Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-10-12
LIES LABORS DER.
Two Prominent Citizens Of Gratiot Pass
Away-They Were Among the First
Sett erS OF the County.

! Two Prominent Citizens Of Gratiot Pass
! Away-They Were Among the First
Settlers OF the County.
Sunday our citizens were inexpresslbly
shocked TO learn that l.. Swaziland of North
Star, an early pioneer OF Gratiot and one of
the best known citizens of the county, had
died at his home that morning. of inhamma-
ton of the stomach after a very short illness.
Their surprise had scarcely abated when on
Monday morning they learned that W. G.
Beckwith of Ithaca, equally well-known
throughout the county and prominent in lth-
AGA business and church circles had been
called away. The two gentlemen had been
associated together in the history of the
county, since it's organization. No his
tory of Gratiot would be complete without a
proper recognition of their work. The I'M
mediate cause of Mr. Beckwih's death was a
stomach trouble. Both gentlemen were
highly esteemed and their loss will be greatly
felt by large circle of acquaintance.
Lafayette Swaziland was born in Vermont
in 1922. When he was two years old his par
ents moved TO Ohio and there he lived until
lsj4 when he came to Gratiot and settled on
800 acres OF land in North Star township.
Experiencing all the trials and vicissltudes
OF pioneer life. he at last had the satisfac-
ton of finding himself the possessor of a
comfortable home surrounded by the COM
forts which his early toll and privations had
won. The year before he moved to Gratiot
he was married to Lydia. daughter of DR..
Sewer, another old pioneer of the county.
OF six children born 10 them, three survive.
NJ fl.Ra. G
brave men, responded to his country's call
for help il the dark days Of the rebellion,
and from '62 to 60 was at the front, men,
Der of Co. ID 26th Mich. Inf In politics ne
was republican, in religion a Methodist,
stalwart in both. The funeral was from the
house Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Killeen of
Ithaca officiating. and was attended by
vast concourse of sorrowng friends.
William G. Beckwith was born in Utica,
New York, in 1872 His boyhood was spent
in various parts of that state, Rhode Island
and New York city until he was sixteen,
when he entered his fathers furniture fac.
tory in the city of New York, where he ac-
Qured a complete knowledge of that trade.
In 1865 he moved TO Gratiot and bought l2O
acres of land IN Emerson. upon which he
built log cabin, and for the next four years
bent his energies toward the improvement of
MS place Ia 1852 he was elected county
clerk and moved to Ithaca. For eight years
he discharged the duties OF this office in a
highly satisfactory manner. In 1870 he be-
gan the manufacture of furniture and also en-
gagged IL building operations; one of his big
sest ventures IN this line being the construc-
ton of the county court house in 1871. MIR.
Beckwith has had his share of adversely, his
plant being destroyed by fire in 1874, entail
ing loss of $1,000. The factory was re.
built and has been run by him since. In
ISIS Mr.. b. was married 20 Emily X. Lane,
who survives him. OF eight children born
10 them, three. Josephine H.. Charles L. and
Grace g.. wife of ". l.. Hilburn, foreman of
the Journal, are living. Mr.. Beckwi;h was q
radical republican and an earnest party
worker. He has long been identified with
the Baptist church and was a prominent
member of the Masonic ana |. O. q. +. or
ders. His death Is sicerely to be deplored
The funeral was held from the house, Thurs
day afternoon, and was in charge of the 4. IL
A. NJ. and |. .. .. f., the former having
charge OF the services at the house and the
latter at the cemetery. Rev. Petit of the
Baptist church preaching the sermon. A
host of old friends testified, by their pres
ence, to the respect and esteem in which
they held their departed townsman.