Douglas Island news., 1909-10-27
A. P. SWINEFORD

October 26, A. P. Swineford, aged 7J years, month and F days. Funeral services will be held under the aus. pices of the Elks on Thursday at o'clock p. m.
 When the above news penetrates to to the remotest parts of Alaska, every citizen, whether he be rich or poor, will feel that he has lost a friend and Alaska has lost it's most able defender and advocate. Coming to AlRska as it's appointed governor at a time when, in the language of another, "there was no law of God or man north of 53," he took up the burden of his duties with firm determination to bring order out of chaos, purpose which he largely ac- complished. He also soon became i'm pressed with the wonderful resources and possibilities of the Northlaud and the sterling character of its inhabitants. Going about among the people he was impressed with the need of home rule. He realized how impossible it was that the statesmen in the national capital, many thousands of miles away, could legisIate justly for this new country. He knew that such government would bring wroug7 to tue struggling pioueer that could not be righted. In his heart he sympathized with the settlers who had come to brave all manner of hard ship to conquer wilderness, and this sympathy aud love for his fellows led him to become their advocate and de- fender. With pen and voice he con- tinued to cry out for the rights of the people of his chosen home until illness weakened his powers aud the great in- evltable stood before him.
 When the great day comes that Alas ka comes to it's own, and it's bright star is added to the nations banner, the name of A. P. Swineford, "the Grand Old Man of Alaska" will stand second to none in the annals of it's history.
 The following brief sketch of his career we reprint from the Daily Alaska Dispatch:
 A. P. Swineford was born in Ashland, Ohio, September IL, 1884. He was raised on farm and attended school during the winter months until he was fourteen years old, when he left home to learn the printers trade. He served his apprenticeship in his native town and in Columbus, Ohio. He removed from Ohio to Wisconsin in 1853, going to Fond du Lac by steamer and stage. Three years later he went tu St. Paul and in 1857 established the Northern Minnesota Star at Albert Lea, Minn., which afterward became the Albert Lea Eagle aud is still iu existence under the name of the Freeborn County Standard. He was married in January of 1875 to Miss Psyche Cytheria Flower, of Oshkosh, Wis.
 He disposed of the Star and went to LaCrescent, a new town, where the first railroad in Minnesota was being built His time was spent in newspaper work from that time until 1867, being success sively editor of the La Crosse, Wis. Democrat, which he founded, editor oi Milwaukee Daily Enquirer, reporter on the Chicago Tribune, reporter, railroad editor and city editor of the Muscatine Iowa, Courier, Oshkosh, Wis, Demo crat and Fond du Lac Press.
 In 1867 he moved to Marquette, Mich. and established the Marquette Mining Journal, which he conducted as part owner until 1883. h the interim he was mayor of Marquette two terms He was elected to the Michigan state legislature and served full term aud one special session. In the early 70's he was commissioner of mineral statis- tics for the state of Michigan.
 His first wife died in 1881, and three years later he was appointed governor of Alaska by President Grover Cleve land, coming to this district in Sep tember of 1885 to assume his office. He returned to Marquette the following year and was married to Mrs. Minnie