Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-09-30
SENATOR sWINk is DEAD
Continued from Frs. Page

Gettysburg and was one of the sin
cere mourners at the funeral of the
"MartyriPresident." He never at
tended school and what education he
acquired was through experience and
reading. His early manhood he spent
in Schuler county, Illinois, where he
farmed, conducted a general mer-
chandise store and sawmill. He re-
manned there until 1871, and was mar
ried there to Miss Mary ]. Cook in
1886. The wedding tour was a walk
on foot several miles to the modest
farm and dwelling that he had rent
The obligation that he then SO early
assumed as full grown man he has
never shirked. A large family has
been reared and educated for intelli-
gent and honorable citizenship.
The spirit of the pioneer was his
by long inheritance and ran strong
in his blood, and so while yet .
young man lin I87D he turned his
steps westward, and following the
old Santa Fe trail he arrived in the
Arkansas valley. From Kit Carson
to the site OF the old Rocky Ford
he made the journey on foot, paying
a "freighter' the sum of Sc to carry
his gripsack in prairie freight
schooner.
In 1871 he came to Colorado and
settled on a homestead, now the site
Of Rocky Ford His family followed
him three years later. He engaged
at first in the mercantile business.
until 1884, when he went in entirely
for farming and stock raising.
He was at different times postmas-
ter, county commissioner and may
or. While he was mayor. in 1885, he
inaugurated the famous Melon day,
which has made Rocky Ford known
all over the world. At one period
he was railroad agent and express
agent for the Santa Fe, He was
elected state senator in Iso4, from the
Twenty-third district. composed of
Baca. Bent. Kiowa. Otcro and Prov
ers counties. He was again elected
In 1893.
Senator Swink's work in the state
senate is history. For many years.
every session Of the legislature,
manded his constant presence TO aid
in legislation for the agricultural in
terests Of the state. or 30 prevent leg
islation detrimental to the irrigation
interests.
Outside Of his capacity as senator,
Geo. w. Swink took an active hand
in building up the agricultural inter
ests of the Arkansas valley. His hob
by was the promotion Of irrigation.
but he was also largely responsible
for tie growth Of the melon industry
and the beet sugar industry in the
valley.
Nineteen years ago after the Otero
county section had become little
more settled, but still a new country.
Senator Swink attended sugar beet
convention in Grand Island, Nebras-
ka, and there became much cnthused
over the possibilities of beet raising
in the Arkansas valley. He met Hen
ry T. Oxnard. at that time president
of the American Beet Sugar COM
pany. and broached the proposition
to him. Mr.. Oxnard answered that
the beet sugar industry would not be
practical in the valley until more
farmers have settled there, to give
enough producers for beets to guar
antec the running OF factory. Sem
ator Swink began campaign to REM
edy this. and after nine years of work
new farmers to come to
this section, the Rocky Ford sugar
factory was built.
In Senator George w. Swink. Col
orado and the entire west has seen
the embodiment of the spirit that has
made this country. the indomitablc
enough ahead to see the possibilities
ton.
Mr.. Swink found his chief delight
in just seeing things grow, in inspir-
ing development, and not in simply
owning things.
That he has never been hard
landlord. or an exacting creditor is
also widely admitted. That he has
done with unaffected graciousness
smaller kindnesses to
those who came casting their lot in
this valley, as he did with small re-
is a matter that not even his
admirers should care to boast about
Besides the sorrowing partner of
his eventful life, George w. Swink
is survived by three sons, Alonzo.
Louis and Schuyler. and three daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Matte Hulsc. Mrs. Ham
nah Homer and Mrs. Belle Daring.
besides seyral grandchildren and a
laroe number of lesser relatives.
The following resolutions were in
troduccd by Representative McCas-
kill and passed by both houses on
Monday:
Whereas, We learn with the most
profound regret of the death of one
Of Colorado's most distinguished cit
izcns; -ioneer of the Arkansas val
ley and one who signally represented
not only the Arkansas valley but the
entire state OF Colorado as senator
from Otero county, the Hon. George
w. Swink. who was known as the
father OF Rocky Ford
and the genius of his guiding mind
As a statesman. as husband and a
father his daily life won the COM
and inspired the emulation
M all