Rodney Degrass Swasey

Rodney Degrass Swaswey was a great grandfather of my father-in-law, Richard Gray.  Born December 4, 1832 in Woodstock, New Hampshire, R.D. Swasey (as he was often called) joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  As a teenager he came to Utah in the late 1840s, without his parents.

A brief and fascinating history of Rodney and his sons can be found here.  Another history can be found here.

R.D. and his first wife, Lucy Loretta Scoville, went to California early in the 1850s and returned to Mona, Utah a few years later, quite wealthy.  Although some have suggested they found gold, others have made the case that they made their money selling horses.

In 1857 he married Martha York Carter who would be Richard Gray's great-grandmother, through her daugher Lona Lorraine Swasey and, in turn, her daughter Ora Faun Ellertson, Richard's mother (whom I knew).

In any case, R.D. Swasey, who could not read, eventually became a partner in a Provo, Utah bank, The Swasey and Martin Bank, which apparently prospered.

Four of his sons gained local fame during their lifetimes running cattle and horses around Castle Valley and the San Rafael Swell.  There are a number of geographic locations in Utah named for the Swaseys, some as a result of R.D. Swasey's wealth and prominence in early history (i.e., the Swasey Mountains and Swasey Peak) and others because of the exploits of his sons (i.e., Swasey Leap and Joe's Valley).  The photos shown here at the left and right were taken in the early 1900s.  The photo at the left includes Joe Swasey and the photo at the right is taken at the Swasey Ranch.

R.D. died December 20, 1898 at age 66.  He is buried in a family cemetery in Mona, Utah.

Comments

[Mary E. Swasey Hunt]

I really like this story. I am Rodney DeGrass's Great grandaughter. anything I can find on my family is so exciting. Thanks

[Tammy Varney]

I am not sure how this relates to me but my grandfather was Joseph Hale swaswy and I remember him talking about a Rodney but cant remember the details.
I am Tammy Jo Snyder and my mother is Chelle Swasey. does anyone recognize this name?

[Kirk Swasey]

I am a Great Great Grandson of Rodney and love to hear about any history of him.