Rev.
Romulus S. Swift Romulus Sanders Swift was born in Orange County, North Carolina, July 13, 1818. While a young boy, his father died and his mother remarried. Romulus did was evidently mistreated by his stepfather and when his uncle moved to Giles County, Tennessee, he carried Romulus with him.
At nineteen, Romulus joined the Methodist Church at a camp meeting at
Prospect. Sarah Salina Paine, a
schoolteacher, and Romulus were married January 21, 1840.
Sarah was twenty-five and Romulus was twenty-one.
After making an effort to farm with no success, Romulus was called to
preach. Sarah was as excited as Romulus, but there was a major
obstacle in the way. Romulus had no
formal schooling and could not read. Sarah
took over the problem and immediately started teaching Romulus.
Romulus proved to be a good student and was quickly reading and studying
the Bible.
Romulus and Sarah moved to Dyer County, Tennessee where he was licensed
to preach and lived for about two years. They
then moved back to Giles County where Romulus traveled as supply on the Shoal
Circuit. About two years later they
moved to Henderson County where he served as supply on the Decaturville Circuit.
On October 15, 1856 Romulus joined the Memphis Conference in Jackson,
Tennessee.
Sometime around this period, a cousin of Romulus’, William Harvell,
came from North Carolina with a few hundred dollars in his saddlebags.
The money must have been Romulus’ inheritance from his mother’s
estate. Romulus and Sarah invested
the money in a farm about two miles from Scott’s Hill.
Romulus continued to serve his churches. By the time the Civil War broke out, the Swift boys were coming of age to join the army. William (Bill) and John enlisted first. William’s tour of duty with the Confederate army would be cut short. While returning to his troops after a short leave, he was shot and killed by guerillas. William was buried in a coffin made from planks taken from the attic of his home in the family cemetery near by. Sarah took the death of her son very hard and spent much time on a pallet beside his grave. An interesting story comes from one Swift descendant: I do have an added piece of info about Sarah and what a loving mother she was. When her son was killed by what I have always heard... hooligans, she decided to invite them all to dinner. A very special dinner. Needless to say, the honored guests didn't live to see the light of day! You just gotta love that woman.
Romulus joined the Confederacy as a Chaplain soon after the death of his
firstborn son.
Sometime after Sarah’s children had reached adulthood, she suffered a
broken hip. The doctor told the
family that setting the hip would be of no use, because she would soon die.
The hip was not set and Sarah proved the doctor wrong by walking,
although it was with crutches.
Romulus and Sarah sold the farm and moved to Scott’s Hill.
After a few years, Romulus suffered a stroke and was paralyzed.
He had to give up his preaching and soon died on April 29, 1889 at the
age of seventy years old. Sarah
spent much of her time with children, telling stories and singing Indian songs. When she was ninety she moved to her daughter Frances’
house, and was an invalid until she died on February 9, 1906. The
above
biography is based on information taken from remembrances of Mary Lou Swift
Austin, daughter of Romulus and Sarah Swift and recorded by her daughter, Verna
Austin Partin. George
Partin provided these remembrances. Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for the year 1889, Nashville, TN, Publishing house of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, J. D. Barbee, Agent, 1890. Question 19. What preachers have died during the past year? Romulus S. Swift, David D. Moore, Robert W. Erwin, William M. Patterson. Romulus Sanders Swift was born in Orange County, N.C. July 13, 1818. While yet young he came to Giles County, Tennessee with an uncle. At nineteen years of age he was converted to God in a revival at Prospect Camp-ground; then, in 1837, he joined the M.E. Church. In 1838, he married Miss Sarah S. Paine, after which he moved to Dyer County, West Tennessee. There he did the Church efficient service as class-leader and exhorter. Soon he was licensed to preach by Brother John Randle. After two years he returned to North Carolina, where he remained one year; then moved again to Giles County, Tennessee, and traveled Shoal Circuit as a supply two years; then moved to Henderson County, West Tennessee, and, after a time, preached as a supply on Decaturville Circuit. In 1858 he was admitted into full connection in the Memphis Conference, M. E. Church, South. When the civil war came he went out as chaplain of the Fifty-second Tennessee Regiment of the Confederate army, but on account of ill health he soon returned home. In the Memphis Conference he served the following circuits: Decaturville, Morgan’s Creek, Rock Springs, Adamsville, Purdy, Scott’s Hill, Lexington. In 1874 he became supernumerary, which relation he held for three years. In 1884, because of paralysis, he was superannuated, and again in 1886, in which relation he continued till his death. During these years of affliction he preached as often and with as much interest as his health would allow. In the early part of February last he had a second stroke of paralysis. This was so severe that he was not afterward in his right mind. Seven weeks later—April 29, 1889, after 8 o’clock P.M.