Further Westward Migration
During history at the time of the following ancestors, the Alamo at San Antonio, with only a 188 man force, fell on March 6, 1836 to a 4,000 man army commanded by the president of Mexico, after an 11 day siege. With the election of Abraham Lincoln in November of 1860, the United States became less united. South Carolina adopts an Ordinance of Secession on December 20 to protest the election. Idaho is admitted to the Union as the 43rd state, and Wyoming is admitted as the 44th state in 1890. And also during this time The Boy Scouts of America is founded by Daniel Beard, author of Boy Pioneers and Sons of Daniel Boone (1910).
Milton Franklin Swetnam, first born to Clayborne L. and Derece Swetnam, was born in Lawrence County, Kentucky on September 6, 1836. Not much is known of Milton other than he married Lydia Botner on March 8, 1865, however there is a mention of him in George Wolfford’s book Lawrence County, a Pictorial History;
“Real coins were not only heavy, but in danger of theft, so Milton Swetnam of Blaine was sent regularly to the Farmers Bank of Catlettsburg with his saddle bags filled for deposits. John Moore rode with him as bodyguard and they traveled over Irish Creek, through Overda.” “In 1885, Disciples of Christ extended to Lawrence, naming two local men to their district organization. Eli Sloan of Emma was selected secretary and Milton Swetnam of Wilbur treasurer.”
Milton died August 10, 1930.
Lydia Botner, wife of Milton Franklin Swetnam, was born September 6, 1847. Lydia was the daughter of Captain Oliver D. Botner and Jane (Stafford) Botner. Lydia died November 9, 1931.
Issue of Milton Franklin and Lydia Swetnam
Milton Swetnam (1836 - 1930) + Lydia Botner (1847 - 1931)
1. George Columbus Swetnam (1869 - 1947) + Madge Carter ( - 1961)
2. Oliver Botner Swetnam (1871 - 1965) + Philena (Lena) Janet Kise (1873 - )
3. Alma Jane Swetnam (1866 - 1951) + Joe Boling (1861 - 1915)
4. Addie Therese Swetnam (1867 - 1910) + John Osborn (1865 - 1950)
5. Mary Melvina (Mollie) Swetnam (1877 - 1978) + John James Gambill (1874 - )
6. Lida May Swetnam (1875 - ) + Henry Harrison Gambill (1874 - 1936)
7. Sarah J. Swetnam (1879 - )
8. Amanda V. Swetnam (1881 - ) + Joseph Layne Wellman
9. Eliza Ethel Swetnam (1884 - 1934) + Morgan Stanbaugh
10. Carrie M. Swetnam (1890 - 1965) + Charles Carey (1883 - 1945)
11. Emily (Emma) Ann Swetnam (1873 - 1965) + Greenville (G. V.) Burton (1868 - 1945)
James Manvah Swetnam, the first born to John James and Rebecca Swetnam, was born November 11, 1841. James was an adventurer in his early 20’s in central Arizona in the 1860’s. He led a party of settlers to the Camp Verde area, and fought Apaches. He went back east to complete a medical degree, then eventually moved back to Phoenix, Arizona, where he died a very prominent citizen. James married three times, first to Laura Ferguson, his second wife’s name is not known, and last to Mae Black. James Manvah died in February of 1921, and is buried with his third wife Mae in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. His obituary ran in a Bath county newspaper, “Dr. J. M. SWEETMAN (sic), age 80, native of Bath Co., died at his home in Phoenix, Ariz. Was half-bro., of Mrs. Warren W. ROGERS of Peck’s Ridge.
Laura Ferguson, Wife of James Manvah Swetnam, is referred to in the book The Big Sandy Valley, by William Ely;
“Along the last half of the seventies Laura Ferguson...was married ... to Dr. J. M. Swetnam, a very talented and promising young physician. The hopeful young doctor took his beautiful bride to the West, settling in a live, progressive town in Northern Missouri, where the young physician and able business man went to work with a vim, which could not fail to lead to success, adding to his extensive practice, dealing largely in real estate, publishing a newspaper, etc.; and, in a material point of view, gaining almost daily in worldly wealth. But he had been settled in his Missouri home little over a year when his mind was filled with forebodings; for it burst upon him that his Laura was not long for this world. Never rugged in health, yet never complaining, her removal from the more genial clime of the Sandy Valley to the higher latitude of Northern Missouri - an almost treeless region, the bitter cold winds coming down from the frozen north - was more than the Southland flower could stand. A decline set in so alarming, that her husband, with the strong solicitations of sister, brothers, and aunt, brought her back to her Big Sandy home, stopping with her sister, Mrs. Prichard, where husband, sister, aunt, and other relatives and friends did all that human love and skill could do to fan back to her pale cheek the roses of health peculiar to her girlhood. But the Great Shepherd above called her to his own fold, and she left her friends with the assurance that a bright flower, nipped by some untimely blast, was transplanted in the Garden of Delight, to flourish while eternity rolls on.”
