John Swiers

SWIERS, ROBINSON, EMERY, GLANVILLE, HANNA, REAM, BROWN, SOULE, OGILBEE, WORDEN

Posted By: Betty Coffman (email)
Date: 2/15/2002 at 04:03:12

From the newspaper, DEMOCRAT,
Number 25, Thursday, Sept. 1, 1910

ANOTHER GOOD MAN GONE

John Swiers Passes Away at His Home in Portland, Oregon

Fast and faster the pioneers of Iowa, the men and women who laid the foundation of as noble a commonwealth as the sun ever shone upon have been yielding to the remorseless sickle of death in these last months. Some of them have sailed forth upon the uncharted sea from their old homes here and (can’t read) others have began the mystic voyage from ports far away. For in later years, Iowa citizens, young and old, have been going forth, from all sections of the state to new homes in distant states, here, there and (can’t read). In the list with these last, must stand now the name of John Swiers: an honored name, synonym with all who knew its possessor of an upright life. Mr. Swiers died at the home in Portland, of his daughter, Mrs. Anna S. Robinson and Miss Dora Swiers, Sunday, Aug. 21.

He was an Englishman of Yorkshire birth where he first saw the light, March 26, 1829. There are certain traits, characteristic of the best type of the Anglo-Saxon race, which were easily discovered in Mr. Swiers. One of them, his reserve; another his quiet but masterful self-control still another his habit of looking at all matters with his own eyes and forming his own conclusions; yet another, his sterling sense of right and truth. His strong, manly, intellectual and benevolent face, which shows well and naturally in the likeness (can’t read) was an accurate index of the soul that looked (can’t read) the eyes.

When only three years of age, the Swiers family came to this country, bringing the little boy with them and settling in Ohio. This was in 1832. Ten years later the came to Iowa, and here John Swiers grew up and spent all but the last five years of his long life. Here he was married; here his children were born; here Sept 6, 1892, his wife, Ellen Chaplin (should be Claflin) died at the old home in Pittsburg (can’t read). When age (can’t read) upon him he transferred his home to far-away Portland, where several of his children and a group of his neighbors had already gone. And there surrounded by kindred and friends, his strong, true soul passed quietly into the shadows, on the 21st of August, as stated above to emerge as our faith teaches us to retrieve into the sunlight that makes glorious the shores of the “undiscovered country”.

Mr Swiers’ children were all with him at the last except May Emery and she arrived in time for the funeral. His sister, Mrs Glanville with her daughter also were present.

Funeral services were held at the chapel of the Crematorium and were conducted by Rev. Mr Moore, and old Van Buren county friend. A male quartet sang, three members of which were Edward, Charles and Frederick Miller, sons of Jackson Miller. A considerable group of former Van Buren county people were present. (Can’t read) Alice Ream Hanna and husband, L. C. Ream and wife, Henry Duffield and wife, Monroe Beer and wife, Alida Brown, Allie (can’t read), Mrs E. M. Soule and sister, J. W. Ogilbee and wife, Thos. Spencer and family, Allie and Harry Worden and H. I. Worden and wife.

For a year or so, Mr Swiers had suffered from heart trouble, but his last sickness was mercifully short. He was conscious and knew the members of his family and others about him, until the last.

The world is distinctly poorer when such men as John Swiers leave it. Yet in their regret at departure his friends will not forget to be grateful that he was spared so long. He was well past 81, and that is a long life. He had done his work and it was good work, well and conscientiously performed, constituting too, as the world believes, a grand preparation to further useful activities in some other world in God’s great universe. (Ave at que vale! (Do not know this Latin)) good friend until please God, we meet again.

This is my grandfather's maternal grandfather and was found in microfilm at the Keosauqua library.

Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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