Lee Swank 1861-1948

SWANK, ABERNATHY, SMITH, CREATH

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 12/14/2002 at 12:33:44

Lee Swank

Lee Swank, 86, of Cantril, died at his home Sunday, Feb. 15, where he has lived many years. Swank was a retired farmer, who leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, a son, Ray, of Memphis, Mo.; a daughter, Mrs. Ora Abernathy, of Milton; and two step-sons, Charles Smith of Des Moines, and Gerald Smith of Memphis, Mo.

Funeral services were held at the Cantril Methodist church Tuesday, February 17, the Rev. J. Clark officiating. Burial was in the Cantril cemetery.

Bonaparte Record-Republican, Feb. 18, 1948, p. 1

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Lee Swank Services
At Cantril Tuesday

Funeral services for Lee Swank, 86, and life long resident of Van Buren County were held Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church in Cantril, the Rev. J.E. Clark officiating. Mr. Swank passed away at his home in Cantril at 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Special music for his service was given by a quartet composed of J.E. Clark, Mrs. Paul Wilson, Mrs. Floyd Nelson and J.L. McIntosh. Pallbearers were L.V. Daggs, H.S. Saar, S.E. Wellborn, Paul Wilotn (sic), Harry Stabler and Hugh Davidson. Interment was in the Cantril cemetery.

Out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were H.D. Smith and son, Donald of Des Moines; Mr. And Mrs. Gerald Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Swank and their daughter and her husband of Memphis, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy and Mrs. Lena Stemple of Milton; C.C. Wellborn of Ft. Madison; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Carruthers of Keosauqua and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wiley of Douds.

Lee Swank

Lee Swank, son of Ezekiel and Sarah Swank, was born near Lebanon, Iowa, Dec. 8, 1861, and departed this life at his home in Cantril, Iowa, Feb. 15, 1948 at the age of 86 years, 2 months, and 7 days. He grew to manhood in the vicinity of Lebanon and has spent all of his life in Van Buren county. In December, 1885 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Creath of Cantril and began housekeeping with his mother near Lebanon, his father having passed away. One son, Ray, and one daughter, Georgia was born to this union. In July of 1894 Mrs. Swank was called to meet the death Angel. On June 1, 1898 he remarried to Mrs. Mary Smith of Cantril and in the spring of 1899 they moved to the farm southeast of Cantril where they resided until the spring of 1904 when they moved into Cantril, where they lived in their own property until death over took him.

In 1886 he united with the Methodist church of Cantril, Iowa, of which he was a faithful attendant at worship until very recently when health did not permit.

His father, mother, 4 brothers, and one sister, preceded him in death, also two grandsons, Craig Abernathy and Rex Swank. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, one son, Ray Swank of Memphis, Mo., one daughter, Mrs. Georgia Abernathy of Milton, Iowa, two grandchildren, three great grandchildren; two stepsons, Gerald Smith of Memphis, Mo., and Herald Smith of Des Moines; two step-grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. Mr. Swank was well known and respected by all who knew him. Another landmark of better than four score years has come to its timely end.

Van Buren County Register, 19 Feb. 1948, p. 4

Note: Denise Higley north2alaska@kans.com would like to hear from anyone with connections to this family.