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William P. McSwain (b. 1824, d. 1880)

William P. McSwain (son of Daniel McSwain and Marion Galbreath) was born 1824 in Mexico, MO, and died 1880 in Merced, CA. He married Martha Ellen Kittrell on Bef. 25 March 1870 in Merced, CA, daughter of Joseph Kittrell and Martha Ann Thompson.

Notes for William P. McSwain:

McSwain's Ferry
on the
Most Direct Road from Stockton
to Bear Creek, Mariposa
Creek, Millerton
and Visalia

The boat is an A No. 1 boat----33 feet long and well provided with railing and banisters for corraling stock, etc, etc. The roads and landings are in first rate order and as good as any other ferry in the country. For heavy teams and drovers our ferry offers superior inducements, in point of convience and safety. Try our road and ferry and then compare them with others, and we have no fears but that you will continue to give us your patronage.
McSWAIN & SON.
Snelling, March 13, 1869.

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San Joaquin Valley Argus

May 1, 1880

MERCED RIVER BOATS - We are happy to inform our friends and the traveling public generally, that the following ferry boats have been recovered and are now in good working order. The McSwain, Cox's and Merced Falls crossings. If we had time and space we could give our readers a genuine sensation about the loss and recovery of the McSwain ferry boat, with William Young and W. P. McSwain as the heroes. The narrative as given by the latter was indeed exciting and thrilling. The storm was raging, the wind blowing and the rushing waters roaring. William Young was upon the boat; he saw the fastenings, one after another, giving away, and he board afloat upon the boiling, bubbling waves tossing bout at the mercy of the mad waters. The noise of the elements drowned the voice of Capt. W. P. McSwain who was giving orders at the top of his voice from the shore. The faithful sailor on the boat did not desert the craft until all hope was gone of saving her and his own life was in momentary peril. Then he sprang into the small boat which was alongside, and amid the raging, roaring waters and the dangerous eddies and swift current, he managed to make land. The board was recovered a few days after some miles down the river, where she had fortunately been caught and stopped by driftwood, which had floated from the mountains. The boat was considerably damaged, but she is all right now, and doing good services under the command of Capt. W. P. McSwain.

More About William P. McSwain:
Date born 2: 1824

More About William P. McSwain and Martha Ellen Kittrell:
Marriage: Bef. 25 March 1870, Merced, CA.

Children of William P. McSwain and Martha Ellen Kittrell are:

+John M. McSwain, b. 1863, California, d. date unknown.
+Effie A. McSwain, b. 1866, d. date unknown.
+Silas Marion McSwain, b. January 1868, Snelling CA, d. 17 September 1905, Rolinda, CA.
Charles A McSwain, b. 22 May 1869, d. 03 February 1917, Lake County, CA.
+William Penn McSwain, b. 05 October 1871, California, d. 04 January 1948, Siskiyou Co., CA.
Benjamin Franklin McSwain, b. August 1872, California, d. 16 July 1946, Live Oak, CA.
George McSwain, b. September 1875, California, d. Bef. February 1921, Grimes, California.
H. Edward McSwain, b. February 1878, d. 18 July 1936, Colusa County, CA-.
Archibald L. McSwain, b. 1880, d. 12 September 1925, Placer County, CA.