William Swaney and grandsons Bernard and Roy
circa 1908

William Swaney and grandsons Bernard and Roy
circa 1908

William Swaney and his grandsons Bernard and Roy around 1908. In the background are the farms of William Swaney and Captain Paisley

Transcription of the back of the photo:

To Dixon & Patricia Dec 11-75 (1975)

My grandfather William Swaney, myself (Bernard) & Roy we must have been about 7 and 5 at the time.

In center of picture is Granda’s house and to the left is the home great grandfather Captain Paisley built. His youngest daughter live with him. Grandpa’s first wife was a Anderson, according to Aunt Betty has verified by Grandpa Frank Swaney. They had 3 children Will Swaney, Harold’s father (J.W. Swaney), Janey, and a daughter who married a Fogler, I never knew her as she died before I was born.

Grandpa was left with children to care for and married Captain Paisley’s youngest daughter, to this marriage were born 6 children all that survived the first year of life were my father Frank Swaney & Aunt Emma (Swaney) Glaser.

I can’t find any record of Captain Paisley being buried in the Derby Cemetary, so I assume after his daughter married my grandfather he sold the farm and went back to Ohio.

My grandfather and great Grandfather came to Kans. in 1872. The railroad was built to Emporia KS, they drove their teams to Wichita and purchased the above farms in this picture.

Great Grandfather had a team of Texas Longhorn steers that he freighted with between Emporia and Wichita till the railroad got to Wichita some time in 1873.

He hauled the material to build both his house and my grandfathers. His house is still being lived in. I was about 16 when grandpa died and I helped dad tear down grandpa’s buildings.

This is about all I can tell you about these 2 men.

Dad (Bernard)

Unknown donor donated the photo to the Derby Historical Museum
(Inv. 23-080114)