Marcus and Anna Swift were his adopted parents. His biological parents were:

Father: Osband Dufree Swift 1813-1857

Mother: Nancy Wightman 1822-1850

Civil War - Enlisted on 24 October 1861 at Nankin, Wayne County, Michigan; mustered in on 29 October 1861, Company H, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment as a Private; died due to accidental wound's complications in the General Hospital no. 3 at Nashville, Tennessee.

"Case 527. — Private R. B. Swift, Co. H, 1st Regiment Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, aged 23 years, was accidentally cut in the right knee joint by an axe, while engaged on duty on the Northwestern Railroad in Tennessee, November 24, 1863 On the following day he was admitted to hospital No. 3, Nashville, where the limb was amputated on January 5, 1864, by Surgeon S. D. Turney, U. S. V., at the lower end of the middle third of the thigh. The operation was performed by the circular method with little loss of blood, chloroform and ether being used and four ligatures applied. At the time of the operation the knee was greatly swollen and very painful, the internal condyle was laid bare by sloughing, and the joint had opened extensively, the discharges being very offensive. There were also extensive sinuses above the joint, and below it free incisions had been made to effect drainage. The patient had become quite reduced and was unable to sleep without opiates. He slept some during the night following the operation. Milk punch and beef tea were freely given, but the patient died from exhaustion January 7, 1864. The case was reported by the operator." -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U.S. Army Surgeon General's Office.