Theletters that have been donated concern a small part of the life of CharlesSwaggart, who was born February 19, 1870 in Mt. Carroll, IL and died October8, 1907 in Kingfisher, OK. His life depicted that of many of the drifterswho traveled through many states and never settled anywhere for long. Charles came by his wandering spirit from his ancestors. His great-grandfatheron his father's side, Uel Whiteside was one of the first settlers of Illinoisalong with his father, William Whiteside who fought in the RevolutionaryWar after he arrived from Ireland.  Charles' grandfather, George Swaggart,was born in Pennsylvania in 1796, fought in the War of 1812 at an earlyage alongside of his father and uncles and then fought in the BlackhawkIndian wars. He also was one of the early settlers of Illinois.  Charles' mother, Elvira Van Alstine/Swaggart came from the Van Alstynefamily who were found in New York in the mid 1600s. Her mother's familywere of Dodge descent who were in Massachusetts in the 1600s. Other generationsmoved on to New York, then to Wisconsin.  Charles' father, EugeneMcBride Swaggart, who was also born in Mt. Carroll, IL fought in the CivilWar in the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry. Right after the war, Eugeneand his brother Moses Swaggart and half brother, John Miller began to lookfor a new home. They first went to Minnesota, then to Iowa and, while JohnMiller and his family went on to Caldwell, Kansas, Eugene McBride Swaggartand Moses Swaggart returned home to Mt. Carroll. After Charles was born,they began their trip to Kansas only to turn back the first time becauseof the dreaded malaria of Amanda Ludisky Van Alstine/Swaggart, Moses' wifeand Elvira's sister. The second time, they made it all the way to Caldwell,Kansas.  Charles, and his older brother George as well as their cousins,were raised on the ranges of Kansas and became cowboys at very young ages. George was one of the first settlers of New Mexico near Tulrosa and latermoved on to Arizona, Douglas and Apache, where he owned a small ranch. His sister, Nellie Eugenia Swaggart/Briggs, married and moved to Palestine,Texas with her husband, Joseph Henry Briggs who was a printer, house painterand postman. Josephine Swaggart/Jones married Ike Jones, a railroad engineeron the Rock Island railroad and they stayed in Caldwell, Kansas for a time,then moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma.  As far as we know from letters,Charles began his adventures in 1892 when he was twenty-two years old.Following is a list of the towns he visited during those years and thevarious fields he tried.  -- Betty More