Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. p. 529. BENJAMIN F. SWOPE Benjamin F. Swope, attorney at law of Independence, Oregon, where since 1909 he has practiced his profession, was born in Nodaway county, Missouri, January 12, 1866, a son of Thomas W. and Helen Swope, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri. The father followed farming in Missouri until 1892, when he removed to the northwest, settling in Clackamas county, Oregon, where he purchased land in the vicinity of Oregon City. This he cleared and developed, adding many improvements thereto and continuing active in its cultivation until his demise in 1910. The mother's death occurred in Missouri in 1890. Their son, Benjamin F. Swope, was reared in Missouri and his education was acquired in the public and high schools of Maitland, that state. In 1892, when a young man of twenty-six years, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Oregon, where for a time he engaged in teaching school, also following that profession in the state of Washington. Desirous of becoming a member of the legal fraternity he then entered the law department of the State University of Oregon and on the 4th of October, 1893, was admitted to the bar. He first opened an office in Oregon City, where he remained for four years and then removed to Toledo, in Lincoln county, continuing in practice there for twelve years, during which period he served for four years as county Judge and for seven years was deputy district attorney. His next removal took him to Prineville, Oregon, where he likewise was called to public office, being appointed assistant district attorney, but at the end of six months he resigned and in 1909 opened an office in Independence, where he has since remained, being now accorded a large and representative practice. He is a strong and able lawyer, clear and concise in his presentation of a cause, logical in his deductions and sound in his reasoning, while in the application of legal principles he is seldom at fault. For the past ten years he has served as municipal judge, recorder and city attorney for Monmouth and Independence and is giving excellent service in those connections, the worth of his work being widely acknowledged. On, the 1st of February, 1894, Mr. Swope was united in marriage to Miss Grace Holmes of Oregon City, and they have become the parents of two children, namely: Cecil A., who is practicing law in association with his father; and Bessie H., who is a teacher in the public schools of Eugene. In his political views Mr. Swope is a stanch republican, loyally supporting the principles and candidates of the party. His fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Rebekahs, the Eastern Star and the Masons, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church, of which he is serving as treasurer. His high professional standing is indicated in the fact that he has been frequently called to serve in a public capacity and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. He has always stood for progress and improvement in matters relating to the upbuilding of town, county and commonwealth and he ranks with the public-spirited citizens and able lawyers of Polk county. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.