Issue of James Manvah Swetnam
James Manvah Swetnam (1841 - 1921) + Laura Ferguson
1. Nell Swetnam (1872 - )
*3rd Wife of James Manvah Swetnam: + Mae E. Black ( - 1935)
2. Louise Swetnam + Hull
Mary Alice Swetnam, the first child John James Swetnam’s second wife Carinda Elkin bore him, was born February 4, 1868. Mary married Ben M. Arnold, great-grandson of Captain William and Martha (Thompson) Swetnam. Mary died January 20, 1958, and is buried in the Owingsville Cemetery, Bath County, Kentucky. Ben M. Arnold, husband of Mary Alice Swetnam, was born in May of 1862. It is said that he was part of a raiding party of southern sympathizers looking for horses that the family had hidden. Ben M. Arnold died December 26, 1956, and is buried in the Owingsville Cemetery, Bath County, Kentucky.
Issue of Ben M. and Mary Alice Arnold
Mary Alice Swetnam 1868 - 1954 + Ben M. Arnold 1862 - 1954
1. Joseph Arnold 1893 - 1956 + Ruth Donohue
2. Clara Ann Arnold
3. Nettie Belle Arnold 1901 - + William D. Kincaid
4. Lucille Rose Arnold
John Willis Swetnam, the son of Hamilton S. and Mary Jane Swetnam, was born in Lawrence County, Kentucky near Louisa on February 23, 1851. From family accounts and personal papers, he must have been a free-soul from a very early age. Prior to the prohibition era, he financed the operation of two Blind Tigers. These were illegal whiskey operations where untaxed whiskey was sold. They were called Blind Tigers because they had no windows and business was transacted trough a sliding drawer. One of these was located on the Lawrence-Martin County line and was operated by Charlie Preston. From all accounts John Willis Swetnam was a man about town and seemed to be in the middle of things. He liked women and was partial to whiskey and gambling. He married Alice Louisa Burgess and they had four children. He enrolled in the Physio Eclastic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated in 1877. After graduation he returned to Lawrence County and established a practice at Peach Orchard. He was the company Doctor for the Peach Orchard Coal Company. He served as the Lawrence County Coroner for several years during the 1880’s. He practiced in Lawrence County until 1896, when he sold his holdings around Peach Orchard and moved to Myrtle in Johnson County. Myrtle is the present day White House. He opened an office and practiced medicine there until 1913. He sold his interests there and brought a farm in Rowan County with the intention of retiring. The farm is located on the Andy White Branch which is today the home of Dallas Swetnam. When the people of Rowan County found out that John Willis had been a doctor they came to him and he again started a practice. He remained active in his profession until late 1927 or early 1928, at this time he became ill and was forced by his failing health to give up his practice. In 1931 he died in a medical institution in Lexington, Kentucky.
Alice Louise Burgess, wife of John Willis Swetnam, was born in Lawrence County, Kentucky. She married John Willis against the wishes and strong objections of her parents. For her defiance in marrying, her family disowned her and this created a rift in the family that was never to be mended. Her mother’s name was Lisa Burgess and her father’s name is unknown. Alice married John after he got out of medical school. They set up housekeeping in a very crude makeshift house constructed out of split rails. John and Alice never got along well, and she left him at least once for the way he treated her. In her later years she became sickly and pain ridden. she became addicted to morphine and died on June 3, 1934 in Rowan County. She was taken to Lawrence County to be buried.
Issue of John Willis and Alice Louise Burgess
John Willis Swetnam 1851 - 1931 + Alice Louise Burgess - 1934
1. Milton Swetnam
2. Mary L. Swetnam 1904 - + Rotas
*2nd Husband of Mary L. Swetnam: + Lee Dollaride
*3rd Husband of Mary L. Swetnam: + Oscar Gibson
*4th Husband of Mary L. Swetnam: + John P. Wells
3. Milton Thomas Swetnam 1884 - 1928 + Poppy Flannery 1882 - 1971
4. Edford Swetnam 1886 - 1955 + Grace Welch
*2nd Wife of Edford Swetnam: + Edna Debord
Neri F. , son of John Preston Osborn, managed his father’s ranch for a time and married Marilla W. Murray at the age of 26. He raised three sons and three daughters and was active in the affairs of the new city of Phoenix.
Issue of Neri F. and Marilla W. Osborn
Neri F. Osborn + Marilla W. Murray
1. Sidney Preston Osborn ( - 1948) + Marjorie Grant
*2nd wife of Sidney P. Osborn + Gladys Smith
2. Amy Osborn
3. Alma Osborn
4. Kathryn Osborn
5. Neri Osborn Jr.
6. Grant Osborn
