C.C. Swayze, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker

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Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

C. C. SWAYZE, joint agent and operator for Texas Pacific, and the Southern
Pacific Railroads at Lecompte, La., was born in Opelousas, St. Landry
Parish, La., in 1867, and in that town remained until fifteen or sixteen
years of age, learning telegraphy in the home office, after which he went
to work in the office at Franklin, St. Mary's Parish, for the Southern
Pacific Railroad, but at the end of one year was transferred to
Cheneyville, two years later to Moreland, and where he remained one year,
since which time he has been in Lecompte, and has discharged the manifold
duties of his present office very creditably.  This is one of the liveliest
business places on the road, and the company with which he is employed does
a monthly business of $5,000, ships 7,000 bales of cotton each year and 250
or 300 carloads of sugar.  All this business is attended to by Mr. Swayze,
which keeps him fully occupied.  He is very popular with the company and
being a young man of much self reliance, independence and intelligence, he
is bound to make a success of his life, if he makes a proper use of the
talents given him, which he gives every promise of doing.  Like his sire
and grandshire before him he is a stanch Democrat.  He is devoted to every
interest of his employers, and as his worth and services are fully
appreciated, he could get any position he chose on the road.  The liberal
salary which he receives has not been foolishly squandered, but with his
earnings he has purchased a fine tract of land in St. Landry Parish.  He is
a son of C. C. and Susan (Hill) Swayze, the former of whom was born in St.
Landry Parish, La., and received his education in Chapel Hill University,
N. C.  He also graduated in law, but never followed the profession, his
attention after leaving college being devoted to his father's sugar
interests.  He was an active Democrat in politics until James G. Blaine was
a candidate for the presidency, when he became presidential elector and
candidate for Congress of the Republican party ticket, being a candidate on
the sugar issue.  He failed in business and died in 1890, at the age of
fifty-five years.  His father, C. L. Swayze, was born in Mississippi, but
at an early age came to Louisiana, and became one of the leading attorneys
of the state.  He was an ardent secessionist, a member of the Confederate
Congress, and was one of the signers of the articles of secession.  He died
the year after the close of the war.  C. C. Swayze, Sr. served throughout
the Rebellion in the Confederate Army, the most of the time being under
Stonewall Jackson, and was wounded in the bloody battle of Gettysburg.  His
widow still survives him, being a resident of Opelousas, and his five
children are named as follows:  Caleb (who is the railroad business at
Mobile, Ala.), Wilmer, Lilly (the only daughter), and Lionel.  This family
are all prominent Episcopalians.