The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-02-07
BORN IN SALEM IN 1897.
JOHN III. SWAIN, NOW AT WAR
REN, INDIANA.
Lived on a Farm Near Salem and
Bauled Freight for the Merchants
The Story of His Career.

Bauled Freight for the Merchants
The Story of His Career
Mr.. J. Gflmer Kerner, of Kerners
vile, sends THE SENTINEL an inter
esting story clipped from the India
napolis (Ind. News, of January 26th.
1t relates the peculiar experiences
cf MIR. John H. Swain, a nOnogena-
rian, who is native Of Salem.
There are a number of Swaims liv-
ing in Forsyth and adjoining counties
and it is quite probable that many OF
them are relates to tho man who Is
9S years old.
Mr.. Kerner says that he is in CORE
spondence with a friend in the West
who can furnish any enquiring mem
bers Of the Swain family further in
formation.
STORY OF HIS LIFE.
The following special to the In6ia
napolis News from Warren, Ind
dated January 26th, is the story In
full
Last Monday a telegram to the
Indianapolis News referred to John
II. Swain, who had been bsent from
his family for many years, and VINO
had but recently been located. He
was brought here last Monday. Mr.
Swain was born near Salem, G., in
February, 1871. His wife. whom
he left in 1910, was born July, 1875.
They were married July IL, 1916, and
nine children resulted from the union.
Mr.. Swain settled on farm near
Salem where he followed farming and
hauling freight for merchants at
Salem This latter occupation took
him from home for weeks at time.
For years he held the position of
Justice Of the peace. quite distinc-
tiOn in those days.
LEFT HIS FAMILY.
''Mr. Swain had become heavily in
, volved in debt by going surety for
other people, and the obligations be
cong due. he went elsewhere that he
might make money with which to pay
his debts. Failing in this, and fear
ing to meet his creditors, he did not
return for years. Meanwhile his
property was seized, and his family
| was left TO shift for themselves.
! After their home was broken up they
removed to this place, and when he
! returned to North Carolina, he could
| hear nothing Of their whereabouts,
| only that they had gone To Indiana.
! For years he kept up a fruitleSS search
| for his family and in his rambIlDgs
| several times he was in this place, OF
| course not dreaming that he was close
/ to the objects Of his search. Me finally
| drifted to Ohio, where he acquired
| property and where he lived for many
| years on farm, making his home
| with his tenants. In 1866 he heard
| that Mrs. Nancy Ricketts,, a daughter,
| was living in Wells county, this State,
| and he wrote letter, which never
reached its destination.
HAS MONEY AND REAL ESTATE
| He went about all through Ohio,
| usually in the guiSe of Deggar, while
on his endless search for his family,
! and he was arrested a number of times
| as a common vagrant, but he always
| had money with which 10 pay his
| fines. Some years ago, at Urbdna, o.,
he left bundle in saloon, and, on
| calling for il several days later, he
surprised the bartender by unrOlling
and exposing over s., 600 in green backs,
which the bundle contained Every
thing he touched seemed to tnru to
gold, and in his wanderngs he has &C
cumulated considerable money and
much real estate
WITH HIS FOUR CHILDREN.
ga family of the same name, neal
| Columbus, O., claiming to be heirs
had a guardian appointed severa
years ago for him, and they also haC
him sent to Pennsylvania, where they
kept him hid away in the Hooking
| valley, so as to prevent the righLfu
heirs from finding him. His children
were hunting him for nearly three
years, and only recently obtained con
elusive proofs Of his Identity. The!
will now bring suit to recover posses
sion of his property. Permission o
the court had to be obtained for his re
moyal here, and bonds were given fo
his safety. The reunion with his fcu
surviving children was an affectin,
one. He recognized al! of them, call
ing them by name, and when shown
picture of his wife, who died severa
years ago. the broken old man wep
like child.
Mr. Swain is remarkably we'll pre-
served, retaining ali his faculties to
wonderful degree. He is now ninety
| eight Years old