Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-22

Pioneer Prssehsr Of the Methodist
Church. sef Iowa SSuccumbs After
Brief Illness
Death Occurs Whils he is Visiting
Of His Daug hter's Home in
This City.
Was the Last Surviving Member d
the First Methodist Conference
Of Iowa

prominent churchman OF the NJ. d.
church, and one Of the best known men
in religious circles in Iowa. nassed.
away Sunday, when Rev Richard
swearingen, now OF Gladbrook, died at
the home OF his daughter. Mrs. Albert
Page, who resides at los East Linn
street in this city. Rev. swearingen was
an elderly man, but one who had Dos
sessed a rugged constitution. His death
was therefore great surprise to his
family as we'll as his many friends.
thursday he came to the home Of his
daughter here, because he wis indis-
posed. He did not seem very M. nor
oad ne so consider himself He had for
asnumber of years been subject 10 se-
we're attacks of gastric trouble. hut they
would always pass away i'm short time
ana We're not looked upon as especially
serious 1t was not until Sunday morn
ing that 1T was seen that his condition.
was such as to give alarm, and his
death which occurred at O'Clock that
afternoon, was q great shock.
Rev Swearingen was born in Brook
county. West Virginia, Feb. p 1925.
sShen only IL years Old he came to Iowa
and since then his home has always
been in the state. When yet Young
man he entered the ministry OF the M.
=. church and was the last surviving
member of the first conference in the
state. Fifty-hve times had he been ap-
pointed TO a pastorate, the greatest
number of any minister in the state. At
one time he was pastor here and he
mad had various charges In the near
Vicinity. He had just been returned TO
IGladbrook for his second year. Pos
sessed of but little school instruction.
owing to the fact that he had been de-
prtNed of school advantages he was a
| self-educated man.. His knowledge OF
4 the Bible was extensive. He was a To-
gician and keen and forcefuI speak
Ter. In the old days when the tfleologi-
cal debate played SO prominent part
in the religious world he made repu-
tation for himself on the platform. OF
genial disposition, he made friends
among all those with whom he came in
contact and among whom he worked,
and his increasing years brought no
Idimfnution of his cheer and good will.
One of the happy condolences in his
life was that OF last summer. when al
1.-THE twenty-flft anniversary of the
dedication Of the campmeeting grounds
at Clear Lake he preached the same
sermon he preached on the day of ded-
Iicat!on. The theme was What Think
We of Christi" and it was said by those
Iwho heard 1t to be mastery effort
4 Unfortunately, neither 1t nor any of his
sIsermons are preserved, for he not onl,
ibid not write his sermons but never
used notes. AT the recent sessions 81
the conference at Usage he was asked
to repeat the sermon.
He was married In Dubuque count,
on March 2, 1s4s. His wife died sever
years ago. Seven children We're born Ia
them. Of whom five are living. They are
4 Mrs. Page. OF this city; Mrs c. NJ
Keller, Of Des Moines: Mrs. Ear
A Franklin, OF Elwood: Mr.. Edward r
4 Swearingen, of milwaukee,. and Mr.
Perry L. Swearingen. OF Toledo.
In the NJ. E. church the funeral vii
be held Wednesday, afternoon at 2:3O
4 No funeral sermon will be preached
4 but various ministers who have known
him we'll will be present and will speal
Hsof him and what he has done TIL,
n burial will be in the Swearingen vaul
lin Riverside.