Floyd E. Swartout Biography


	This biography appears on pages 652-653 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	FLOYD E. SWARTOUT is a young man of distinctive executive ability 
and high intellectuality, and is at the present time serving in the 
responsible office of superintendent of schools of Buffalo county. He 
has passed the major portion of his life in South Dakota and is 
prominent in educational affairs, having been a successful teacher for 
a number of years prior to his election to his present 
office.  

	Mr. Swartout was born in Marshall county, Iowa, on the 15th of 
April, 1873, and is a son of Rev. Edgar P. and Mary J. (Kuns) Swartout, 
the former of whom was born in the state of Michigan and the latter in 
Maryland, while they are now located in Lebanon, Potter county, South 
Dakota, where Mr. Swartout has a pastoral charge. He is a member of the 
clergy of the Congregational church and has been long and successfully 
engaged in the work of his high calling, being a man of high 
attainments and one whose earnest and devoted labors have been prolific 
in good to his fellow men. The subject of this sketch secured his early 
educational discipline in the public schools of his native county and 
was nine years of age when, in 1882, his parents removed to South 
Dakota, taking up their residence in Badger, Davison county: where he 
continued his educational work in the village schools until 1889, when 
he was matriculated in the academic department of Yankton College, 
where he continued his studies for the prescribed term of four years, 
being graduated in 1896. After leaving college Mr. Swartout engaged in 
teaching in the public schools and in 1897 he came to Gann Valley, 
Buffalo county, to accept the principalship of the local schools, 
continuing to be actively and successfully engaged in the work of his 
profession here until 1900, when he was elected, on the Populist 
ticket, to his present office of county superintendent of schools. It 
forthwith became evident that he was the right man in the right place, 
for he accomplished excellent results in the unifying and systematizing 
of the work of the schools in his jurisdiction, gaining the hearty co-
operation of the teachers in the various localities and infusing life 
and vigor into the work. That his efforts were not denied due popular 
appreciation was made evident by his re-election in the fall of 1902, 
and he is earnestly and with discrimination carrying forward the work 
of his office, his second term expiring in January, 1905. He gives his 
allegiance to the Populist party and takes a proper interest in public 
affairs, particularly those of a local nature. He and his wife are 
prominent members of the Congregational church, in whose work they take 
an active part, while they enjoy the highest popularity in the social 
circles of their home town. Mr. Swartout is a member of Gann Valley 
Lodge, No. 120, Ancient Order of United Workmen.  

	On the 30th of August, 1899, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Swartout to Miss Charlotte A. Stroud. daughter of John and Clarissa 
(Church) Stroud, of Gann Valley, and they are the parents of two 
children, Minetta Maud, who was born July 27, 1900, and died November 
30, 1901, and Violet Muriel, who was born on the 17th of June, 1903.