Judge Horace A. Swift, an eminent citizen of Cole County, Mo., was born near Zanesville, Ohio, in 1833, and there attended school until about twenty years of age, when he began learning the brickmasons' trade, being afterward engaged in the building business. In 1855 he went to Iowa, and after working at his trade in that State for two years, came to Jefferson City, and was extensively engaged in building until the breaking out of the war. In 1859 he had the contract to build additions to the Lunatic Asylum at Fulton, and he also erected many of the best buildings of the city. In 1855 he built a large court-house at the mouth of the Kanawha river, which was burned during the war, but the vaults were so strong that the papers were not destroyed. He was only active during the war so far as home protection was concerned. January 4, 1865, he was appointed warden of the State's Prison, and held the position for more than four years, inaugurating, in the meantime, the present contract system and many of the methods of prison discipline which are in vogue at the present time. He owns 200 acres of fine land on the heights above Jefferson City, and here at the beginning of the war he had begun the erection of a fine residence, but was called upon by the State to erect fortifications instead. Gen. Sigel's army was drawn up across his farm, and immediately in front of where his house now stands remnants of barricades and embankments can still be seen. Since the war he has completed his residence, which stands on an eminence above the city, and commands one of the most extensive views in the vicinity of Jefferson City. Mr. Swift is extensively engaged in raising small fruits, and has over eight acres in strawberries. He also puts up large quantities of ice, handling about 2,000 tons annually. He is also a breeder of blooded cattle, and has one of the finest Holstein bulls in Missouri. In 1882 he was elected to the office of county judge, and has been re-elected each successive term since. In filling the duties of this office he has bent his energies to the improvement of the county roads, and many miles of this much-needed work is rapidly being completed. His influence contributed greatly to the successful completion of the substantial iron bridge across Moreau Creek, and he is ambitious to have Cole County rank first in Missouri in regard to modern improvements. He is a man of sound judgment, unimpeachable honesty, a patron of education, and is deeply interested in all that concerns the welfare of his county. January 1, 1857, he wedded Miss Ada F, Jordan, a native of Massachusetts, a daughter of Edward Jordan, Her grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Judge and Mrs. Swift are the parents of five living children: Emma; Sarah Grace, wife of W. S. Ferguson, of St. Louis; Horace U.; Hattie Maud, wife of E. Turner, of Jefferson City, and Albert D. Edson is deceased. Judge Swift is a son of Richard S. and Sarah (Senter) Swift, who were born in New Jersey and New Hampshire, respectively, the grandparents on both sides being early immigrants to Ohio. Richard S. Swift was a stone-cutter by trade, but in an early day engaged in the steamboat business, and was the pioneer steamboatman of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. His first boat, the "Walhonding," was used as a tow-boat on the Muskingum, and the " Moxhala" was a fine boat that he used as a regular packet to run to Pittsburgh. The "Muskingum Valley," also a packet, ran to Cincinnati. He was also engaged in the milling business in Zanesville, which was conducted on an extensive scale, and was the leading commercial spirit of that section for many years. His death occurred in 1845. His wife, who lived to a ripe old age, died in Jefferson City in 1887.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).