Pike Township Family Stories
SAMUEL M. SWICKARD
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 205Samuel M. Swickard, son of John Swickard and Margaret Nichols Swickard, was born 18 May1862 in Pike township, Muscatine county. He married 13 July 1884 in West Liberty Clara “Callie” Stingle, who was born about 1864 in Louisa county, Iowa.
Samuel and Callie had a daughter, Ruby Swickard, who was born about 1885 in Louisa county, Iowa.
Samuel Swickard died 17 January 1886 of consumption. His obituary follows:
“Died, at his home in Nichols, on Sunday, January 17th of consumption, Mr. S. M. Swickard. Sam was taken with hemorrhage of the lungs last June and since then has been fading away. In August last he, with his wife and baby, went up to Lake Minnetonka, hoping that the pure northern air might restore his health. Vain hope. He came back no better, and about the last of October he tried the sunny south in the desperate hope that this would help him. The boys came home from Texas on last Thursday and Sam died on Sunday. All that change of air, medical skill and kind attention of loving friends could do was done, but all in vain. Sam was stricken with death. He was buried on Tuesday with Masonic honors. The church was filled with friends who came to show their last tribute of respect to him and show their sympathy to the heart-stricken widow in this her hour of sorrow. The coffin was carried to the bedside of his father, who wanted to see his boy’s face once more.
“It is hardly hoped that Mr. Swickard can recover. Ere long he too will fall by the same dread disease, and be buried by the side of his wife and nine children who lie in one row close by the old homestead.
“Sam was born in Pike township and has lived here all his life. Everybody knew him and everybody loved him. He was a noble-hearted man, pleasant in his business relations, kind and indulgent to his family, courteous and affable to everybody, honest as the day is long, energetic and obliging. His place cannot be filled. Everybody misses him.”
Ruby Swickard was found in the 1895 census in Anita, Cass county, Iowa. Callie Stingle Swickard, her mother, had married William Bosley in Cass county as her second husband.
Callie and William were divorced, and the 1900 census finds Ruby Swickard and her mother Alice Swickard living in Denver, Colorado. Alice was housekeeper in a boarding house, and Ruby was going to school.
The 1910 census shows Clara Alice “Callie” Stingle Swickard married to Paul P. Fenner, a hotel clerk, in Santa, Kootenai county, Idaho. Ruby M. Swickard was still living with her mother.
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Page created December 18, 2010 by Lynn McCleary