 he moved to Peoria, Ill., and about ten years later removed to Wolfe Creek, Ky. From the beginning to the close of the war he was stationed at Louisville, as surgeon of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, and about 1866 came to Spencer County, Ind., making his home here until his death, May 29, 1881. He was an honest, industrious and esteemed citizen, a moral, upright man, and during his latter years followed the ministry of the Baptist Church. His widow yet survives him, and resides in Rockport. Elbert M. Swan, the immediate subject of this sketch, at sixteen years of age accepted a position in the Quartermaster’s Department at Louisville, where he remained until the close of the war. He clerked in Louisville until 1867, when he came to Rockport and attended the Collegiate Institute about two years, afterwards teaching subscription school three years. During this time he completed the Sophomore year of the Indiana State University, also reading law, and in 1874 graduated from the law department of the Cincinnati College. Returning to Rockport he began the practice of his profession, and although now alone in his practice, he has been associated with G. L. Reinhard and C. L. Wedding. June 18, 1877, he married Miss Helen Richardson, daughter of William D. Richardson, a prominent citizen of this county. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic and K. of P. fraternities.