La Junta tribune., 1910-10-01
GORGE w. Swink. pioneer OF
the Arkansas Valley and IA.
ther Of its agricultural great.


Ing peacefulIy at MIS- nome III nocAy
h,..l last Saturday morning at 4
SSiock. Senator Swink had been Ill
for the last three years. but his won.
derful energy and ambition took him
through his usual business channels
10 that few knew that he had can
Ger Of the stomach. which was the i'm
mediate cause OF his death.
About three months ago. while In
Illinois, his appetite left him,and his
friends were all surprised at his
changed appearance upon his return.
Failing to regain his usual health. he
went to the Mayo Bros. Institute at
Minneapolis. about six weeks ago. ex'
pecting to undergo an operation. After
An examination the physicians decided
that An operation was not Advisable,
and about three weeks ago he return
ed To Rocky Ford. Since that time
he has been gradually declining.
His vast volume Of business and
the many demands upon him for
the many things that 1t seemed no
one but the senator could transact.
kept him busy. even IN his frail state
oe health. His friends thought that
II he were taken to the reservoir, a
part OF the Swink reservoir and irri-
cation system now under construction
ten miles south OF Rocky Ford. where
In his whole energy and life had
been concentrated for the past two
years, and which, under the terms OF
his will. Is to be completed. before
his estate is divided. he might
find rest from annoyance In town and
,lafcreatioa n sssoag ~ pr0gress Of
ntAUOgR. M reuBafnUo sAefS unto
'konday evening. when he was
brougAt home. and passed away on
the following Saturday morning. at
the age Of ~ years.
Senator Swink vas born on = farm
In Breckenridge county. Kentucky. ON
June 30. 1885. His ancestors were OF
Pennsyivania Dutch stock. who were
early emiGrants to the western slope
OF he Alleganies.
In l8a0 his parents emigrated to
the newer west. the state Of Illinois.
The necessity Of helping to hew out
q nes home In the wilderness for
the esmily limited his school attend.
ance 70 three winter terms Of six
months each. The only bonus he
ever received ~ = boy over and
above board and clothes was the pres
ent from his father Of . rather Eor.
Eeous silk vest pattern. Those who
nov know Mr.. Swink's general indif.
ference to gorgeous apparel. win not
b. surprised to know that the vest
was never made up.
The spirit Of the pioneer was his
BY . long inheritance and ran strong
In bis blood. and 70 while yet
young man he turned his steps west.
ward. and following the old Santa Fe
trail be arrived In the Arksusas Val.
icy In November. 1871. and settled
A. old Rocky Ford. three miles north.
sst Of the town Of that name. where
he opsned the first store In what is
now Otcro county. In 1875 he came
70 what IL now Rocky Ford. and after
the railroad had Lecn built through
there In 1877 he opened . store. which
be conducted until 1854. He vas .
prime mover In building the Rocky
Ford ditch. the cstlin ditch and the
Highline ditch and assisted In the
construction Of other ditches. In 1874
he grew the first cantlsoupes IN
Otero county. but did not bestn to
market melons until 1878. THIS In.
dustry has since developed Into one
oe the greatest iu the Arkansas Val.
ley.
senator swink's work In the state
ssnats 10 history. lie was elected m
1870 and served two successive
terms.
Mr. Swink found his chief delight
In Just seeing thinss grow. In inspir'
ing development. and not In simply
owning things. Because he looked
upon The land surrounding the home
stseA hs had located at that ford on
ths Arkansas which the frsishtsrs dis.
tiagulshsd with he name Of Rocky.ss
the nnest parcel Of sartA y oil the
world. he talked its sdvantases until
others came 70 make their homes
WITH hin. Dstsrnhsd 70 prove that
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