"Historic Places at the Crossroads"

6th Annual Preservation Week 2004 Photo-Essay Competition

Third Place: John Sosbe

Title: Historic Places at the Crossroads

There is perhaps no greater example of a family's history and our small town's history being preserved, than the place where I work. I work for a small law office in Cynthiana, Kentucky; Swinford and Sims P.S.C. This firm is one of the oldest and most distinguished in our small town. It is a third generation business that has been a starting place for many of Harrison County's most prominent lawyers and judges. The fine history of this firm is as rich as that of my home county. It is a story of family, love, feuds, and friendships that spans over a century.

The firm was started in the late 19th century (not even Mr. Swinford knows exactly when) by Mr. Swinford's grandfather Mr. M.C. Swinford. The biggest subject from this time in history is M.C. Swinford's rivalry with another lawyer down the street by the name of Peterson. This rivalry was so heated that it often bordered on an open feud.

 Another interesting thing about M.C. Swinford is a relatively famous case in which he participated. A prominent attorney, also on Pike Street named Harry Bailey, was murdered by a man whom he had sued. Newt Arnold had been sued by Bailey's client and lost his non-payment case. Arnold argued with and shot Harry Bailey on the same day in 1913. Mr. M.C. Swinford [represented Arnold in Falmouth, where the trial was held. M.C. Swinford got Arnold convicted of murder and sentenced to 2-21 years in prison.

 As Swinford and Sims moved into a new generation, our story returns to the story of the Swinford-Peterson rivalry. Perhaps it is inevitable that M.C. Swinford's son, Mac Swinford would marry Peterson's daughter, Benton. Mac Swinford's legal career would be very prosperous.

 Mac Swinford would continue to practice law even after his father's death continuing the name Swinford and Swinford. His wife, the former Miss. Peterson was also a lawyer, one of the first female lawyers to gain prominence in Harrison County.

Mac Swinford was appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to serve as a federal judge. Most people came to know him as "Judge Mac" because of this fact. Mac was the U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He served in this position for a number of years, eventually writing a book.

"Judge Mac's" book was a collection of stories of what life was like practicing law in Kentucky. It gained most of the notoriety around this part of Kentucky for being the foremost authority on the case of David Sheeley. The book make history of several cases from all over the state, like Sheeley's. It is entitled Kentucky Lawyer and is still a source for teaching material in Kentucky history courses on the college level.

"Judge Mac" changed the course of the firm's history by hiring and eventually partnering with a man who was to become a community fixture for years. That man, still well known and respected over 20 years after his death, was Mr. J. Thaxter Sims. It is from the partnership of J. Thaxter Sims and Mac Swinford, that the firm receives its modern name.

It is easy to credit Thaxter Sims with bringing the firm to its modern condition. Thaxter Sims made physical changes to the modern building by doing several renovations. One renovation undertaken by Thaxter Sims joined two buildings together to form the current office. The two buildings are now joined, which makes the upstairs portion actually larger than the downstairs portion. It was also Thaxter Sims who had the building returned to the iron fronted look.

From the renovations he ordered, it is obvious that Thaxter Sims was a man of vision, but he was also a man of humor. One particular story about Thaxter found its way into the Cynthiana Democrat, shortly after his death. The man told the story of discussing all sorts of things from dinosaurs to theories about the universe as a young man with Thaxter Sims. He remembered that Thaxter sent him a card not long after addressed to him simply at "Planet Earth". It was often said that to find Thaxter Sims it was only necessary to go to Biancke's Restaurant on a Saturday afternoon.

In his later years, Mr. Sims was a partner with the current owner of the firm; Mr. John Swinford. Mr. Swinford is the son of Mac and Benton Swinford, and the third generation of the Swinford family to operate the firm. John Swinford was educated at Princeton, and served briefly in the Army.

Since he has owned the firm, an ensemble cast of attorneys has come and gone. There was Ron Mahoney, who tragically took his own life, several attorneys who still practice in and out of the county, and even Family Court Judge David Melcher. John Swinford is the senior lawyer of the modern firm with his junior partner Doug Miller and another attorney, retired school teacher Sue Lake.

Through the years the firm has been a constant in this town. The efforts of those who have practiced there have kept its reputation high. The history must be preserved too. The firm may not be here for long after Mr. Swinford is gone, but we must see to it that the history inside those walls remains forever. Some would argue that buildings and places aren't worth saving, but I disagree. We are not saving just buildings, we are saving the people, and the good times, and the life's work of those who occupied these historic places at the crossroads.

This essay and photograph(s) are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC.