BIO:  Rufus C. SWOPE, Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/
_______________________________________________ 

History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
_______________________________________________ 

Part III, History of Adams County, Page 447-448

RUFUS C. SWOPE, retired tanner, P.O. Fairfield, is a grandson of Adam Swope, who 
came from Lancaster County to this county, locating two miles from Littlestown, 
and whose youngest son, Ephraim, was the father of Rufus C.  Adam Swope lived on 
the farm until his marriage, when he removed to Littlestown, and engaged in 
building, contracting for masonry and bricklaying.  He contracted for masonry 
work on Thaddeus Stevens’ railroad, partly built in the “forties,” but which, 
owing to political animosities, has never been completed.  Col. Swope, as he was 
generally called, was colonel of a Pennsylvania Militia Regiment, and was widely 
known.  He was married to Catherine LeFevre, born in Lancaster County, Penn., 
but who came here with her parents.  When her father bought the farm he paid for 
it $40,000, all in silver dollars, brought in kegs by wagon, and it took several 
days to count it.  Col. Swope was twice married; his second wife being Susan 
Keyports, now living in Hanover.  He died in 1862.  By his first wife he had 
eight children, of whom Rufus C. is one.  Four died when quite young, and a son, 
Amos A., married in the western part of the State, removed to Florida, and died 
there in 1876.  Two daughters still survive:  Josephine, wife of P. H. 
Bittenger, of Hanover, and Lucinda C., wife of George Stonesifer, of 
Littlestown.  By his second wife the Colonel had eight children also, all now 
living, and all married, except Luther, a professor of languages in Boston, 
Mass.  John is an engineer on the Short Line Railroad; William is on a railroad 
in New Mexico; Eliza lives in York, Penn.; Margaret is in Westminster, Md.; 
Georgia is in Washington City; Ellie is in this county; and Emma is in Hanover, 
York County.  Rufus C. was born August 20, 1822, in Littlestown.  His mother 
died when he was thirteen years old, and he was then sent to learn the trade of 
a tanner with Daniel Crome, at Littlestown, where he stayed until he was 
nineteen, when he rented a tannery in that place, which he carried on until 
1852, at which time he bought a tannery in Fairfield, which he ran until 1866, 
when he sold it.  He has since 1868, been agent for the North American Lightning 
Rod Company of Philadelphia.  In 1862 he was appointed, by Gov. Curtin, draft 
commissioner of this district, and delivered a regiment to the authorities at 
Gettysburg.  In December, 1862, he was appointed by President Lincoln captain, 
assistant quartermaster, and remained in the service until August, 1866, being 
on duty in Washington for a year after the close of the war.  In the fall of 
1866 he was appointed internal revenue collector of the Sixteenth Congressional 
District, which position he held until March, 1867, when he failed to be 
confirmed by the Senate, in consequence of having identified himself with the 
Johnson administration.  December 25, 1846, he married Miss Evaline C. Forrest, 
of Littlestown, born June 28, 1823, and they have had eight children, two of 
whom died in infancy.  Those living are Elvira Frances, born December 14, 1847, 
wife of Dr. J. Krumrine, and living in Irvington, Ind.; Granville H., born July 
12, 1849, married to Emma Buckingham, of Gettysburg, and living in Baltimore; 
Augustus S., born August 26, 1850, married to Mattie Taylor, of Clearfield 
County, Penn., and living at Colorado Springs, Col.; Ephraim B., born March 24, 
1854, married to Laura, daughter of Joseph Gelbach, of this township, and living 
in Fairfield; Clayton M., born August 15, 1856, single, living in Baltimore; and 
Edward McP., born October 18, 1858, married to Cora Stryker, and living in 
Petersburg, Penn.  Mr. and Mrs. Swope are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and he is likewise a member of the Union Sunday-school in Fairfield.  In 
politics he is a Republican.