Swomley, Joseph W. (1829-1900)

SWOMLEY, FERGUSON

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 3/14/2011 at 21:32:16

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
8-2-1900

Joseph W. Swomley died at his residence, 1001 Cedar street , on Wednesday morning after a very brief illness. At ten o’clock on Monday evening he was attacked by a paralytic stroke from the consequence of which he never rallied and passed peacefully away.

The deceased was born in Fredrick county, Maryland on May 2, 1829 where he lived until he attained the age of manhood when he removed to Ohio. He was united in marriage in that state to Miss Minerva Brown, in 1860 who survives him. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he kissed his bride and sallied forth to take up arms for country and for freedom. He enlisted in Company A, First Ohio Cavalry and for three years was in the brunt of battle making the famous Virginia campaign, in which his regiment and its members won undying fame being in the thick of bullets and blood continuously. These years of hardship and exposure affected hi health to such an extreme that he was never again as hale and hearty a man as he would otherwise have been and the suffering endured left traces on his constitution which were never really eradicated and for the past twelve or thirteen years he has been in very poor health. He came to LeMars in 1878 and has ever since resided here. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swomley, Oren L. Swomley , who lives at Kildare, Oklahoma and Mrs. B. F. Ferguson of this city. One child died in infancy.

Mr. Swomley was a carpenter by trade and his handiwork is all around this city and county as evidence of the skill and good workmanship for which he was noted being a master of his craft. He was well known to all the older residents of LeMars and enjoyed a large measure of friendship and acquaintance and many of the younger folk who came to know him loved and respected him for his quiet and unobtrusive worth and unostentatious manner of life. He was well-versed on questions of public interests and was always ready to impart information or indulge in friendly argument. On his earlier days he was affiliated with the members of the Odd Fellows and a member of one of their lodges.

The funeral will be held from the home on Friday afternoon at 2:30 P.M.

Civil War Record
 

Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen