Volney E. Swain, born in Washington County, Indiana 19 May 1827.  He was in 
the Mexican War, enlisting at the age of 19.  He was in Company H, 2nd 
Regiment, Indiana Volunteers.  Volney was also one of the early school 
teachers of Illinois.  His father was Elijah Swain, also a school teacher.  3 
Aug. 1848 Volney married Alice Dover.  They were married in Indiana
Soon after he and his wife moved to Louisiana from there to Illinois in 1850.  
Alice was born 17 Jan 1830.  Volney was 21 and Alice was 18 when this marriage 
took place.  They h ad four children,.  Leon Dover, Sarah Jane, Harriet 
Isabella and Alonzo Clinton.  Volney's wife Alice died May 21, 1855.  She was 
onlly 25.  Two of their children Sarah Jane and Alonzo Clinton died in 1855.  
Sarah Jane was almost 4 and Alonzo was 6 months.  Possibility of cholera 
causing their death.
He remarried Nov, 20, 1855 Martha Jane Hayden.  She was born Nov. 13, 1838.  
Volney and Martha were married in Marion Co. IL.  They had 11 children.  Eight 
sons and three daughters.  Four of those children names not known.  The others 
names are Perry, Charles, Flora, Oliver, Levina, Amanda and Lillie.
Volney made his will June 21, 1893 in Marion, IL.  He was 66  years of age 
then.  He received a pension from serving in the Mexican War.  He lived until 
he was 72.  He died July 8, 1899.  His death was caused by a gun-shot wound in 
neck and shoulder he received in the Mexican War.  For 52 years he suffered 
with it.
Martha died in 1917.  She was 79 years old.  Volney is buried beside his wives 
in Antioch Cemetery in Dix, Illinois.



Source: USGenWeb Archives 

Submitted by Jerry Scott