James Henry “Jim” Swindle was a businessman and politician of Ray City, GA. He was born near Ray City Aug 6, 1886, a son of Margaret Melvina Futch and George Emory Swindle. A previous post gave his bio from the Georgia Official and Statistical Register. He was involved in many civic organizations including the Baptist church, Masons, and Lions Club, and served in public offices from Mayor of Ray City to Representative in the Georgia Assembly.
James H. Swindle
Jim Swindle was a brother of Leonard Columbus Swindle, John N. Swindle, George Perry Swindle, Roy C. Swindle, and Leonidas A. Swindle.
In the Census of 1900 James H. Swindle was enumerated with his parents and brothers in his father’s household in the Connell’s Mill District near Rays Mill, GA. The Swindle family farm was located on the Rays Mill & Cat Creek Road. Jim and his younger brothers all attended school, while his older brother, Leonard, helped his father with the farm labor.
After the 1909 death of his father, G.E. Swindle, at Buffalo Lithia Springs, VA , Jim became the head of the household and took over the family farm.
James Henry “Jim” Swindle became a prominent businessman of Berrien County. By 1908, he was involved in the organization of the Bank of Rays Mill, which later became the Citizens Bank of Ray City. It is said that the Swindle family owned much of the land where present day Ray City is located, and when the town was officially incorporated in 1909, he became one of the first residents. In 1912 he married Sarah Ellen “Stell” Daniel in Nashville, GA, and the couple made their home at Ray City.
J. H. Swindle of Rays Mill was a dealer for the Georgia Fertilizer & Oil Company. 1912 Advertisement.
Together with James S. Swindle, James Henry Swindle owned the Ray City Hotel, which stood on the location later occupied by the Clements Fountain. The Swindles employed J.F. Hineley to operate the hotel. The hotel and all of its contents were destroyed, along with several other buildings, in the Ray City fire of Sunday, April 25, 1915.
According to Buck Swindle, James H. Swindle owned the first Model T Ford in Ray City, GA. The Ford Model T was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relatively low price was partly the result of Ford’s efficient fabrication, including assembly line production instead of individual handcrafting.
James Henry Swindle was 30 years old when he registered for the draft in WWI on June 5, 1917. He gave his occupation as a self-employed farmer and merchant working in Ray City, Ga. He was described as medium height, medium build, black hair, and blue eyes. His draft card was signed by D.A. Sapp.
By 1920 James H. Swindle had located his wife and family in a house on Main Street in Ray City, Georgia. They owned the home free and clear. Their neighbors were C . Oscar Terry and Leon L. Parrish. J.H. Swindle was a merchant, operating a grain and feed store on his own account.
Among other elected positions, Jim Swindle served 12 years on the Berrien County Board of Education, including four years as Chairman.
1925 Berrien County Board of Education
D. J. Gaskins, Ch. Ray City
A. L. Akins.. . .Nashville
J. H. Swindle …Ray City
C.B.Harris–. -Enigma
George P. Griffin Nashville
1927 Berrien County Board of Education
D. J. Gaskins, Chm., Ray City
J. R. McLamb
J. H. Swindle, Ray City
A. L. Akins, Nashville
W. K. Sikes
In the census of 1930, Swindle listed his principal occupation as operator of a gin. He owned cotton gins in Ray City, and at Barretts in Lowndes County, GA.
“The J.H. Swindle Gins and Warehouse is another concern of benefit to the entire section. Plants are located at Ray City and Barrett, being among the most up to date in south Georgia. Mr. Swindle buys cotton and cotton seed, corn, peanuts, hay and other country produce. Besides gin and warehouse activities he operates a twelve horse farm.”
Another of his 1930s business concerns was the operation of a bank at Ray City.
“The Peoples Banking Company, a private institution, is owned by Mr. J.H. Swindle, with Mr. E.J. Patten as cashier. This bank was organized several years ago by Mr. Swindle when Ray City lost its regular bank, so as to carry on the business operations locally and without interruptions.”
Later, J.I. Clements worked for a while as cashier of the Peoples Banking Company. Jim Swindle’s brother, L. C. Swindle also operated a bank at Ray City, the Farmers Bank.
In 1932 J. H. Swindle again served on the Berrien County Board of Education and in 1934 he was Mayor of Ray City.
On Jan 14, 1939 the Speaker of the House of the Georgia Assembly announced the Legislative Committee Chairmen. James H. Swindle of Berrien was named as chair of the General Agriculture Committee No. 1. Just a few days later on January 31, 1939, the Atlanta Constitution reported that James Henry Swindle, of Ray City, was declaring as a candidate for State Commissioner of Agriculture.
J.H. Swindle, ‘Just a Small Farmer,’ Says Markets Aren’t Working.
January 31, 1939
By the Associated Press.
Representative J.H. Swindle, of Berrien, who describes himself as “just a small farmer,” announced yesterday he would seek election as state commissioner of agriculture in 1940.
Swindle, a veteran of three terms in the legislature, is chairman of the house committee on agriculture No. 1.
Columbus Roberts, present commissioner of agriculture, concludes his present term in 1940. He has been mentioned as a likely candidate to succeed Governor Rivers.
Swindle said he would favor revision of the state’s present agricultural policy to give greater assistance to the farmers in disposing of their products.
“The farmer can dump his stuff anywhere,” he said. “The present system (of farmers’ markets) is not working any special good to the farmers.”
Swindle urged that the state provide price reporting service as well as a place where farmers may bring their produce for sale. He also suggested that the state assist the farmers “to put his produce in proper shape for disposal” by grading and collecting individual shipments into single lots.
“I would even be willing to try the auction system,” often results in the price for a commodity being set at an unfairly low level because one or more of the earliest sellers were unaware of the correct price and disposed of their produce below the market level.
Swindle, a 52-year-old native of Berrien county, has served two years as mayor of Ray city, eight years on the city council, and 12 years on the county board of education, including four years as chairman. He is engaged in farming, operates a cotton gin, and purchases cotton and farm products for resale. He is married, and has two daughters and a son.
In 1941, James H. Swindle was appointed to serve again on the Berrien County Board of Education to replace Henry A. Swindle who had resigned from the Board in December 1940. In October, the Board members elected J.H. Swindle as Chairman of the Board.
A 1941 mention in the Nashville Herald said:
Mr. J.H. Swindle is a prominent citizen of this city [Ray City]. He owns most of the business buildings in Ray City. He is our past representative, having served four years. He owns extensive farms and the gin. He is a cotton buyer, a cottonseed buyer, and a corn buyer.
James H. Swindle continued his involvement in civic affairs. In the 1940s he worked to bring better roads to Ray City, and in 1947 served on the building committee for the new Ray City School gym.
In 1953 he was elected vice-president of the South Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.
Children of Stell Daniel and James Henry Swindle:
- Margaret Virginia Swindle (Oct 28, 1914)
- Doris E. Swindle (1916-1941)
- Grace E Swindle
- James Aaron Swindle (1920-1993)
Grave marker of James Henry “Jim” Swindle, Beaver Dam Cemetery, Ray City, GA
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