The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-11

John F. Swift was born in 1929 in Pike
County, Mo, MS father having moved
thither from North Carolina in 1917. When
young Swift was OF years old the family
moved to Illinois, aud resided there for
eight years, then moving back to Missouri.
There were then no colleges in the West,
and schools were Of the frontier sort. From
them the young man received his edu a.
ton. in intermittent fashion, going to school
when he did not have to stay at home and
plow, and plOwng when he could not 20 to
school. At is he went to st. Louis, and
learned the trade of tjnsmith, which he fol-
lowed for two years. At p he marched
across tue plains with mule team, ami
landed in San Francisco, where he kept a
store and market for three years.
ADMITTED TO THE BAR.
He then studied law with Frank Pixley
and was admitted to the bar in 1851. In
I662-63 he was in the Assembly as a men,
Der from San Francisco. In 1886 he was
Register of the Land Office in San Fran
cisco, a position to which he was appointed
by President Lincoln. In 1866 he resigned
and went to Europe and the East, where he
Travelled for five years, adding TO The educa-
ti0n he had so laboriously gained the pOJrsn
of extensive traYei-but coming home long
enough to canvass for Grant in 1868. In
1871 he returned to San Francisco and the
law. In 1873 he was sent to the Assembly
from San Francisco. Iu 1875 he ran for
Congress on the Anti-MOnopOly ticket, but
was defeated. In 1877 he came before the
Republican Convention for Assembly
man from the Thirtieth District. Be
ing defeated he ran independently, was
subsequently added to the regular Republi-
can ticket, ran 2000 ahead of it, and carried
all the rest Of the ticket with him, though
the district Is strongly Democratic. In 1873
be made another trip TO Europe. In 1879 he
= ha arOrIal candidate hafora tba
convention which nominated Perkins
SPECIAL MISSION TO CHINA.
In 1880 he was appointed Embassador
and Minister Plenipoteutiary to China to
make the immigration treaty which modi-
fed the BuTlingame treaty. He passed the
winter of 1888 in India and after a voyage
around the world lie returned home in 1884.
In the last gubernatOrial campaign but one
be was the Republican standard-beaTer, and
was selected by the Legislature as one of
the counsel to represent the State in the
Chan Chang Ping case. He had cOnSidera
bic literary taste and ability, and was the
author of several books, among them vol
umes on travel in the East and in Spain.
California, like Ohio, had two prominent
citizens who were spoken of for the same
place in the Cabinet. Swift stnmped Ore
gOn in opposition to Colonel John 7. Irish
in 1888 and contributed largely to the first
Republican victory of the campaign which
was won III that State, and this gave him a
greater national reputation than ever
Estee had the distinction OF having pre-
sided over the convention that nominated
General Harrison. Each was spoken of for
Secretary of the Interior. Californians
generally appeared to look upon Swift's
chances as a little better than those of Es-
tee, though they would have been pleased
with the appointment of either. Swift was
wealthy aid very prominent in California
politics. He was a learned and affable man,
of bright wit aud fine conversational pow
ers, and was successful author. He had
Travelled nearly all over the world aud pos
sessed fund of information of places aud
people. His social qualities made his com-
pany sought by all who knew him. He had
the reputation of being one Of the very best
story telIers and after dinner speak
ers in the country. One of his best
known books Of travel is 'Going to Jericho
A widely read work of fiction is his Robert
GTeath0use." He was one of the negOtia-
tors Of the treaty with China in 1880. known
as the Swift, Angel and TrescOtt treaty.
He always took prominent part in CalifOr-
mia politics, and contributed literally to the
Republican cause. He wrote the famous
anti-Chinese petition which was presented
to the Senate several years ago. de was an
old friend Of President Harrison and it
was confidently expected that he would
have been named for the Attorney General
ship. However, his appointment as Minis
yer to Japan to succeed Mr.. Hubbard, at
The comfortable salary Of $4,000 a year,
was more agreeable TO his ideas than the
laborlous work of a Cabinet officer. He was
very popular with men of botll parties, and
his death will be very much regretted.
Mr. oWlft leaves widow. Mrs. Swift,
who accompanied her husband on
his mission to Japan, was one of