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Mrs. J. C. Swift Called By Death
Member of St. James Parish Since 1865-Funeral Thursday
Funeral services for Mrs. John C. Swift will be held at 9
o'clock tomorrow (Thursday) morning at St. James church. Mrs. Swift had
lived in Washington county since 1865 and was thought to have belonged
to the parish here the longest of any living person. Her 88th birthday
was on mother's day of this year.
Mrs. Swift's death was at eight o'clock last night at the home of
her daughter, Mrs. Carlton Wilson, with whom she had made her home since
a year ago June, moving from her old home, 108 West Third street. Her
health had been gradually failing for the past fourteen years, and for
the last week her condition had been very critical.
Friends will be welcome to call at the Wilson home this evening
or before 8:30 tomorrow morning. The casket will be opened at the
church. The burial will be at Elm Grove cemetery. Funeral arrangements
are in charge of Sherman's funeral home. The service will be in charge
of Rev. J. H. O'Donnell, pastor of St. James church.
Mrs. Swift devoted her interest in her home and church. She was
the mother of eleven children, six of whom are living. There are 42
grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren living. Her husband died in
February 1919.
The surviving children are Miss Catherine Swift, at home, Mrs.
Teresa Vastine of Davenport, Mrs. Carlton Wilson and Mrs. Charles Ragan
of Washington, Mrs. John Wheelan of southeast of Washington, and Mrs.
Leonard Bailey of Davenport.
The deceased children are George Swift, Mrs. Mary Sullivan, Mrs.
Margaret Walker, John Swift and Agnes Swift.
One sister of Mrs. Swift is living, Mrs. Emma Lowrey of Trenton, Mo.
Besides caring for her own family, Mrs. Swift was very helpful in
cases of illness in her neighborhood.
Native of England
Mrs. Swift's maiden name was Mary Rimmer. She was born at Brewood,
England May 13, 1846, a daughter of Frederick Rimmer and Teresa Wright
Rimmer. She came with her parents to America, at the age of 5 , living
in Boston for seven years and later at Oneida, Ill.
It happened that her husband, who was from Ireland, crossed the
ocean on the same sailing vessel, but they didn't make each other's
acquaintance until living in Illinois. Their marriage took place Nov.
26, 1864, near Oneida, Ill., by Galesburg.
They came in 1865 to make their home in Washington county, in the
community west of Ainsworth, making the trip by covered wagon. In the
fall of 1902 they moved into Washington.
(Washington Evening Journal, Washington, Iowa, Wednesday, July 11, 1934)
A number of relatives and friends from out-of-town were here to
attend the funeral of Mrs. John C. Swift at St. James Catholic church
Thursday morning. A sister, Mrs. Emma Lowrey of Trenton, Mo., will be
here for a few days. Mrs. Teresa Vastine and son, Cedric and daughter,
Marion of Davenport went to Richland Thursday afternoon to stay for the
weekend, with Mrs. Alice Vastine, who was also here for the funeral. Mr.
and Mrs. L. G. Bailey and family of Davenport, who were called here by
the death of Mr. Bailey's father, John J. Bailey, and continued their
stay on account of the death of Mrs. Swift, left Thursday afternoon for
their home, except for one son, Pat, who stayed with Mrs. John J.
Bailey. Mrs. Teresa Vastine and Mrs. L. G. Bailey are both daughters of
the late Mrs. John C. Swift. A grand-daughter, Miss Loretta Walker of
Keokuk, who is at Cedar Fall this summer attending Iowa State Teachers
college, was here for the service. Monsignor J. M. Walsh of Ottumwa,
former pastor here, gave the funeral sermon. Among others here from
out-of-town for the funeral were T. Riley, Miss Mae Riley and John C.
Sullivan of Burlington, Mr. and Mrs. William Griffin of Riverside, Mrs.
Henry Glenn, Mrs. A. J. Love and Mrs. John [?] of Ottumwa, Mrs. Alex
Miller of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith of Richland, Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Chihak of Ainsworth, and Mrs. Roy Eschelman of Mt. Pleasant.
(Washington Evening Journal, Washington, IA, July 14, 1934) |
