Swayze, William

Swayze, William a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Sussex County, N. J., Nov. 18,1784. In his youth he was led by a pious African; to hear a Methodist preacher near Baltimore, was converted, and soon after felt impressed that it was his duty to preach the Gospel, and labored as a local preacher to great advantage for several years. He was admitted into the New York Conference on trial in May, 1807, and for eight years labored successfully within the bounds of that conference. "He became emphatically a son of thunder, attracting great crowds of people to his ministry, and speaking with a power and pathos that few have ever equaled, moving and exciting many-some to tears, others to cry for mercy, while others would shout for joy" (Gregg, p. 177). In 1816 he was transferred to the Ohio Conference; in 1817 appointed to Columbus Circuit; in 1818 to Deer Creek Circuit, including Chillicothe; in 1820 presiding elder of Ohio District, where "his labors, for almost four years, were crowned with unexampled success." In 1824, by the division made by the General Conference, he fell in the Pittsburgh Conference, and was appointed to Erie District; in 1828 to- Canton District; in 1830, conference missionary; in 1832, retransferred to Ohio Conference; in 1834 to Pittsburgh Conference; after which, he was superannuated until death, March 29, 1841. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 3, 238; Stevens, Hist. of the M.E. Church, 4:339-341. (J.L.S.).