Meet another of Karen’s fav subjects: a good doctor

Some of my readers may have noticed that writing about doctors is one of my favorite topics; thus today, you’ll read about a new one I’m fairly sure I’ve not tackled before.  Meet Montgomery-born, William Gray Swank, son of Asbury and Matilda (Clevenger) Swank, Matilda the daughter of Samuel L. and Sarah (Bunnell) Clevenger very early MoCo settlers.  The Clevengers hail from Burlington County NJ and the Bunnells, Essex County. 

Matilda had a very interesting brother, their parents passing 1852 (Samuel, a weaver, and Sarah in 1854).  In fact, her brother passed before she did as well and his son who lived briefly with them before he went to Chicago studied to become a doctor, as well.  Shobal Vail Clevenger, the first, was born in 1812 and passed at a young age, 1843.  He was a famous sculptor, having created some incredible tombstones, later devoting himself to, sculpting – Henry Clay, William Henry Harrison, Martin VanBuren and others (Wikipedia).  In 1843, studying in Italy his son Shobal Jr was born and two weeks later they headed home to the US, but the artist died on the way, having contracted a consumption-type ailment due to working with art supplies settling into his lungs.   If ya’ love art check him out further. 

Asbury Swank passed at age 46 in the middle of the Civil War era (on his birthday 14 March 1863) and left Matilda with nine children, including 18 year old Jacob, Elizabeth, Sarah Letitia, John, Susannah, twins Asbury and Smith Seward, our good doctor, William Gray Swank, not quite four and a few month old, David.  Asbury’s property was sold to help care for Matilda and their children, including horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, two wagons, a buggy, farming implements, wheat in the ground, wheat in the bushel, corn and much more.  She raised them but Jacob at age 21 was given custody for those left at home, she paying the surety charge. 

Jacob married Margaret Stout 7 August 1864, farmed in Montgomery and passed at age 72 (Valentine’s Day, 1915) and is buried at Oak Hill.  WG cared for and signed his brother’s death record.  Two sons, I believe, Morton and William.

Elizabeth married a Zook and later John Peter Zachary, born 13 August 1845 and passed 12 March 1912 of a stroke which resulted in total paralysis.  Some family trees have her passing in 1895 and marrying another but her death record was signed by our doctor, and their parents are the same.

Sarah Letitia born 30 March 1848 married at age 20 to Durett Bennett (who fought in the Civil War and spent a great deal of time in three or four various soldier’s homes, passing in one in Chalton Co GA 8 July 1923.  She had passed many years before at age 34.  Know they had a son, Walter and daughter Minnie.

John B. Swank was next of Asbury and Matilda’s children and was an undertaker here in MoCo.    Some family trees on ancestry have his middle name as Bunyan but I saw no proof to that.  A member of Co K 86^th Indiana, he passed away 11 November 1915 and yes, his brother Dr. Swank signed his death record and cared for him as well. He and wife Mary Jane had at least one son, Edgar Franklin.

Next was Susannah who married Jesse Tomlinson (they had four of their five children die pretty young plus Lee Paul).  Her brother took care of her with chronic malaria, signing her death record four days before Christmas in 1902, she being 48 years a month and 18 days old. 

Twins, Smith Seward and Asbury, born 7 Feb 1857, seemed to be close.  Smith Asbury a drayman died at age 63 in July 1920, becoming septic after an operation (not done by his brother), passing at Home hospital.  At least two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, born to he and wife, Ruth.  The Review poked light fun at Smith when he first became a grandpa’ – he is “so rared back he can hardly see the sidewalk – spent the day yesterday rehearsing lullabies and has signed up with a correspondence school to study the science of being a grandad!”  Asbury died earlier the same year I believe with “terminal pneumonia” (death record hard to read).  He was a tailor with his own shop in C’ville many years.  He and wife Ida had at least one son and possibly a daughter, as well.

David was the closest to our good doctor in age, just a few months old at his father’s death. He was a tailor in C’ville, as well, and was hit by a train (ruled an accident) which fractured his skull as well as having internal injuries.  He was 75 and buried in Oak Hill where several of his relatives rest.  Had at least one son and one daughter. 

Now, meet our doctor, William Gray Swank, having passed three years prior to David in 1936 at age 65.  Definitely, he had the best education of the family, completing three years at Wabash (roomed with long-time Wabash president Dr. Mackintosh) and graduated from Beaumont U in St. Louis.  During the World War he volunteered in the US shipyards at Newport News, Va and for ten years was chief surgeon for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, where some of he and wife, Mary’s four children (Charles Gale in the oil business, Roy Fray died age 22;  Deane R, security business, and Nellie, were born but mainly being right here in good ‘ol C’ville, Indiana.  For some years, he served as the city health officer.  He passed away on the 4^th of September from heart disease quite proud of his several grandchildren (at least six).  Rest in peace, sir!