Edward S. Swift 1850-1930

SWIFT, BAILEY, HUNTER, OLSON, WIGTOM, WIGTON, WAREHAM, BROWN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/25/2011 at 20:43:02

Edward Swift Dies of Pneumonia
Funeral services were held here Monday morning at the Catholic Church for Edward Swift, 69 years old, who died Saturday [May 10, 1930] at his home here after an illness of one week from pneumonia. Rev. W. Veit conducted the services. Burial was in the Graettinger cemetery. Mr. Swift formerly lived on a farm near Emmetsburg and moved to Estherville twenty years ago and was employed in the Rock Island yards for several years. Mr. Swift will be greatly missed in the community and a wide circle of friends mourn his loss.

Edward Swift was born at Madison, Wis., July 4, 1850, where he grew to manhood. He was married to Miss Susan Bailey and to this union eight children were born. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edward Swift and eight children. They are Mrs. Joe Wigton, of Millroy, Minn.; Mrs. Dave Hunter of Motley, Minn.; Mrs. J.A. Olson of Pequot, Minn.; Frank and Ed Swift of Consort, Alberta, Canada; John and Joe Swift of Graettinger and W.A. Swift of Estherville, and also one brother, Pete Swift, of Graettinger.

Pall bearers were John Wareham, Will Wareham, Jim Conway, Frank ash, Emery Bevard, and Martin Keifer. Relatives from out of town who attended the funeral were Sam Wareham of Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. John Wareham of Iowa Falls, Will Wareham of Eagle Grove and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown of Emmetsburg. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 14, 1930)

Edward Swift Passed Away Last Saturday
Was Ill Only a Week With Pneumonia; Funeral Services Held Monday; Interment in Local Cemetery
Mention was made in last week’s Times of the serious illness of Edward Swift, father of John and Joe Swift of Graettinger, and a brother of Peter Swift east of town. Mr. Swift contracted pneumonia and on account of his advanced years did not have the vitality to overcome the dreaded ailment. He was taken to the Coleman hospital where he was given the best of care and medical attention but he gradually grew weaker and passed away Saturday morning. The funeral was held Monday afternoon. Services were conducted at St. Patrick’s Catholic church at Estherville, the Rev. Father Veit officiating. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery northwest of Graettinger. The pallbearers were Wm. Wareham of Eagle Grove, John Wareham of Iowa Falls, Martin Keifer, Frank Ash, and Emery Bevard of Estherville and J.P. Conway of Graettinger. Many old friends and neighbors were in attendance at the last sad rites.

Edward S. Swift was born at Madison, Wisconsin, July 4, 1850. He was 79 years of age last July. He was a member of a family of eleven children, the only surviving member of the family now being Peter Swift of this vicinity. In 1875 Mr. Swift was united in marriage at Webster City, Iowa, to Miss Susan Bailey. They came to this county in 1884 and later located on a farm in Vernon township. Twenty years ago the family retired from the farm and moved to Estherville where they continued to make their home. Mr. Swift was employed by the Rock Island company until 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Swift were the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, Joseph and John of Graettinger, Frank and Ed of Consort, Alberta; and Will of Estherville. The daughters are Mrs. Dave Hunter of Motley, Minn.; Mrs. John Olson, of Pequot, Minnesota; and Mrs. Joe Wigtom, of Milroy, Minnesota.

Numerous Palo Alto friends and acquaintances of Mr. Swift will learn with sorrow of his death. He was a resident of this community and of Estherville for almost a half century. He was a man of rugged health and despite his years was very active up until the time of his last illness. A few days before he became ill he visited his sons in this city and felt as hearty and as robust as ever. Though his last illness was short he was prepared to make his Creator. Mr. Swift was a man thankful for the many blessings in life and was spared for many years past the allotted span of life to share with his aged wife and his sons and daughters their success and happiness, to sympathize with them in their sorrows and to aid them in any way that was within his power. It was indeed a pleasure to him to see them develop into worthy, upright members of society and to take their places so creditably in the busy walks of life. Mr. Swift was a man who attended strictly to his own affairs. He was a kind, thoughtful, charitable neighbor and friend, a loving, devoted husband and father and it is hardly necessary to say that he will be sadly missed by those who were near and dear to him. The Times extends sincere sympathy to Mrs. Swift, to the sons and daughters and to the surviving brother in the sad loss they have been called upon to bear.

Among those from a distance who were in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Simon Wareham, of Peterson, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. John Wareham of Iowa Falls, William Wareham of Eagle Grove, and a niece, Mrs. Paul Brown and husband. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, May 15, 1930)