5. Nancy Ritchey (1) was born on Dec 13 1844 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. (24) She died on Apr 14 1924 in Constitution, Warren Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.(24) Nancy's obituary appeared in the April 15, 1924 Tuesday Evening Marietta Times an reads: "Mrs. Nancy Swords, aged wife of Rev. J. W. Swords, died at her home at Constitution on Monday night after a nine week illness of complications. Born on December 13, 1844, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, she came to Washington County, Ohio many years ago. Sixty years ago last Saturday, she was united in marriage with James W. Swords, who survives with one son, J. J. Swords of Denver, Colorado; three daughters; Mrs. Addie Seevers, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mrs. Lottie Waterman, of Constitution, and Miss Eva Swords at home. One sister, Mrs. Viola Sayres of this city also survives. Mrs. Swords was a resident of Marietta for 25 years, removing to Constitution ten years ago. While in this city she was actively identified with Buell Relief Corps work." She was buried on Apr 17 1924 in Gravel Bank (Riverview) Cemetery near Constitution, Ohio. (24)
She was married to Rev. James Wesley Swords (son of
William Swords and Elizabeth -?-) on Apr 12 1864 in Dunham
Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.(25) They
were married by A. G. Hollister, a Justice of the Peace. James' older brother,
William J. Swords married Nancy's older sister Eliza Jane Ritchey. Their sister,
Susanna, married Isaac Ritchey son of William Ritchey. James' father, William
(age 81), is listed in their household in the 1880 Census.
Rev. James Wesley Swords(1) was
born on Jul 5 1842 in Monroe Co., Ohio. He was enlisted in Company A of the
36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a private on Jul 29 1861. He was discharged
on Jul 27 1865 in Columbus, Ohio. One of his pension papers says he was discharged
in Wheeling, West Virginia. He was licensed as a minister for the United Brethren
Church on Nov 4 1885 in Washington County, Ohio.
(26) He died on Feb 29 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(9) His obituary appeared in the Feb 29 1932 Monday Evening Marietta
Times as follows: "Rev. J. W. Swords, aged 89 years, retired United Brethren
minister, Civil War veteran and former resident of Marietta and Washington County,
died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Eva Young in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Monday
morning shortly after midnight. Death was due to infirmities. The body will
be brought to Marietta. Interment will be made at Gravel Bank. James Wesley
Swords was born July 5, 1842. He spent his younger life in Wood County, W. Va.,
and when a young man moved to a farm in Dunham Township. He studied for the
ministry, and was ordained a minister in the Southeast Ohio Conference of the
United Brethren Church, and until he retired on account of advancing years, he
preached in U. B. churches in this section of the state. He served as a supply
pastor in the Cutler Chapel U. B. Church near Constitution after he retired.
Rev. Mr. Swords. was a Civil War veteran, and was a member of the 36th Regiment,
O.V.I. He was a member of the Washington County Veterans' Association and of
Buell Post, G.A.R. After disposing of his farm in Dunham Township, Rev. and
Mrs. Swords came to Marietta, and for a time they lived on Seventh Street.
They later lived on the farm of C. C. Waterman, son-in-law of the deceased, at
Constitution, and after the death of Mrs. Swords in 1924, the decease made his
home with his son-in-law, C. C. Waterman, and the late Lottie Swords Waterman,
until her death on August 16, 1930. Since October, 1930 the deceased has made
his home with his daughter, Mrs. Addie Seevers of Canton. He was on a visit
at the home of his daughter in Pittsburgh when he was stricken with his last
illness... Also surviving...a son...Jesse J. Swords of Denver, Colorado...."
He was buried on Mar 2 1932 in Gravel Bank (Riverview) Cemetery near Constitution,
Ohio.(13) His tombstone reads Rev. James
W. Swords / Co. A 36th O.V.I. / 1842-1932. Nancy Ritchey and Rev. James Wesley
Swords had the following children:
27 i.
? [MALE] Swords was born on Sep 17 1865.(27)
He died before 1870.
+28 ii.
Leonidas "Lonnie" Alonzo Swords.
+29 iii.
Adda "Addie" May Swords.
+30 iv.
Charlotte "Lottie" Swords.
31 v.
Jesse J. Swords(17) was born on Apr
6 1879 in Dunham Twp., Washington Co., Ohio. He died in probably Denver, Colorado.
32 vi.
Nancy Eva Swords was born on May 29 1887.(28)
She died in probably Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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