The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-29
OBITUARY..
Francis KeYes S wan.


that of Mr.. Francis Keyes Swan, the sad
event occurring at his residence on state
street, yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Swan was nearly rs years of ago
and Of delicate physique, but his life had
been SO well ordered that until wi thin
q few weeks, he was an accustomed
figure on tine streets Of the CITY, and I'M
til within few years, an active business
man. He may be said to have gradually
faded away.
MIR. Swan was born in Winslow. When
a young man he entered Colby Univer-
sity, then Waterville college, and re-
manned through his opohmore year,
when, owing to i'll health, he was forced
to give up his college course. He was
the last survivor Of the class of 1886.
Among his classm ates was the late Rev.
DR.. Stearns and other prominent men.
He boarded ia the family of the father
of Henry W. Paine, afterwards go cele
hrated a member of the Suffolk bar. AT
teri leaving Waterville, MIR. Swan went
on trip to the West Indies for the resto-
ration of his health. The sea voyage
and the balmy air of the tropics proved
highly beneficial, and on his return he
entered his fathers counting room in
Calais, where his family was then living.
Here he had charge Of the books and
other details of the business. In 1874 hs
acted as cashier for the Calais bank, fill
ing the position two years, while the
cashier went away on account of his
wife's health. In 1849 he accepted IA SINH
lar position in the Gardiner bank while
the cashier went to California, and on
that gentleman's resignation Mr. Swan
was elected cashier. So admirably were
the duties performed and so high repu-
tation had Mr.. Swan obtained as care
full, shrewd finanoier, that in 1860, he was
appointed state bank commissioner, and
filled the office most acoeptably for five
years. AT the end Of that time he found
the harsh climate of Calais more than he
could bear, and he removed to Portland.
In this city Mr.. Swan entered the in
surance business, forming with his part
ners, the old and well-known firm of
Foye, Coffiu & Swan. The very next
year after the establishment of the firm
came the great confagration Of 1866, and
the companies represented by Foye,
Coffin & Swan paid out over a half mil
lion dollars to the insured In their con-
Germs. A few years later Mr.. Swan left
the insurance business and returned to
banking, forming with Mr.. franklin r.
Barrett, the well-known firm of Swan &
bo i-od
from active business.
Mr.. Swan during his busy life in Port
land found time to become all associate
co operator to the Maine General hospital
an associate co-operator of the Portland
Safety Deposit Company, director of
the Maine Savings bank, director in
the Portland Benevolent society, and q
deeply interested and prominent member
of the State street church. He married
Miss Bradbury, sister Of the late Hon.
Bion Bradbury, and leaves a son, DR..
Henry S. Swan of Middleboro, and three
daughters, one the wife of DR.. Frederic
Fl. Gerrish.
cit is difficult to speak of Mr.. Swan
without appearing use terms of fulsome
praise. But we do not believe there lives
a man who ever had dealings with him
but will say that a more conscientious,
upright, honest man never lived. There
are many women, whose little all was
Invested at his suggestion, who ever
found him the wise counsellor and true
friend. There was no ostentation about
him. He was as genial to one as to an
other. His oheeriness was marked feat
ure. Night after night when he took
those long walks about the city for exer-
else, whatever the weather, has the writer
met him and joined him for part of
the way, and been edited and interested
by his never failing fund of anecdote.
He grasped intuitively all the salient
points i'll a mans character, his acquain-
tance with men of note was extensive,
and if he had written book Of peoIj he
had met it could not have failed t. c
boon extremely interesting. He )
thoroughly gentleman Of the old schuJ!,
q class rapidly disappearing.
To his family his death will be a great
loss, for not only to his son and daugh-
TO Tho remoter branches lis presence was
always delight.
Prof. james H. StaDwood.
Professor James II. Stanwood OF the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology,
died Sunday evening in Boston, aged 81.
He was born in Brunswick. At an early
age he removed to Portland where he
received his early education. He grad
uated from the Institute of Technology
in 1887. and one year later was appoint
ed professor OF civil engineering in this
school, which position he retained up to
the time Of his death. Prof. Stanwood
was a member Of the American Society
OF Civil Engineers. the Boston Society
of Civil Engineers and the Legion Of
Honor.
Augustus &. Varney.
Mr.. Augustus B. Varney, a native of
Portland, died at his home in Salisbury.
Mass, Wednesday, aged IS years. At
tho age of II he enlisted in the 18th