The daily sentinel., 1905-10-30
@ &~ns Y % %
JOSEPH 5. SWAN DEAD.
a PROMINENT CITIZEN.

Joseph S Swan. one of Mesa
county's most prominent citizens,
politician. editor. promoter. died at
his home at DeBeque Sunday morn
ing at ten o'clock. surrounded by his
family and several of his close friends.
The death of Mr.. Swan was not a
surprise to either his family or his
friends, as he had been dangerous
ly IN several months ago and had
never fully recovered his strength.
He battled hard for life and for a
time it seemed as If he would con
quer, but death had marked him for
its own and he succumbed after a
most unequal struggle Sunday morn
ing
1t was less than ten days ago when
last he visited this city. He was at
the time cheerful and had many hope
full words 10 say of the future, but on
his return TO his home in DeBeque. he
took to his bed Immediately and
never arose theretrom, The immed-
iatc cause of his death was diabetes
The deceased was known through
out the state by many people He
had been in public life more or less
for all the time that he has lived in
this state and was quite a factor at
one time in state politics. He has
held numerous public positions and
was man of force and character
during his life.
The deceased was born at Clifton,
Staten Island, n. Y, September %,
1855. He came TO Colorado in 1850
and for time resided at Red Cliif.
In 1881 he was elected assessor of
Summit county. In 1855 Mr., Swan
removed to Garfield county and 10
Gated a ranch on Battlement Mesa.
At that time he established the Ute
Chief, a daily newspaper publication
in Glenwood Springs and ran same
with varying success for several years,
although at no time was It paying
venture. In 1887 he was appointed
receiver of the United States land
Office at Glenwood Springs, by Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland.
The year of his appointment as re-
ceiver of the land Office he was united
in marriage to Ella Nj. Stevenson. OF
this union two daughters and the be-
loved wife survive.
Following his public career in
1897 he was appointed state game
commissioner and served the state
with credit. Several years ago Mr..
Swan also was nominated on the state
Democratic ticket for auditor, going
to defeat with the rest of the party,
before the tidal wave of populism
About four years ago Mr., Swan
promoted company that began drill
ing for oil at DeBeque. At COM
paratively slight distance In the
ground he struck crude oil and then
began wave of excitement that pass
ed throughout the entire state, Mr.
Swan worked most faithfully to main
tain the excitement and bore deeper
and more fully, bat for some reason
or other III success followed his every
effort in that direction. He stood
nobly by the work and II may be
said that this final great business
struggle was responsible for his sick
ness, for the struggle to maintain
interest in the oil question was
hard one, but Mr.. Swan never fnl-
tered in his belief that DeBeque
would eventually be large oil
center.
Mr.. Swan in the past few years,
beside working upon the oil question
has been engaged in the publication
of the DeBeque Bugle. He was
fearless and able writer and he dealt
body blows occasionally at Ills that
seemed to need the probe.
The deceased was a Knight Tenn
plar. Mystic Shriner. being mem
Der of lei Iebel Temple, of Denver
and a member of the Woodmen of the
World.
The deceased had many warm
friends who will regret his early de
mise. before the work which he had
laid out for himself had been com
pleted.
Undertaken Bannister of this city
sent a casket to DeBeque last night
The remains will be shipped from
DeBeaue to Glenwood Springs to-
morrow on No. 4 and the funeral and
interment will take place in that city
tomorrow afternoon.