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Death Takes James Swift
Long Illness Ends in Death of Long-Time Washington County Farmer
James Swift, 81 years old, who had live in Washington county
the larger part of his long life, died at 4:30 yesterday afternoon at
his home three miles southeast of Washington. He had been failing in
health for three years and was bedfast the last five weeks.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Thursday afternoon at the
L. A. Jones funeral home, to be conducted by Rev. William M. Nichol,
jr., pastor of the United Presbyterian church. Burial will be in Elm Grove cemetery.
Born in Illinois
Mr. Swift was born at Oneida, Ill., Nov. 13, 1857, a son of Martin and
Mary (Gavin) Swift, who came to Washington when he was 13 years old, his
father locating on a farm five miles east of town.
He was married Jan. 19, 1887, to Etta Lindsey, and they have
since lived on the farm east of town where he died, with the exception
of a few months in Kansas soon after their marriage.
Surviving him are his wife and two children, Lloyd Swift of Washington
and Mrs. Myrtle Mahin of Rock Island.
There are also one brother, Martin Swift of Rapid City, S. D.,
and a sister, Mrs. Jane Bruty of Washington, and one grandchild, Betty
Mahin of Rock Island.
In 75-Year Club
The only organization to which he belonged was the Journal's
Three-Quarter Century club. In the space left on the club's membership
blank for remarks, Mr. Swift wrote, when he joined the club, Jan. 15,
1924:
"While living in Oneida, Ill., I remember seeing Lincoln's
funeral car go through the town. They gave it a salute with cannon and guns.
"In the year 1887 my wife and I went to Jennings, Kansas,
where we lived a few months in a sod house, 14' by 18'. I broke the sod
and helped build the house.
"The Indians made their last raid in western Kansas just the
fall before, about twenty miles from where we lived."
(Washington Journal, Washington, Iowa, Wednesday, February 1, 1939)
Note: The Three-Quarter Century club would have to be 1934. |
