Ralph H. Swope was raised on his father's farm in McCutchanville Indiana, and where he attended grade school and high school. He worked on his father's farm in his early years, then went to Terre Haute, Indiana in 1910 to apprentice at the Swope-Nehf Jewelry store. When he married in 1914 he moved back to his father's farm outside of Evansville for a few years. In December of 1919 he took his wife Margaret, two sons, Dwight and Ralph (Bub), and returned to Terre Haute and worked as a jeweler. During World War One he was in the Militia (December 3, 1917 through April 21, 1920) and spent time in Gary, Indiana because of unrest in the coal mines. In 1924 the family left Terre Haute to return McCutchanville where Ralph went to work for B.K. Hardware Wholesalers in Evansville. He traveled around the area selling hardware. When returning to McCutchanville he bought 2-1/2 acres on Browning Road, where his children Nancy and Paul were born. Ralph dreamed of a store of his own and that dream came true in 1934 when he leased the store, gas station and garage in McCutchanville. When Bub (Ralph L.) graduated from High School, Bub took over the garage. In 1936 the owners declined to renew the lease and Ralph leased land across the road and built a store of his own. Ralph later bought that land in 1943 and operated his store until his death in 1948. Ralph was instrumental in forming the McCutchanville Benefit Club and the McCutchanville Volunteer Fire Department (1947) and was the first Fire Chief. He died of cancer.
Thanks to Paul Swope for providing biographical information.
Thanks to Paul Swope for providing biographical information.
Ralph H. Swope was raised on his father's farm in McCutchanville Indiana, and where he attended grade school and high school. He worked on his father's farm in his early years, then went to Terre Haute, Indiana in 1910 to apprentice at the Swope-Nehf Jewelry store. When he married in 1914 he moved back to his father's farm outside of Evansville for a few years. In December of 1919 he took his wife Margaret, two sons, Dwight and Ralph (Bub), and returned to Terre Haute and worked as a jeweler. During World War One he was in the Militia (December 3, 1917 through April 21, 1920) and spent time in Gary, Indiana because of unrest in the coal mines. In 1924 the family left Terre Haute to return McCutchanville where Ralph went to work for B.K. Hardware Wholesalers in Evansville. He traveled around the area selling hardware. When returning to McCutchanville he bought 2-1/2 acres on Browning Road, where his children Nancy and Paul were born. Ralph dreamed of a store of his own and that dream came true in 1934 when he leased the store, gas station and garage in McCutchanville. When Bub (Ralph L.) graduated from High School, Bub took over the garage. In 1936 the owners declined to renew the lease and Ralph leased land across the road and built a store of his own. Ralph later bought that land in 1943 and operated his store until his death in 1948. Ralph was instrumental in forming the McCutchanville Benefit Club and the McCutchanville Volunteer Fire Department (1947) and was the first Fire Chief. He died of cancer.
Thanks to Paul Swope for providing biographical information.
Thanks to Paul Swope for providing biographical information.
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