SWEARINGEN, ANTRIM

SWEARINGEN, MILES, JOHNSON

Posted By: Carla Hillgren (email)
Date: 3/18/2019 at 10:41:36

Decatur County Journal
May 25, l905
'ANOTHER PIONEER DIES'
- - - -
ANTRIM SWEARINGEN, One of Our Best Citizens Passes Away.
ANTRIM SWEARINGEN, whose death occurred at Corpus Christi, Texas, on
Monday, May l5, l905, was buried Thursday afternoon, May l8th, in Leon
Cemetery. A telegram conveying the sad intelligence was received by
L.P. Van Werden on Wednesday, together with the information that the
body would arrive on Friday afternoon. Announcements were made in the
papers that the funeral would be held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock and
preparations were made accordingly. Later a telegram was received
stating that owing to close connections, the funeral party would arrive
on Thursday afternoon, a day earlier than announced. For this reason it
was impossible to notify the relatives and many friends in time to
attend.
Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church at 3 o'clock
Thursday afternoon, immediately after the arrival of the south train,
and were conducted by the Pastor, Rev. W.A. Montgomery delivered an able
discourse from the second verse of the third chapter of the Book of
Ecclesiastes. Messrs. J.W. Harvey, J.D. Brown, Marion F. Stookey, A.J.
Allen, S.A. Gates and L.P. Sigler served as pall bearers.
ANTRIM SWEARINGEN was born May 9, l83l, near Springfield, Ohio, and
lived in and near that city until manhood. After making two or three
trips through Indiana and Illinois, he decided to cast his destiny with
the people of Iowa and came to Decatur County in the spring of l857 and
engaged in farming. In l866 he traded for a store in Garden Grove where
he remained until l872 when he sold out and removed to Leon. About
l874, he built and stocked a drug store in Davis City.
In the year l874, he was married to MISS MARY C. MILES who died in the
summer of l879, leaving one son, EDD A. SWEARINGEN. November l7, l880,
he was married to MISS CHLOE J. JOHNSON, at Leon, Iowa. She was the
daughter of REV. SILAS JOHNSON, who was Pastor of the Presbyterian
Church in this city for many years.
MR. SWEARINGEN engaged in the drug business in Leon from l875 to l885,
part of the time in partnership with the late Abel E. Chase. The
business is now conducted by L.P. Van Werden, formerly in their employ.
In l885 he purchased a farm in Mercer County, Mo., and engaged in
farming until l897 when he moved to Indianola, Iowa, where he resided
until l903. He had previously sold his farm in Missouri.
On account of failing health he spent the last two winters of his life
on the gulf coast, one winter at Bay St. Louis, Miss., and last winter
at Corpus Christi, Texas. He passed the summer of l904 in Leon, which
he always regarded as his home. His wife and son accompanied the
remains to Leon for interment and many kind friends met them at the
depot and accompanied the party to the church.
MR. SWEARINGEN's health has been failing for several years and on the
l0th of last March he became dangerously ill with heart trouble. For a
few days his health began to improve again and he expressed a desire to
return to Leon and be once more with old friends and neighbors. But the
pale boatman, with muffled oars, bore him across the river to that land
upon whose shores beat forever the waves of eternity.
While the deceased was not a member of any church, he had a strong and
abiding faith in Christianity and was ready to go. He felt that it was
not death at all but simply a change.
MR. SWEARINGEN was a genial companion and loyal friend. For the poor
and suffering, he was kind, sympathetic and charitable. The needy have
often been the recipients of his benevolence. He spoke cheering words
to those in sorrow. He was slow to condemn the erring one and quick to
sing the praises of those who performed deeds of worth. He was a public
spirited man and always remained loyal to the people of Leon and Decatur
County.
He was ever found on the moral side of every question, believed in the
abolition of human slavery and early united with the party which brought
about that consummation. Although he never sought offical preferment he
took a deep interest in political matters and remained throughout life
an unswerving Republican. In the Blaine campaign of l884, he was
especially active and the success of the county ticket was largely the
result of his energetic work. At an outlay of considerable money and
time, he organized a glee club which created much enthusiasm during the
campaign. The members of the club were M.A. Gammill, Chas. Edwards, Wm.
Gardner and U. Tharp.
But MR. SWEARINGEN has left us forever. His sphere in life was well
filled. He performed his duties well, faithfully and honestly. The
world is better for his having lived in it. He leaves to his kindred
and friends the legacy of a good name. We cherish his memory and grieve
for a friend that is gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CARD OF THANKS.
The undersigned desire to express their earnest appreciation of the
sympathy and aid extended them during their late bereavement in the loss
of a husband and father. Our thanks are extended to each and all who
gave a helping hand in the hour of our sorrow.
CHLOE J. SWEARINGEN,
EDD A. SWEARINGEN.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 8, 200l