Benjamin F Swope
Submitted by:  Lynn Mack
 
Benjamin F. SWOPE, attorney at law of Independence, Oregon, where
since 1909 he has practiced his profession, was born in Nodaway
county, Missouri, January 12, 1866, a son of Thomas W. and Helen
SWOPE, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri.
The father followed farming in Missouri until 1892, when he removed to
the northwest, settling in Clackamas county, Oregon, where he
purchased land in the vicinity of Oregon City.  This he cleared and
developed, adding many improvements thereto and continuing active in
its cultivation until his demise in 1910.  The mother's death occurred
in Missouri in 1890.
 
Their son, Benjamin F. SWOPE, was reared in Missouri and his education
was acquired in the public and high schools of Maitland, that state.
In 1892, when a young man of twenty-six years, he accompanied his
parents on their removal to Oregon, where for a time he engaged in
teaching school, also following that profession in the state of
Washington.  Desirous of becoming a member of the legal fraternity he
then entered the law department of the State University of Oregon and
on the 4th of October, 1893, was admitted to the bar.  He first opened
an office in Oregon City, where he remained for four years and then
removed to Toledo, in Lincoln county, continuing in practice there for
twelve years, during which period he served for four years as county
judge and for seven years was deputy district attorney.  His next
removal took him to Prineville, Oregon, where he likewise was called
to public office, being appointed assistant district attorney, but at
the end of six months he resigned and in 1909 opened an office in
Independence, where he has since remained, being now accorded a large
and representative practice.  He is a strong and able lawyer, clear
and concise in his presentation of a cause, logical in his deductions
and sound in his reasoning, while in the application of legal
principles he is seldom at fault.  For the past ten years he has
served as municipal judge, recorder and city attorney for Monmouth and
Independence and is giving excellent service in those connections, the
worth of his work being widely acknowledged.
 
On the 1st of February, 1894, Mr.SWOPE was united in marriage to Miss
Grace HOLMES of Oregon City, and they have become the parents of two
children, namely:  Cecil A, who is practicing law in association with
his father; and Bessie H., who is a teacher in the public schools of
Eugene.
 
In his political views Mr. SWOPE is a stanch republican, loyally
supporting the principles and candidates of the party.  His fraternal
connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights
of Pythias, the Rebekahs, the Eastern Star and the Masons, and his
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church,
of which he is serving as treasurer.  His high professional standing
is indicated in that fact that he has been frequently called to serve
in a public capacity and no trust reposed in him has ever been
betrayed in the slightest degree. He has always stood for progress and
improvement in matters relating to the upbuilding of town, county, and
commonwealth and he ranks with the public-spirited citizens and able
lawyers of Polk county.
 
History of Oregon, Biographical, Vol. II, The Pioneer Historical
Publishing Company, 1922, Pages 529-530.
 
 
 

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