Nathaniel Swain (1802-1875) was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, the son of Sylvanus and Miriam (Gardner) Swain. He moved with his parents to Union County, Indiana, in 1820, where they became members of Silver Creek, later Salem, Monthly Meeting. He was a farmer and miller. In 1827 Nathaniel Swain married, at Salem Meeting, Rhoda Gardner (1806-1887), daughter of Isaac and Eunice (Macy) Gardner and also a native of Guilford County. They had seven children. The youngest daughter was Rosella Swain (1847-1928), who in 1894 married George W. Keelor of Union County. The oldest daughter was Semira Swain (1829-1857). who in 1852 married Thomas Franklin Stanton, a fellow Salem Friend. Thier sons Clinton and Albert were reared by Nathaniel and Rhoda Swain. The Swains sided with Anti-Slavery Friends in the separation of 1843 and became members of Salem Monthly Meeting of Anti-Slavery Friends. They were later drawn into Spiritualism and never regained membership officially in the Orthodox Salem Monthly Meeting after the Anti-Slkavery Friends laid down their meeting. The diaries make frequent reference, however, to attending worship at Salem, and all are buried in the Salem Friends Cemetery.

Note written by Thomas Hamm