| Swindle College James Swindle and Elizabeth Gibpson Davidson From The Wheaton Journal July 21, 1960 Submitted in 2010 by: Betty Lamberson - Deceased |
| While the Butterfield Overland Stage was the first stage coach to haul regular
passengers and mail on a regular schedule through Barry County to the West
Coast, it was by no means the only stage route through Barry County. Following the Civil War several other stage routes sprang up throughout the county including one from Pierce City to Fayetteville which came down the western side of Barry County. The home of James Swindle northeast of Wheaton, which served as a stage coach stop for the Pierce City to Fayetteville route was built shortly after the war by Swindle who had been born in 1824 in Linden, Perry County, Tennessee on the Swindle Prong of Cedar Creek. A most industrious young man, James Swindle made a wagon for oxen, and everything belonging to it, bows for cover, and a yoke for the oxen for the oxen, loaded his property and set out for Southwest Missouri in 1851. He came then to Barry County and during the Civil War was a blacksmith in Cassville. He was married first to Eliza Fly on August 19, 1852 and had (Children) Martha, (Mrs. Jim Parks), John, (Prof. At Swindle College). LaFayette (a Minister in the Christian Church), George, and Eliza (Mrs. Robert Carter Overton). After his first wife died in 1863 in the middle of the war, he remarried in 1866 to Elizabeth Davidson and there were three children born to this union. Twins Abe, one time Tax assessor and collector for Barry County), Nannie (married Dr. Oscar Overton), and Mary Francis (Married Dr. Jim Holmes). James Swindle died at his home at Corsicana on August 2, 1909. The Swindle home which was torn down in 1905, had five fire places, and it provided refuge for many a weary traveler of the rough roads of the era. Perhaps the most notable achievement of the Swindle family was the founding of the “Swindle College” by James Swindle and his son, Professor John Swindle, who started a subscription school on their premises in the early 1880’s. and erected the Swindle College building in the year 1885 or 1886. Beginning with the first grade, courses were taught which would compare with those of the higher college levels. Courses in advanced mathematics and literature were taught by John Swindle, who won acclaim as a scholar at the University of Kentucky. Many young people boarded at the Swindle home while attending school at Swindle College down through the years. It was located two miles south of Corsicana at a Spring after* crossing Pogue’s Creek. The College was located on a hill near the residence. Swindle College in later years suffered the fate of many rural academies, becoming a consolidated school with Wheaton, and 1955 the building was sold to Gray McMillen and was moved to his farm. The old bell which summoned generations of students to the study of the three R’s is still in the belfry, and were it to be rung today within hearing of its former teachers and pupils there would doubtless be a strong pull of the listeners heartstrings as they recalled the past chapters in the history of the sturdy old school. Recently a great-great nephew of James Swindle, Tracy D. Cary, President of the Pampa Genealogical Society of Pampa, Texas, visited the old landmarks of his family here, compiling data from the cemetery, Bible, county and school records of the Swindle family. Research for this article was most likely done by Mr. Tracy Cary. (Ed note bhl) * It would depend on which way one was traveling whether the home place would be located before or after crossing Pogue’s Creek. D. D. Overton long time resident of the area and descendant of the Swindles states that the old house sat north of the big spring which is on the north side of Pogue’s Creek. The Spring still exists today. He also says that “Old Man Swindle owned land all the way from Pogue’s Creek to Joy’s Creek in Corsicana.” The 1909 platt map of Barry County substantiates this, the owners in 1909 show several descendants or son in laws of Mr. Swindle. One of the first parcels of land sold by Mr. Swindle was to L. J. Decocq. The land where I now live, located a mile south of Corsicana, was once owned by Nannie Swindle Overton according to the abstract. From the obituary of James Swindle from the Cassville Republican August 12, 1909. James Swindle was born at Linden, Perry County, Tennessee on August 30, 1822. He came to Missouri in 1851 and located at what is now Rocky Comfort where for two years he worked as a blacksmith. In 1853 He moved to Pogue’s Creek and in the same year was married to Miss Eliza Fly who died in 1863. In 1865 he married Mrs. Elizabeth J. Davidson of Lawrence County. In his later years he made his home with his daughter Mrs. O. S. Overton of Corsicana. In his last days he conducted a small store in Corsicana. Memories of Chester O. Higgs (b. 1904) “ Uncle Jimmy Swindle built Swindle College, all twelve grades went there. Horace Gardner a lawyer, and the Howerton’s went there.” “The Howertons lived just down the road a short distance.” Professor John Swindle - From his obituary in the Cassville Republican April, 24, 1930 John Swindle was born October 31, 1854 and died April 18, 1930. He married Fannie Carson in July of 1877. To this union was born 13 children 8 which survive. They are: Mrs. S. M. Clarkson, Mrs. Edmond Mason, Mrs. C.A. Wilkerson, Archie Swindle, Ogle Swindle, Mrs. Kenneth Swindle, Raymond Swindle, and Clara Swindle. He is also survived by three brothers and three sisters. They are: George Swindle, Lafayette Swindle, Abe Swindle, Mrs. Martha Parks, Mrs. J. K. Holmes and Mrs. O. S. Overton and one step sister, Mrs. Sarah Garrison. Mr. Swindle united with the Christian Church at the age of 18 years. He graduated from the University of Columbia, Missouri in 1881 and has devoted his entire life to the teaching profession. He was one of the pioneer teachers of this part of the state. He founded the old Swindle College School in 1882 and taught there for many years. It has often been said that Southwest Missouri owes more to him for the progress of education than to any one man. He had life certificates from three states, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. More than thirty of his former students were present at his funeral. Services were conducted at the Baptist Church in Wheaton on April 20, 1930 by Rev. Charles Vanzandt. Burial in the Corsicana Cemetery. Posted in the obit section of the web site by Jack Fly. |
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