The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 577

CHARLES F. SWAIN.

Charles F. Swain, who now lives largely retired, having acquired a comfortable
competence, was for years successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits in Yakima
and is now giving his attention principally to orcharding. He has ever been a
progressive and valuable citizen of his community, to the development of which
he has contributed by his activities. Born near Buffalo, New York, in 1852, he
is a son of Daniel G. and Sarah (Thompson) Swain. The son was reared under the
parental roof and in the acquirement of his education attended school in Evans,
near Buffalo. After laying aside his textbooks he turned his attention to the
carpenter's trade. At the age of thirty-two, or in 1884, he left his father's
farm and for two years lived in Rooks county, Kansas. Hearing many favorable
reports in regard to the opportunities presented in Washington to an
enterprising young man, he came to Yakima in February, 1888, and is therefore
numbered among the pioneers of this section of the state. He continued to follow
the carpenter's trade for two years, turning his attention at the end of that
time to stock ranching, in which line of work he was successfully engaged until
about nine years ago, when he located upon his present place in Fruitvale, where
he has a very productive orchard although it is not of great extent, and until
recently he also conducted a general store. He carried complete and suitable
lines meeting with the approval of his customers and in his business ever
followed reliable methods.

In 1874, at the age of twenty-two years, at his old home in New York state, Mr.
Swain was united in marriage to Nellie Bullock, who bore him three children. The
oldest of these was Spencer D. Swain, who died in the Philippine Islands, laying
down his life for his country while serving as a soldier during the
Spanish-American war. May Ella, the second child, is now in New York state,
while Howard C. resides in Yakima. Mrs. Swain died in 1884 and in 1889 Mr. Swain
married Eada Van Winkle.

In his political views Mr. Swain is independent, taking into consideration only
the worth and capabilities of a candidate. He is a devoted member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which he is helpfully interested,
and fraternally is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, which he
joined while living in Kansas. Since coming to Yakima he has made many friends
and all who know him respect him for his high qualities of character. Moreover,
there is honor due him as one of the pioneers of this section, with which his
activities have been linked for the past thirty years.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.