John Swan (1842-1926)

SWAN, SHERMAN, CLARK

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/6/2024 at 22:26:02

From Story City Herald July 8, 1926 (page 1)

JOHN SWAN DIED IN CALIFORNIA

End Came to Old Time Story City Business Man June 18th

Just after we had printed the paper last week we received the sad news in a letter from Miss Bessie Swan, that her father, John Swan, had passed away at their home in Orange, Cal., Friday afternoon, June the 18th.

He had reached the ripe old age of 85 years, 8 months and 29 days. It is four and a half years since he and his daughter went to California. At that time he was in good health, tho getting somewhat feeble from age. He had gradually grown weaker, and on June 7th suffered a stroke of paralysis. He was conscious to the last but the stroke had rendered him helpless and affected his voice so he could scarcely be understood.

Funeral services were held June 21, conducted by Rev. Nichol of the Santa Ana Evangelical church, and he was buried in Fairhaven cemetery. A number of Story City people from surrounding towns attended the funeral, and the flower tributes were very beautiful. Many of Swan's folks live in or near Orange and Miss Bessie speaks of the help and consolation they have been to her and her father since his stroke. Among those who live out there are Mrs. Sherman of Orange, Mrs. Clark (formerly of Story City), the latter's daughters, Emma and Alta and their respective families.

Mr. Swan was born in Sweden and came to this country as a young but energetic man. For some years he worked on the railroad with pick and shovel. The first step for himself was made when he got a contract to build a section of the Milwaukee road near Marion, Iowa. Later he entered into business in Webster City, and from that place he came to Story City in the spring of 1874.

With Nels Charlson he established a general mercantile business in what we now call the "old town", and a few years later moved to the corner now occupied by the Charlson clothing store.

Mr. Swan built and operated the first flour mill in this community. The mill is now part of the elevators of the Farmers Grain Co. Later he transferred his milling machinery to Minnesota, where he conducted the business for some years.

He bought out the first bank in the town, which he conducted for many years, until misfortune overtook it. This is still fresh in the memory of our people and needs not be rehearsed.

Before coming to Story City he had been married to Emma Mitchell, who preceded him in death in 1907. To this union four children were born, the oldest and youngest dying in infancy and lie buried with their mother in Fairview cemetery. One brother, August survives him, living in Andover, Mo., and a grandson, John Swan, of St. Cloud, Minn.

Mr. Swan was one of the charter members of the Evangelical church at this place and was one of its main supporters in its early days. In his later years, when he had been pretty much stripped of the things that most of us count worth while, Mr. Swan testified that he had come to possess the "Jewel of the greatest price" and this had brought a joy and peace that passeth understanding. His daughter says that he bore the helplessness of his declining years with great patience and that he had won the love of all who had to do with him. He was much like a child, she says, and that made him all the dearer to her.