At the turn of the century, one of the finest artistic photography studios in Blackford County was located on the southeast corner of the public square. This studio was owned and operated by Carles Luther Swingley. Swingley was often assisted by J. Ervin Lyon, a photographic printer. They often exhibited samples of their work at the studio showing interior and exterior views in both a glossy and a platino finish. Swingley and Lyon specialized in group shots and life-size portraits.

Swingley was born in Delaware County in October of 1866. The youngest of five children born to Jacob and Leah Swingley native of Pennsylvania who came to Indiana in the 1860’s. Jacob was a blacksmith in Delaware County until 1873 when the family moved to New Castle in Henry County.