Benjamin Austin Swope
b. 7 December 1846, Henry County, Indiana to William and Polly (Harvey) Swope
d. 23 April 1926, North English, Iowa County, Iowa

m. 2 January 1881
Laura E. McKinstry
b. 29 August 1851, Mercer County, Illinois, to Alexander and Rebecca (Backus) McKinstry
d. 8 February 1954, North English, Iowa County, Iowa

Children with Laura E. McKinstry:
• Rose Millicent “Millie” (b. 1882) married Godfrey Knipfer
• Arthur Herbert (b. 1884) married Carrie Hall
• Ross Elliot (b. 1886) never married
• Martha Rebecca “Mattie” (b. 1891) married Rev. Ernest Molloy

Benjamin moved with his family in late 1856 or early 1857 to Iowa County, Iowa. Just after he turned 18, he enlisted in Company G, 8th Iowa Infantry Volunteers. His enlistment papers describe him as having hazel eyes, light hair, fair complexion, and standing five feet eight and a half inches tall. He was mustered out in Selma, Alabama, at the end of his enlistment on 24 January 1866. Benjamin returned to Iowa and lived there until his death.

Submitted by:
Mary King
Worthington OH
E-mail: mandwking@prodigy.net