Tilghman Howard Swaim collection
Collection — Folder: S1276
Identifier: S1276
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises a two-part biography of Jehu B. Swaim from Parke County, Indiana, written by his son Tilghman Howard Swaim, in 1923, regarding his father's life, including life in North Carolina, life as a pioneer after moving to Parke COunty, and his vocations as a farmer, blacksmith, shoemaker and mail carrier, ,as well as, purportedly, his afterlife based on "telepathic communications" T. Howard Swaim claims to have received form his spirit.
Dates
- 1923
Creator
- Swaim, Tilghman Howard, 1844-1882 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Tilghman Howard Swaim was born in September of 1844 to Juliet (Williams) and Jehu Barnes Swaim in Parke County, Indiana. He died in October 1925 in California and was buried in Altadena in Los Angeles County.
Jehu Barnes Swaim was born on April 25, 1803, to Elizabeth "Betsy" (Barnes) (1779-1836) and Michael Swaim (1780-1828) in Wilkes County, North Carolina. About 1820, the Swaims moved to Parke County, Indiana. Throughout his life, Jehu B. Swaim worked as a farmer, blacksmith, shoemaker, and delivered the mail. He married three times, first to Nancy Willison Johnson (1798-1842) on February 26, 1824 in Parke County. The couple had seven children: William W. (1825-1846), Sarah (1826-1917), George Harvey (1828-1915), Betsy (1830-1838), Martha Harriett "Patsy" (1832-1905), Rhoda (1834-1911), and Nancy M. (1837-1915). After Nancy's death on September 2, 1842, Jehu married Juliet Amelia Williams (1812-1851) in 1843 and they had four children: Tilghman Howard (1844-1925), Marion (1847-1847), Annie Jane (1848-1930), and Mary E. (1850-1934). When Juliet died on September 4, 1851, Jehu married a widow, Amelia Shackelford (1813-1904) on July 24, 1853. Swaim died on July 10, 1882 and was buried in Bethany Cemetery in Marshall, Indiana.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Findagrave.com. "Jehu Barnes Swaim." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143302817/jehu-barnes-swaim.
Jehu Barnes Swaim was born on April 25, 1803, to Elizabeth "Betsy" (Barnes) (1779-1836) and Michael Swaim (1780-1828) in Wilkes County, North Carolina. About 1820, the Swaims moved to Parke County, Indiana. Throughout his life, Jehu B. Swaim worked as a farmer, blacksmith, shoemaker, and delivered the mail. He married three times, first to Nancy Willison Johnson (1798-1842) on February 26, 1824 in Parke County. The couple had seven children: William W. (1825-1846), Sarah (1826-1917), George Harvey (1828-1915), Betsy (1830-1838), Martha Harriett "Patsy" (1832-1905), Rhoda (1834-1911), and Nancy M. (1837-1915). After Nancy's death on September 2, 1842, Jehu married Juliet Amelia Williams (1812-1851) in 1843 and they had four children: Tilghman Howard (1844-1925), Marion (1847-1847), Annie Jane (1848-1930), and Mary E. (1850-1934). When Juliet died on September 4, 1851, Jehu married a widow, Amelia Shackelford (1813-1904) on July 24, 1853. Swaim died on July 10, 1882 and was buried in Bethany Cemetery in Marshall, Indiana.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Findagrave.com. "Jehu Barnes Swaim." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143302817/jehu-barnes-swaim.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by section and page number.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from the Rockville Public Library in April 1943.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed 2017/04/27 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield. EAD finding aid revised 2025/12/03 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Swaim, Tilghman Howard, 1844-1882 (Person)
- Title
- Tilghman Howard Swaim collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