—he fell asleep to awake in “the far away home of the soul.” Brother Swift was ordained deacon by Bishop Paine, in Somerville, Tennessee, October 29, 1854; and elder by Bishop Pierce November 11, 1860. The following testimonial is from Reverend A. R. Wilson: “ I knew Brother Swift to be a good, true man; a good, plain preacher of the gospel; always did his work well. He was much loved by the people who knew him. He was a pleasant colleague, very hospitable at his home, of a cheerful, happy disposition; a good revivalist, a success as a Methodist itinerant preacher.” Rev. J. H. Witt says: “ Brother Swift had meager literary attainments, but a strong, sound mind and body. He was a faithful preacher, and attained large acceptability and great success. He was a plain, practical preacher. Through him the Holy Ghost sent the message to heart and conscience, awakening and converting hundreds, some of whom went before him to glory, and many remain to bless his memory and to thank God for sending the faithful preacher, who delivered his message in simplicity, but in power and in demonstration of the Spirit. He made no effort at display, yet was oratorical, logical, eloquent by terms, without seeming to know it.” The following information was provided by George Partin who has graciously shared much information on the Swift family. A special thanks, also, to Elizabeth Perry of Dallas, TX, a member of the staff of the Bridwell Library of SMU, who provided George with much assistance in obtaining this data. These are from the Minutes of the annual meetings of the Memphis Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 1855-56 p.599
7.— Memphis Conference held at Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 21, 1855 1856-57
p.678 8.--- Memphis Conference held
in Jackson, Tenn., October 15-21,1856. p.
682 Romulus S. Swift was appointed
to Morgan’s Creek Mission (Benton County,
Tenn.) in the Jackson District. 1857-58
p. 29 8 --- Memphis Conference held at Trenton, Tenn., Nov. 10-19, 1858. 1859
p.125 8 --- Memphis Conference was held at Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 16-25,
1859. 1860 p. 221 8 --- Memphis Conference was held at Aberdeen, Miss. Nov. 7-13, 1860.
Question 9.
What traveling preachers are
elected and ordained elders? Romulus
S. Swift was one of
five. 1861 p. 312 8 --- Memphis Conference was held at Jackson, Tenn., Nov. 6-12, 1861. Romulus S. Swift was appointed to Morgan’s Creek Mission in the Trenton District. 1862 p. 379 8 --- Memphis Conference was held at Grenada, Miss., November 5-7. 1862. He was appointed again to Morgan’s Creek Mission in the Trenton District. 1863
p. 933 8 --- Memphis Conference was held at Aberdeen, Miss. November 11-16,
1863. 1864
and 1865 – No Minutes were received. 1866
p 51 12 --- Memphis Conference held at Jackson, Tenn. November 14-20, 1866. Per minutes of the Annual Conference of the M E Church, South 1867-1874
1867
R. S. Swift Decaturville
Paris District 1875
p 209 XV --- Memphis Conference held at Paducah, Ky., November 17-23, 1875. 1877
p 43 --- Memphis Conference held at Brownsville, Tenn. November 21-26, 1877.
P 48 --- Scotts Hill,
J. J. Brooks; R. S. Swift, Supernumerary. 1878
p 48 --- Memphis Conference was held at Jackson, Tenn. December 4-9, 1878. 1879
p 44 --- Memphis Conference held in Mayfield, Ky. November 19-25, 1879. 1880
p 166 --- Memphis Conference held at Trenton, Tenn., November 17-22. 1880 {Note – Reginald B. Swift was admitted on trial. [Relationship unknown] 1881
p 305 --- Memphis Conference held
at Bolivar, Tenn. November 9-14. 1881. 1882
p 74 --- Memphis Conference held at Dyersburg, Tenn. November 17-23, 1882. 1883
p 107 --- Memphis Conference held at Union City, Tenn., December 12-17, 1883. 1884
p 82 --- Memphis Conference held at Memphis, Tenn., December 3-8, 1884. 1885
p 134 --- Memphis Conference held at Paducah, Ky., December 9-16, 1885. 1886
p 108 --- Memphis Conference held at Jackson, Tenn., December 9-14, 1886. 1887
p 72 --- Memphis Conference held at Brownsville, Tenn., November 16-21, 1887. 1888
p 73 --- Memphis Conference held in Paris, Tenn.. November 7-12, 1888. |