William Jefferson Sword was born on August 13, 1827, in Pike County, Kentucky. He was the only son of Francis (of Sword’s Creek, Russell County, Virginia) and Susan (Clark) Sword. William and his seven sisters were all born at Tollard’s Creek, and reared on a farm located on John’s Creek, Pike County, Kentucky.
William married a widow, Pricy Mims (Williamson) Herndon, on October 1, 1854. They were married by Elder George Stump, at the house of Joseph Bevins, on John’s Creek. Pricy had a daughter, Mary Herndon, who was about two-years-old when she and William married. Family lore has it, that William was engaged to another woman, but after meeting the widow and her little Mary, he fell in love with the child and decided that she needed a father. He was devoted to her, and was heartbroken when she died before him.
The following children of William and Pricy, were all born in Pike County, Kentucky. Robert Elcaney, born on March 25, 1858; Susan (Sue) born on October 19, 1861; William Jefferson, Jr., born on April 25, 1863. Pricie Idabella (Belle) born on November 16, 1866; and Cordelia (Cordie) born on August 11, 1870. This family also lived in Floyd County and Lawrence County Kentucky, before moving to Arkansas.
When William enlisted in 1862, Pricy had three young children and was six months pregnant. The war years were a rough time for her. To counter-act the stress she started smoking a corn-cob pipe—a habit she continued throughout her life. Later, in Arkansas, it was thought that she grew her own tobacco.
William told his son, Robert, that when he turned twenty-one (1879) he could move wherever he wanted. He chose Arkansas, which sounded good to William also. So, the entire Sword family--as well as, Mary (Herndon) Chapman, her husband John and their four children, and her brother-in-law, Rush--all left Pike County together. They tied up their belongings in sheets, and left Kentucky by the Ohio River. They traveled by ferry boats, barges, and steam boats, until they reached the White River in Baxter County, Arkansas.
Like his father before him, and his son after him, William was a farmer. But no one could recall him ever working! It was said (jokingly) that he didn’t believe in working, so it was a good thing that he had plenty of money. However, he loved horses, and by 1892, he had acquired 160 acres in Big Flat, Baxter County, Arkansas, on which to raise them. He was an excellent horseman, but he also had a buggy (with its own team) that he would take his family out in.
William was a kind, good natured man who was especially fond of his daughters and granddaughters. He taught all his grandchildren how to ride, and after a day out, the granddaughters would have the task of removing his boots. He wore Civil War issue, knee-high boots, so the girls would take turns tugging, until they were off. His favorite pastime was whittling. He would use the wooden crates that groceries were boxed in and whittle soft pine toys for the children. They thought of him as a “true gentleman” and never had a cross thought about him.
After his wife died in 1909, William divided his time between his home and the home of his son, Robert. Near the end of his life, he lived full-time with, and under the care of his son and daughter-in-law, Mary Jane “Janie” (Landrith) Sword. When he requested it, Robert took him home and he died there, in Big Flat, attended by his son, on May 4, 1921.
“William J. Sword of Big Flat, 93 years old, and one of the oldest settlers in that section of Baxter County, died last week. One of his principle diversions in old age was whittling with his keen old barlow. He didn’t whittle aimlessly, but fashioned what-nots. He made wooden dolls for the children, flutter mills, etc. His body was interred in the local cemetery.” Baxter County Bulletin, June 3, 1921. (Note: He is buried in the Burnt School House Cemetery, Lone Rock, Baxter County, Arkansas. His headstone reads: W. J. Sword, Co. D, 39 KY INF. Also, it has been passed down in the family that William donated the land for the Burnt School House Cemetery, but I have no record of this.)
According to William’s military service records, he enlisted on October 22, 1862, as a private in Co. D, 39th Regiment of Kentucky Infantry, Volunteers. He was honorably discharged on September 15, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. In 1890, he filed a Declaration for Invalid Pension, and was awarded $12 dollars a month, commencing on September 28, 1891. At the time of his death, in 1921, he was receiving $72 dollars a month.
Sources:
Military Records of William J. Sword; 1830-1850 Census, Pike County, Kentucky; 1860 Census, Floyd County, Kentucky; 1870 Census, Lawrence County, Kentucky; 1880-1900 Census, Baxter County, Arkansas; Baxter County Land Records; Baxter County Bulletin; The genealogical records, and photographs, of Nell J. Wickersham; Tape recordings of Zula (Sword) Wade; Smith, Billie Sue (Wade); “The Sword Family Genealogy,” 1994; Photo of Wm. J. Sword’s tombstone; Personal writings of, and/or, interviews with: Robert Elcaney Sword, Lillie (Sword) Wickersham, Zula (Sword) Wade, Susan (Sword) Wickersham, Victor Wickersham, Eugene Wickersham, and June (Wickersham) Hall.