Obituary

End Came Shortly Before Noon, After Illness Since March

  Miss Agnes Swift, one of the best known and best love women of Washington, who for a year was an army nurse in France during the war, died at 11:26 this morning at the home of her mother. Mrs. J. C. Swift on West Third street.
  Ever since she came back from France in the early part of 1919, Miss Swift had not been in her previous fine health. She was affected by nervousness and did not have the strength that she had formerly enjoyed.
  Last March she began to fail noticeably and went to the county hospital for a rest. This did not do the good that had been hoped for and she returned to her home. For a while she seemed to improve, but again grew worse and for several days seemed on the point of death, but rallied and for about a week showed a slight improvement, but for the last three weeks had been steadily declining. While she felt ready to meet death, she was determined to get well if at all possible and it was that determination which kept her alive for so long. Goiter was the cause of death.
          Have Military Funeral
  Full military honors will be paid Miss Swift by Leon Beatty post, American Legion, of which she was a devoted member. Commander Frank Appleby asks all members of the post to assemble at the Legion rooms next Monday morning at 8:30 in uniform prepared to attend the funeral services at St. James church at nine o'clock. Solemn requiem mass will be observed in charge of Father Cone of St. Ambrose college, Davenport, who is in charge of the parish during the absence of the pastor, Rev. Father Hartigan.
  The Legion will provide a military escort to Elm Grove cemetery. The Washington band will lead the cortege to the cemetery and the former service men in uniform will follow the hearse.
          Was Born in This County
  Miss Swift was born July 16, 1880, near Ainsworth. She would have been forty-three years of age next Monday. She was a daughter of J. C. Swift and Mary (Rimmer) Swift. Her father died in February 1919, while his daughter was on her way home from France. Her mother survives.
After attending the rural schools, the St. James parish school and the Washington academy, Miss Swift took a nurse's training at St. Anthony's hospital, Rock Island, from which she was graduated in 1905. She was in private practice and in private hospitals until December 1917, when she entered her country's service as an army nurse. She was stationed first at Fort Worth, Texas, but later enlisted in Hospital Unit R, which was organized in southeastern, Iowa.
          Saw Service at Front
  She arrived in France in March, 1918, and for several months the unit was stationed just back of the front lines, where Miss Swift saw very active service. The field hospital with which she was connected was called on to care for many soldiers wounded in battle, and Miss Swift had many thrilling experiences. She was in almost constant danger from German air raids.
  Returning to America, she took up public health service and accepted a position at Leon, Iowa, but was called home by the illness of her mother. Since then, she has been with her mother here.
  Miss Agnes Swift's admirable qualities of mind and heart made her popular with everyone. She had a very wide acquaintance in the community due to her life of ministering to those who were suffering, and during her illness her room was constantly filled with flowers which came from those who know and loved her. The service she performed in the war added to the regard in which she was held by the community, and doubtless few women have lived here whose passing causes more genuine sorrow or more heartfelt sympathy for the surviving relatives. She was a member of St. James church and was active in the work of the parish.
          One Brother, Six Sisters
  She is survived by one brother, John Swift of Jennings, Kansas, and by six sisters, all of Washington who are: Miss Catherine Swift, Mrs. Teresa Vastine, Mrs. Carleton Wilson, Mrs. Charles Regan, Mrs. John Wheelan and Mrs. Leonard Bailey.
One brother, George Swift, and two sisters, Mrs. D. M. Sullivan and Mrs. J. M. Walker are deceased. Mrs. Walker died only two years ago.
(Washington Journal, Washington, Iowa, Saturday, July 14, 1923)

Hundreds Attend the Swift Funeral Today

  The great popularity of Miss Agnes Swift, army nurse during the world war, who died Saturday after a long illness was attested this morning when many more than could crowd into the St. James Catholic church attended her funeral. It was one of the most largely attended funeral services ever held in this community.
  Solemn requiem high mass was celebrated, with Rev. M. J. Cone of Davenport as celebrant, Rev. W. E. Lawler of Davenport, deacon, Rev. J. M. Walsh of Davenport, master of ceremonies and Rev. J. H. Courtney of East Pleasant Plain, sub deacon. The sermon was very solemn and impressive.
  The pall bearers were Robert Noonan, Dr. James E. Edgington, Martin Whittaker, Frank Wheelan, Frank Casey and Harry Swift, all world war veterans.
  Sixteen doctors and nurses from Hospital Unit R, with whom Miss Swift served in France, attended the service. Thirty nurses from Washington, Fairfield and Burlington were in attendance. Among those at the church was a young soldier from Cedar Rapids, who was cared for by Miss Swift in an army hospital, who drove down from Cedar Rapids this morning for the service.
  The Washington band played funeral music, led the cortege from the church to the cemetery and eight mounted men from Troup D, 113th Calvary, acted as an escort for the hearse. Leon Beatty post, American Legion, who attended the services as an organization, had charge at the grave. A volley was fired over the grave by a detail from the post and "Taps" were sounded by Everette Griffith.
(Washington Journal, Washington, Iowa, Monday, July 16, 1923)