A prominent Toledo Attorney and founder of professional baseball in Toledo, Swayne donated the land on which Swayne Field (1909-1956) was built.  The ballpark was located on a block bounded by Monroe Street (southwest, first base), Detroit Avenue (southeast, right field), Council Street (northeast, left field) and railroad tracks (northwest, third base). Ground was broken on March 6, 1909, and the park opened on July 3. 

His father was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice named by President Lincoln.