My Genealogy Hound

Lafayette Swoope, M. D., needs no formal introduction to the many readers of this volume, but in compiling the biographies of the principal citizens of Crittenden County, his name should not be omitted. Born in Augusta County, Va., in 1835, he is the son of Washington and Eliza (Trent) Swoope, natives of Virginia. Washington Swoope was a prosperous farmer, and came from one of the F. F. V’s. He and his wife reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living: Dr. W. M. (living at Buckingham Court House, Va.), Mary M. (wife of Col. Forbes, of Virginia), Eliza M. (Mrs. William Carr), Sarah A. (Mrs. Col. G. W. Hull, of Virginia), Mariah A. (wife of Gen. Edward C. Cornington, residing in Virginia), Francis M., Bowling R. and Lafayette. Mr. Swoope died in 1870 and his wife in 1873. Lafayette was educated in the schools of Virginia, and at the age of eleven years entered the high school of Stanton, Va., attending when fourteen years old the high school at Lexington, Va. When fifteen he took a course at the Baptist College, at Richmond, Va., and about four years later became a student of the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville. He then took up the study of medicine, and subsequently entered the Richmond Medical College, from which he was graduated with honors. He embarked upon the prosecution of his chosen profession at Richmond, and at the time of his removal to Courtland, Ala., in 1860, had built up a comfortable practice. After one year’s residence in Courtland, he moved to DeSoto County, Miss., and located where Star Landing now is, then called Old De Soto Front. In 1861 Dr. Swoope joined the Confederate service, as lieutenant in Company I, Sixteenth Alabama Regiment (Wood’s Brigade). After the battle of Mills Springs he was promoted to a captaincy, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro and numerous engagements of minor importance. He received his discharge at the battle of Murfreesboro, on account of inability to serve, caused by exposure and a wound received at Shiloh. Returning to Virginia, he remained out of the army twelve months, at the end of which time his health had sufficiently improved to admit of his serving again, so he entered the cavalry, and continued on the field until 1863. In August, 1863, he was captured on the Weldon Railroad, near the Yellow Tavern, and remained in prison at Point Lookout, Md., until the final surrender. After receiving his parole he returned to Virginia, but on Christmas day, 1865, started for Mississippi, and settled in De Soto County, resuming the practice which he had established previous to the war. In 1882 Dr. Swoope came to Crittenden County, Ark., and purchased a quantity of wild land, and at this time has about 150 acres improved, on which he produces annually about forty-five bales of cotton. He also devotes a large portion of his farm to the raising of corn and peas, owning besides this farm the southeast quarter of Section 5, which is wild land. Dr. Swoope in addition to being a prominent physician is very popular as a citizen. He is courteous, obliging, and one of the shining lights of society, and while not taking any active part in the politics of the day, is a strong supporter of the Democratic party and a liberal contributor and friend to all laudable enterprises.