I’ve always been fascinated to the quiet titans of history—those who leave no imposing monuments but create enduring legacies via their blood and soil. One such person is Julius Ceylon Swift. He was born in the shadow of the American Revolution, brought up a large family in three states, and made farming a foundation for future generations. Census records, gravestones, and the sheer number of children who carried his name forward tell his narrative instead of headlines.
Roots in Revolutionary Connecticut
On May 15, 1792, Julius Ceylon Swift was born in Warren, a small village in Litchfield County, Connecticut. His father, Lieutenant Nathaniel Swift Jr., brought the aroma of gunpowder and independence into the home after serving in the Revolutionary War. Sarah Thomas, his mother, was of good New England ancestry. Since Richard Warren, a passenger on the Mayflower, was the ancestor of the Swift family, Julius was raised with the unspoken understanding that his ancestry carried the burden of early American colonization.
Stone walls and resistant soil characterized Connecticut in the 1790s. Families remained close, and farms required continual effort. With the way clouds accumulated over the hills, I see little Julius learning to drive oxen, fix fences, and read the weather. He knew by the time he was in his early twenties that a man’s ultimate measure was his family and land.
Three Marriages, Twenty-Two Children
On December 13, 1815, Julius married Betsey Salina Bates in Warren. Betsey, daughter of Isaac Bates and Submit Dean, brought her own strength to the union. Children arrived soon after. When Betsey passed away, Julius found himself a widower with young ones to raise.
He married again on February 28, 1822. His second wife, Laura Shove, daughter of Seth Shove and Patience Barber, joined him in Warren. Laura helped expand the family further. After Laura’s death, Julius took a third wife, Lydia Hawkins, around January 1840 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York. Lydia, daughter of George Washington Hawkins and Avis Sheldon, bore the final wave of children.
Together these three women and Julius produced twenty-two children, every one of whom survived to adulthood. In an age when fever or accident could claim half a family’s young, this stands as nothing short of extraordinary. The Swift household must have resembled a small village, alive with voices, chores, and the constant rhythm of growth.
Here are the children, drawn from family records:
| Child Name | Birth–Death Years | Mother | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aner Deliah Kellogg | 1817–1880 | Betsey | Married into the Kellogg line |
| Cornelius Thomas Swift | 1824–1898 | Laura | Carried the family name westward |
| Susan Abia Gerrish | 1827–1849 | Laura | Short life, yet part of the record |
| Homer Carlos Swift | 1828–1901 | Laura | Lived into the new century |
| Rufus Stedman Swift | 1830–1901 | Laura | Strong presence in Pennsylvania records |
| Welcome Henry Swift | 1833–1907 | Laura | Long life, witnessed much change |
| George Worthington Swift | 1835–1885 | Laura | Middle name hints at aspiration |
| Sarah Felicia Vaughn | 1840–1940 | Lydia | Reached the age of 100 |
| Hannah Rosette Swift | 1842–1924 | Lydia | Steady family member |
| Charles James Fox Swift | 1845–1902 | Lydia | Key link in later generations |
| Julius Dallas Swift | 1846–1915 | Lydia | Named for his father |
| Huldah Jeanette Benjamin | 1846–1916 | Lydia | Twin to Julius Dallas |
| Sherman Hartwell Swift | 1848–1920 | Lydia | Civil War-era birth |
| Dean Nathaniel Swift | 1851–1918 | Lydia | Middle name honors grandfather |
| Chloe Elizabeth McClelland | 1853–1930 | Lydia | Named perhaps after family friends |
| Salina Evaline Voss | 1856–1896 | Lydia | Echoes her aunt Salina |
| Ceylon Lafayette Swift | 1856–1932 | Lydia | Twin to Salina, middle name nods to era |
| Capitola Cornelia Swift | 1859–1941 | Lydia | Final child, born just before the war |
This table alone tells a story of persistence. Twenty-two lives launched from one household. Each name carries intention, each date marks survival against long odds.
A Farmer’s Journey Across States
Julius lived by the plow. Around 1828 he moved his growing family to Burlington, Otsego County, New York, where he secured a 100-acre farm. New York promised richer soil than Connecticut’s rocks, and the move reflected the restless hope of the time. Families loaded wagons, drove livestock, and staked new claims.
By 1844 he had pushed farther west to Summit Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania offered open land and growing communities. In 1860 he settled in Edinboro, a small town where he spent his final years. He died on May 5, 1876, just ten days shy of his eighty-fourth birthday, and rests in Edinboro Cemetery.
I see his life as a slow, deliberate migration, each move driven by the need for better ground to feed more mouths. He never chased fortune in cities or factories. Instead he planted roots deeper with every relocation.
Branches That Reach Far
The Swift family did not fade. One son in particular, Charles James Fox Swift (1845–1902), fathered Archie Dean Swift Sr. (1877–1961). Archie Sr. became president of St. Davids Golf Club, showing how the family’s quiet strength translated into new spheres. From there the line continued, weaving into later generations.
The number of descendants today must be vast. Each child of Julius became the trunk of new trees, spreading across the map. His story reminds me that history often hides in plain sight, in the daily labor of ordinary people who simply kept going.
FAQ
Who was Julius Ceylon Swift?
Julius Ceylon Swift was a nineteenth-century American farmer born on May 15, 1792, in Warren, Connecticut. He married three times, fathered twenty-two children who all reached adulthood, and moved his family from Connecticut to New York and finally Pennsylvania. He died on May 5, 1876, in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.
How many children did Julius Ceylon Swift have?
He had twenty-two children across three marriages. All twenty-two survived to adulthood, which was rare for the era.
What did Julius Ceylon Swift do for a living?
He worked as a farmer his entire life. He owned a 100-acre farm in Burlington, Otsego County, New York, around 1828, and later farmed in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Where did Julius Ceylon Swift live during his life?
He was born and raised in Warren, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Around 1828 he moved to Burlington, Otsego County, New York. By 1844 he settled in Summit Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, and spent his later years in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.
Who were Julius Ceylon Swift’s wives?
His first wife was Betsey Salina Bates, married December 13, 1815. His second wife was Laura Shove, married February 28, 1822. His third wife was Lydia Hawkins, married around January 1840.
Is there any notable legacy from Julius Ceylon Swift’s family?
His descendants include many who carried the family forward. One line through son Charles James Fox Swift led to grandson Archie Dean Swift Sr., who served as president of St. Davids Golf Club. The family spread widely across the United States.
