Charles A. Swindell resides on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres situated on section 7, Adams township, and also owns a half interest in a three hundred and twenty acre tract in that township. He was born in the township where he still lives, on the 22d of February, 1856, a son of William and Isabelle (Carrothers) Swindell, both born on the Emerald Isle. In the early '50s they emigrated to the United States and located in Philadelphia, where their marriage occurred. For two years they resided in that city, but in 1854 came west, as they had heard much of the superior advantages to be found in this section of the country, and settled in Delaware county. They resided on a farm in Adams township and the father became a well known agriculturist. Of the children born to them seven survive: Charles A.; William B., who lives in Minatare, Nebraska; Anthony, who lives in Adams township; Fannie, who married John Scanlan and resides in Prairie township; Mary, the wife of William Swindal of Poweshiek county, Iowa; John, who lives in Dillon, Kansas; and Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Johnston, a resident of Coggon, Iowa. Marguerite married Henry Johnson and passed away in Poweshiek county in 1897; and Margaret died in infancy. The father was called to his reward in 1892 and was survived for ten years by his widow, her demise occurring in 1902.
      Charles A Swindell was early trained in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting and in the care of live stock, and since starting out in life on his own account has continued to farm. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine land on section 7, Adams township, where he resides, and also has a half interest in three hundred and twenty acres in that township, situated five and a half miles west of Ryan and one mile north of Robinson. He devotes the greater part of his time and attention to the raising of full blooded Guernsey cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and finds this phase of agriculture highly profitable.
      Mr. Swindell was married on the 4th of May, 1881, to Miss Ida Liepsner, a daughter of Charles and Ida (Schmeider) Liepsner, both natives of Germany who emigrated to the United States and settled in New York state in the early '50s. Her father was superintendent of a powder manufactory conducted under the name of the Smith & Rand Company. Mrs. Swindell had two brothers, Charles is a resident of Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Fred died when thirty-five years of age. By a former marriage to Miss Frances Schmeider, the father had six children, three of whom survive, namely: Benjamin, a resident of Philadelphia; Herman, who lives in Kansas City; and Fannie, also a resident of Kansas City. Mr. Liepsner died in 1893 and his second widow followed him to the Great Beyond in 1894. To Mr. and Mrs. Swindell has been born a son, Charles W., whose birth occurred in 1885 and who is at home with his parents, assisting in the work of the farm.
      Mr. Swindell is a republican and for a number of years has ably filled the town office of township trustee. Fraternally he belongs to the Royal Arcanum. He has won a gratifying measure of prosperity and has also contributed in no small degree to the development of the county along the line of stock-raising, and he is one of the best known and highly esteemed agriculturists in his locality.