My Genealogy Hound

REV. RICHARD LaRUE SWAIN, Ph.D., pastor of the Congregational church in South Hadley Falls, was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, June 17, 1860. He is the son of the Rev. Richard and Elizabeth (Carr) Swain, who are now living retired in Promise City, la. His parents are natives of Leicestershire, England, and came to America in 1857. His father was taught the Catholic faith, but when twenty years of age joined the Wesleyan Methodist church, and became a licensed minister of that denomination, preaching for them until he came to this country.

In Jefferson County, Iowa, where he first located, he did not find the Wesleyan church, hence joined the United Brethren in Christ, and has since remained a minister of that communion. After five years he removed to Wayne County, where he purchased a farm near Promise City. For a number of years he combined preaching and agricultural pursuits; but finally he gave his time wholly to the ministry, his last pastorate being at Lisbon, Ia.

Mr. Swain has four sisters. His oldest sister, Mary, who was born in England, now lives in Washington. His sisters Sarah, Clara, and Lauretta live near their old home in Wayne County. His brother John was killed by lightning when twenty-one years of age.

Richard L. completed his classical course in Western College, Iowa, took his divinity course in Union Biblical Seminary, Ohio, and pursued a course in philosophy at Yale and Otterbein. He also gave much attention to the study of music, and almost entirely defrayed the expenses of his education by teaching music. He was given license to preach when seventeen years of age; and, while he did not yet take a church, he preached frequently during his various courses of study. His first regular pastorate was in Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio, where he was college pastor and Lecturer on Evidences of Christianity for five and a half years. He was also one of the Trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor for about four years, which position he resigned on leaving Ohio for Massachusetts. He accepted a call to his present church in December, 1893, and was here installed on March 13, 1894. The church in South Hadley Falls is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of nearly three hundred and about the same number of families who look to this church for pastoral care.

While in college Mr. Swain was married to Miss Anna E. Shuey, who was a professor in the college at that time. Her parents were William and Catherine (Baker) Shuey. Her father was a Captain in the late war, and after the war edited a paper in his college town. He died in 1876, from injuries received during the war. Mrs. Swain’s mother now resides with her youngest daughter in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Swain have four children: Richard S., Philip W., Esther Helen, and Stuart Frederick.