The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-03-28
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1900.
MRS. N. SWIFT DEkD,
Passes Peacefully Into the Haven
of the Great Beyond.

Mrs. Nathaniel Swift, widow of
the late Rev. Swift, one of the first
missionaries to work in this section
of Minnesota, passed away at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. H. D.
Brooke, on Fifth street, this city,
at the age Of 81 years, at6:3O o'clock
on Tuesday evening of last week.
Death resulted from an attack of
pneumonia, and a general breaking
down of the constitution, caused by
old age. Pneumonia set in about
three weeks prior to the demise of
Mrs. Swift, and death was expected
for a week prior to the time that
the end came.
The passing away occurred at
precisely the same hour of the day
as did that of her late lamented and
venerable husband-6:3O o'clock.
The funeral occurred from the
Methodist church at two o'clock in
the afternoon of last Thursday,
Presiding Elder G.. H. Way of the
Redwood district, having previous
" come in from his Lake Crystal
headquarters for the purpose of con-
Quoting the services, The latter
were largely attended by old friends
Of the deceased residing in Red
wood and Renville counties. The
services were simple and the music
was effective. The interment oc-
Cured alongside the remains of her
husband, in the Redwood cemetery.
Mrs. Swift was the last of her
generation of brothers and Sis
ters, the last one having preceded
her to the grave by more than two
years. She was born in Cherry
Valley, near Buffalo, New York, in
1916, her maiden name being Lydia
Hamilton. Her parents came to
this country from England or Scot
land, and Lydia was one Of the
eleven children. In Cherry Valley
she resided until she was Is years
old, at which time her father and
mother and the remainder of the
family moved to old Fort Dearborn,
now Chicago, which city was made
the home of the Hamiltons after
wards. When Lydia was ~ years
old she married the Rev. Nathanial
Swift, who had known her for some
years previous. Shortly after the
marriage the couple moved into the
Wisconsin conference, settling near
Palmyra, Wisconsin, where Mr..
Swift farmed it for some time. 1u
1855 Mr.. Swift commenced his work
as travelling missionary for the
Methodist church, Mrs. Swift ac-
comparing him on most of his visi-
tations. Thirty years ago, with the
family they moved to Mantorville,
this State, and after doing mission
ary work there Mr.. Swift was as
signed to what was then the from
tier-at Beaver Falls, Renville
county. With his family he moved
on to a farm in Beaver Falls town
ship, about mile and half from
the present village of Beaver Falls,
where the family pursued the farm
ing occupation, and from which
place the venerable pastor directed
his operations for the advancement
of Christianity, encouraged and
buoyed up by many kind words
from his faithful helpmate. At
Beaver Falls they resided until
about ten years ago when the two
moved to Redwood Falls, taking up
their home with their daughter,
Mrs. H. D. Brooke, where they both
passed into the great beyond.
Mrs. Swift was the mother of six
children, four OF whom are now liv-
ing, they being Mrs. Irene Marsh
of this city, Joseph Swift, real
estate dealer of St. Louis, Mo-, the
Rev. DIR. A. P. Swift of the Engle-
wood Methodist church of Chicago,
and Mrs. H. E. Brooke of this city.
Mrs. Swift was a life member of the
Christian Missionary society, in
which organization she was leal-
Gus worker during the active por-
ton of her career on earth.