St Landry-Orleans County Louisiana Archives Biographies.....Swords, Merrick 1884 - 
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Mike Miller http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000912 July 23, 2013, 4:35 pm

Source: A History of Louisiana, v.3, pp. 6-7
Author: Henry E. Chambers

	MERRICK W. SWORDS, M. D. One of the men of the highest standing in the 
medical profession of New Orleans is Doctor Merrick W. Swords, chief of the medical 
staff of the Presbyterian Hospital. In private practice, in official relationship with hospital 
service and as a teacher of medicine he has become widely known not only in 
New Orleans but throughout the state.
	Doctor Swords was born at Big Cane in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, in 
1884, son of Marion L. and Aola (Ward) Swords. His mother was a daughter of 
Doctor T. C. Ward, a physician and wealthy planter of, Avoyelles Parish. The 
Swords family originated in Ireland, their ancestral home being known as 
Swordstown. near Dublin. Doctor Swords’ maternal grandfather and his father, 
as well, were planters. Marion L. Swords was born at Big Cane in St. Landry Parish, 
son of James T. Swords, who settled there from Georgia. For many years Marion L. 
Swords was a leader in politics in his section of Louisiana. He served five consecutive 
terms as sheriff of St. Landry Parish. He was killed while in the discharge of his official 
duties by an outlaw in 1916.
	Merrick W. Swords grew up on the home plantation in St. Landry Parish, 
attended public schools there and continued his literary and professional education in 
Tulane University at New Orleans. He graduated in medicine there in 1907 and later, 
in 1910-11, pursued post-graduate work in Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, 
and for nearly twenty sears was one of the successful physicians in New Orleans. 
For a time he was secretary of the State Board of Health of Louisiana. During the years 
while he was engaged in general practice he maintained offices in the Maison-Blanche 
Building. His office is now in the Presbyterian Hospital, where he is a member of the 
Advisory Medical Committee as well as chief of the medical staff and internist in the clinic.
	For seven years Doctor Swords was in the Genito-Urinary Division in the 
Charity Hospital, was former instructor in genito-urinary diseases in the Tulane Medical 
College and for a time was professor of genito-urinary and rectal diseases in the Loyola 
University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Parish, State and American Medical 
Associations, and throughout the World war period acted as an examiner on the exemption 
board in New Orleans.
	Doctor Swords has been a man of considerable ininfluence in politics 
and public affairs at New Orleans, though his taste has kept him close to his profession. 
He has two brothers prominent in the professional life of New Orleans: Mr. Alex W. Swords, 
a lawyer and Doctor W. Swords, a dentist. Doctor Collins W Swords was in the World 
war as a captain in the Washington Artillery.
	Dr. Merrick W. Swords married Miss Lorrie Cullom. Her grandfather, 
Judge E. North Cullom, was an able lawyer and judge of the District Court in Avoyelles 
and Rapides parishes. The Culloms came from Kentucky. Doctor and Mrs. Swords have two 
sons: Cullom Swords and Merrick Ward, Jr.

Additional Comments:
Merrick W Swords, MD

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