Histories

"Behind every good man that makes it must be a good woman" - That is the way it was with Will and Mattie Swallows. Mattie kept the home (she was an excellent cook), and with the help of Roddy Darty she supervised the care of the big lawn in front of the house and the garden in the back along with the chicken yard. but when Elizabeth went off to college and Martha was in high school, she decided to start a new career. She was appointed Postmaster for Algood, Tennessee. She served 22 1/2 years before retirement."

When Mattie Irene Hutcheson came to Algood, Tennessee in the early 1900's she planned to stay at her sister Kathryn Little's home and teach Expression. She was already engaged to a young man that she met at Burritt College where they were in school. But she had not met that red haired young man that worked in Gaskill's Drug store filling prescriptions and jerking sodas- nor had she been for a ride in his buggy or held hands on the hillside under the big oak trees- but just give Cupd a little more time and some things might change.

I told you to give Cupid a chance. Mattie Irene Hutcheson married William Lee Swallows July 13, 1911. They had three children, Hubert Lee their first child was born February 22, 1914 but died two days later. Daughter Sara Elizabeth was born Februay 4, 1916 and Daughter Martha Capterton was born February 22, 1922. After being a drug salesman for the Eli Lilly Co. Will decided he wanted to be a lawyer so he attended Cumberland Law School in Lebanon, Tennessee and received his law degree June 1, 1927. He set up a law office in Cookeville, Tennessee and worked as a school board chairman, state representative to the general assembly and was serving as Putnam County judge at the time of his death. I feel sure that Mattie never dreamed that she would serve as Postmaster of Algood, Tennessee for 22 1/2 years before she moved".

It would not be right in any history of Will Swallows and his wife Mattie not to tell that they always raised a fine garden and Will always had a farm or two or half interest in one. They kept a cow in the little barn behind the house in Algood. Will always kept pure bred Jersey cows for his milk and cream. Susie was one of the favorites, they had a long chain and she often put to it and let her eat the grass in the large front yard. Mattie supervised the garden, often working it herself, but after she became Postmaster she had help from some of the black boys."

Roddy and Odell Darty were the two that worked for them for years and they seemed like members of the family. They milked the cow, hoed the garden, fed the chickens and mowed the grass. In 1946, Roddy had grown to a man and was working for Hooper-Huddleston Funeral Home. The family had learned that Will Swallows had Hodgkins disease and had him in Nashville in the hospital. The doctors had done all they could do and advised taking him home and get a nurse. Roddy went to Ed Hooper and asked to be permitted to drive the ambulance to bring him home". "Because he was one of the best friends I ever had, said Roddy. "He drove him home with the greatest of care."