Swaney, Austin F. 1852-1935

SWANEY, MASON, CRAFT, BLAIR, RICHARDSON, BURNSIDE, KIRKPATRICK, FOSTER, DUNN, HUBBARD, WOODS, DEMING

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/17/2010 at 20:02:56

The Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Jan. 22, 1935

LAST SERVICES FOR A.F. SWANEY ARE HELD MONDAY

Funeral services for A.F. Swaney who died January 17 at Sacramento, California, were held from the Methodist church Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock conducted by Rev. H.S. Wilkinson.

Bob Coutts' Sunday School class, of which Mr. Swaney was a member, sang two numbers, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Sun of My Soul," with Mrs. Roscoe Dempster presiding at the piano.

Brother Masons served as honorary pallbearers and pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers were Frank S. Edge, John W. Rehder, John W. Gannaway, Ray T. Mills, John Thompson, George R. Clifton and C.K. Needham. The pallbearers were A.M. Burton, Charles H. Hanson, Walter J. Neely, Frank F. Clindinin, Peter Staffanou and Homer B. Lowrey. Interment was in Hazelwood cemetery.

On account of the severe cold weather the Masonic Burial Service in charge of Professor J.W. Gannaway, P.G.M., was held at the church instead of at the grave.

The following obituary was read at the funeral:

Austin F. Swaney was born November 22, 1852, on a farm owned by his father, four miles west of Fostoria, (Hancock county) Ohio. He came to Iowa in the spring of 1854 when his father bought a farm near Genoa Bluffs.

He was married January 11, 1875 in Marengo, Iowa, to Emma J. Mason, who was born September 1, 1854, near Marengo; and died May 27, 1884. Three children were born to this union, Artie Bell, John Ransom and Ella B. Artie Bell died July 30, 1894, John Ransom, died February 2, 1885. Ella B. married Arthur Craft on January 8, 1903. She resides at Glendale, California.

His father, John S. Swaney, was born March 11, 1820, in Richland county, Ohio. He died January 4, 1892, at Marengo, Iowa. His mother, Rachel Blair Swaney, was born September 6, 1817, at Lancaster, Ohio, and died January 4, 1892, at Marengo, Iowa, the same day, three hours apart.

Austin Swaney and Mary Richardson were married July 1, 1885 at Newton, Iowa. She was born April 23, 1860, at Pella, Iowa. They lived on a farm south of Kellogg and moved to Grinnell in the spring of 1893. To this union the following children were born: Jay W. was born at Kellogg, Iowa, June 29, 1886, married Lula Burnside March 2, 1910, at Knoxville, Iowa. They are living in Grinnell. George C. was born at Kellogg, Iowa, October 19, 1887. He was married December 31, 1929, at Marshalltown, Iowa, to Lillian Kirkpatrick. They are living in Grinnell. Edith Bessie was born September 12, 1889, and married to Ray Foser April 10, 1910. She died March 8, 1911 (died 1912). Bertha A. was born September 10, 1891, at Kellogg, Iowa, married Harry Dunn June 2, 1915. They live in Grinnell. May R. was born at Kellogg, Ia., May 30, 1893, and was married to J.O. Hubbard Dec. 25, 1911. They are living in Sacramento, Calif. Lucretia J. was born March 2, 1895 at Grinnell. She was married to Donald Woods November 13, 1916. They are now living in Council Bluffs, Ia. Florence Marie was born February 15, 1897, at Grinnell. She was married to Lloyd Deming February 23, 1916, and they are now living at Newton, Iowa. He also is survived by 21 grandchildren.

He united with the church in Marengo January 28, 1872, on probation and was received into full membership July 14, 1872.

He was made a Mason at Kellogg, Iowa, initiated May 8, 1890, and joined the Shrine September 30, 1902, passed January 15, 1891, raised April 23, 1891.

His great grandfather knew Abraham Lincoln well and visited him often and also helped him with his lessons.

He started into the livery business in 1893 and continued in the business until 1907. He then entered the real estate and insurance business.

On November 5, 1934, he went to Sacramento, Calif., to visit at the home of the J.O. Hubbard family. He was in good health until the last few days of his life. While in California he enjoyed many trips around Sacramento and surrounding territories. He became suddenly ill on Wednesday morning and was rushed to the Sutter hospital where he passed away at 2 a.m. on Thursday, January 17. He was 82 years old on November 22, 1934.

Out of town people attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Richardson of Albia, Fred Richardson and sons, Ralph and Harold, Charles Richardson and son, Clarence, all of Kellogg; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Deming and family of Newton; Mr. and Mrs. Don Woods and family of Council Bluffs; Mrs. Ella Craft of Glendale, Calif., and Mrs. J.O. Hubbard of Sacramento, Calif.