The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-21
SUDDEN DEATH OF JAMES H. SWAN

Sad news met the worshipers at ST..
Paul's Church on Sunday morning, Dec.
18th. One of the best beloved members,
man honorably known and widely es-
teemed throughout the city of Chicago.
and among Universalists East and West,
had been suddenly called home. JAMES
III. SWAN died at 6 o'clock on Sunday
morning at his home, No. 4740 Kimbark
avenue, after few hours illness.
At o'clock Sunday morning his
groans awakened his wife. He assured
her it was nothing serious, and declined
to allow her to send for physician.
Mrs. Swan aroused her niece, and they
watched at the bedside Of the sufferer,
after applying remedies which gave him
temporary relief.
At 6 o'clock he suddenly sat upright
in bed and exclaimed: Il feel very
sleepy" With these words on his lips
he fell backward and died. The physi.
clan had been previously sent for and
arrived shortly after death. Medical
aid could not have saved him; the attack
from the first was fatal. Paralysis of
the heart was the cause of death.
The startling intelligence caused pro
found sorrow. At the close of the morn
ing service at st. Paul's, the Sur day
school assembled to find the place Ct
the beloved Superintendent emeritus
nd hn oh q
sorrow was pathetic as the tidings be-
came known. Mr.. Swan was acting su.
perintendent during the absence of Mr..
Hutchinson. In the abs nee of the Vice
Superintendent on account of illness.
Mr.. Frank N. Gage read the memorial
service in tones that gave evidence how
deeply the great sorrow had touched his
heart
The ST. Paul's congregation mourns
the loss of an old and tried and trusted
leader whose relations to the member
ship were always of the most affectionate
character. In all departments of the
church work Bro. Swan was pre- emf
nently faithful. His memory will be al
ways associated with st. Paul's Church
and that of the great historic pastor. DR..
Ryder. He was the representative lay
man of that church and of the Univer
salist denomination in the West. Death
could not claim any one in our church
circles whose loss would be more ksenly
felt. He was member of the Board of
Trustees of Lombard University of many
years service; and at the time of his
death was member of the Executive
B 5ard of the State Convention, and for
nearly ten years, President of the State
Convention. He was also ole Of the
trustees of the Ryder Fund of the Con-
vention. In all these departments of our
work James III. Swan was a safe coun-
sellor and an unwearying helper of all
UNCONVENTIONAL enterprises.
Mr.. Swan was also pre-eminent in the
charitable work of the city. At the time
of his death he was Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the Erring Woman's
Refuge; Chairman of the Board of Trust.
ees of the Old Peoples Home. and active
in the managerial affairs of the Home
for the Friendless. He was also Trustee
of the Sherman estate, and was one Of
the executors of the estate of DR.. Ryder.
James HI. Swan was born in Haddam,
Conn.,. Nov. %, 1924. His parents were
typical Puritans, devout, earnest, fixed
-, efr nd
religiously strict. The son inherited
their faith and spirituality, but in less
rigid form. He became convinced OF the
truth of Universalism in early manhood
and kept the faith steadfastly to the end.
In 1845 Mr.. Swan moved from New
England to the prairies of the West, To-
eating in Lake county. in this State.
While there he married Miss Mary Trow-
bridge, who, with one daughter. Mre. l..
G. Lawton. survives him. He remained
there for ten years. engaged in teaching
school and farming. In 1855 he moved
to Chicago and has resided hare contin-
uously since that time. For nearly forty
years he was engaged in the lumber
business, in which he amassed fortune.
In latter years he was a member of the
firm of White, Swan & Smith. Because
of his sterling integrity Mr.. Swan held
many positions of trust. At the request
of business associates he often acted as
sole arbitrator in mooted questions which
arose in business circles.
Mr.. Swan was originally connected
with the congregation of the Church OF
the Redeemer on the West Side and for
five years was superintendent of the Sun
day -school,a position which he aiterward
filed for eleven years at st. Paul's. He
was especially fitted for that position
He was ready. graceful, cheerful speak
er ard knew especially how to address
children, for whom be had genuine love
and the ability to win their love. When
he resigned to make an extended Euro
pean tour he was succeeded as superin-
tendent of st. Paul's Sunday school by
Charles L. Hutchinson.