Lyman, W. D. "An Illustrated History of Walla Walla County, State of Washington." W. H. Lever, Publisher, 1901. p. 501. THOMAS J. SWEZEA deceased, a pioneer of 1859, was born in Tennessee in 1809. He spent his early youth there, then came to southeastern Missouri, where he lived until, in 1839, he started across the plains to the west. He made the journey in the usual way for those days, bringing quite a herd of cattle with him. Locating in the city of Walla Walla, he spent two years there, after which he moved to the Oregon line, eight miles southeast of the city, purchased land and engaged in farming. He was there for a number of years, running his five-hundred-acre farm, and raising grain and cattle, but he at length retired to Walla Walla, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died in that city in 1887. While in Missouri he married Miss Lucinda Swezea, and to them were born nine children, five of whom are still living. Charles L. Swezea, one of his sons, now a farmer eight miles southeast of Walla Walla, has the distinction of being the first white male child born in Walla Walla, the date of his advent into this life being July 6, 1860. He passed his early years in the public schools of the county and on his father's farm, but on attaining his majority started in life for himself. For a while he rented land of his father, but as soon as circumstances would permit he purchased a place of his own, and to his original holdings he has kept adding until he now has three hundred and twenty acres in all. He is engaged in raising wheat and barley principally, though he also gives some attention to the other farm products. He is one of the progressive and thrifty farmers of the neighborhood, and is well thought of as a man and citizen. Fraternally he is identified with the A. O. U. W. In this county, in 1883, he married Miss Margaret A. Davis, and they became parents of four children, Bessie A., Flinn A., deceased, Grace A., and one daughter who died in infancy. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in January 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.