The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-13
Funeral of Judge Swift.

lH6 vi tuc ldto ilOns Damucl
Swift, so long known and honored as
citizen at Middebury, was conducted at
his late residence on Saturday last, by
Rev. L. 2. Hooker Of the Congregational
church, in the presence Of his sons and
other family friends from distance,
and a deeply interested company of
neighbors generally. Judge Swift came
from the family home, then at Benuing-
ton, where his childhood was passed, in
September, 1901, to serve as tutor in the
second year of the College. He had
graduated year before at Dartmouth
college, at the age of eighteen, taught in
the academy at Bennington year, and
thence forward has had his home at Mid.
dlcbury. He studied law here with Hon.
Daniel Chapman, at that time the leading
practitioner, became bis partner in bust
ness, continuing in tho profession until
1872. For few years he conducted q
political paper of high character upon
one side in politics, the late Hon. William
Slade engaging in another. In 1914 the
place Of County Clerk was accepted by
Judge Swift, which he retained till 1S46
He was made Judge Of Probate in 1916,
and was succeeded by Gov. Jenison in
1871. In these relations to public life,
no man could have sustained higher
character, the confidence of the proies.
sion and Of parties, also, being attested
by constant incidental appeals from va.
rious quarters for references and counsel.
lie was secretary Of the Governor and
Council, under the second Gov. Chitten.
den's administration. about 1914, men,
Der OF the Constitutional conventions OF
1928 and 1885, State Senator in 1888
and 1889. He was Representative
in the General-Assenbly from Middle.
bury IN 1916, 1917, 1929, 1s40, 1871
and 1876. in more sessions than any citi.
zen, except Gamaliel Painter and Daniel
Chapman, never seeking the place, always
honoring it by eminent faiihfulness ard
ability
AS citizen merely, and a man, the
purity Of his example commended him 10
truest respect while living and claims
for his memory the highest regard
Character as modelled by sentiments Of
honor, and animated by religious obliga.
ton was the study its attainment and ex.
ercise the proper success Of his life. III
public spirit and private benevolence, thi,
was the spring Of bis daily conduct lie
was an officer in the Congregational church
iorty.6ve years, eminent with excellent
associates, trustee Of the College, Fe
male Seminary and Grammar school ,serv
ing not disintelcstedly for their rrosperit.
was near 10 him always, as was that o
the community, and the honor Of the com
monwealth, In l843 he became the
central associate Of the Middlebury His
torical Society, its Oldest member ap(
President, and subsequently by their par
ticular request was engaged 10 write th'
history Of the town. TO this he prefxet
a historical account Of the county, an.
the work was published in 1859. Thi
has become the memorial Of the past
for all the people whose lot is cat here
Of what was done here in the earlies
period, and those who did it 1t is me
mortal of what employed his own dali.
thoughts, and an honorable though mad
equate one Of himself.
Judge Swift was born in Armenia
Duchess county, New York, August 8
1882, his father, Rev. Job Swift, ID. D.
' having his second settlement there durln
the period of the Revolutionary war lii
came in his fathers family TO Manchester
VT, in 1884, to Bennington in l7sC
Ho married at Middlebury, Noyembe
: II, 1917, Mary Bridgman, daughter 0
Capt. jonathan NJ. Young She die
:, January 80, 1912. They had te
: children, two dying in infancy, OF WHOM
three Of the four sons who grew to adul
life, arc the survivors, Hon. George s
~ and Edward Y. Swift, of Detroit, an
Samuel residing near Salem, Oregon, ii
leaves nine grandchildren. lie died a
u O'Clock P, M, July 7.