Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-04-14

descendant of Rev. Hosea Ballou, founder
of the Universalist faith, and of Rev
| Hosea +. Ballou, who was the Universal
| list pastor in Wilmington nearly all his
| life. His parents died in his boyhood,
| and at the age of IS Mr.. Swift left the
| schools of his native town and went to
| Brooklyn, where he worked several
| months. Endowed by nature with re-
markable musical gifts Mr. Swift became
| a skilfu cornetist at an early age and
on leaving Brooklyn he went to Wash
| ington, where he played some time in
| the famous Marine band. on leaving
/ Washington he lived two years in Athol,
Mass, where his older brother was locat-
| ed. and then came to Brattleboro and
entered the employ of the EStey Organ
company as tuner. remaining with the
| firm in that capacity up to the time OF
| his last illness.
On Oct 81, 1891. Mr. Swift married
Martha A. Reed daughter of the late
| Hon. Marshall l. Reed of Vernon and
| teacher in the public schools of Brat
! teboro. He is survived by his wife.
| three sisters Mrs. Emery Il. Sibley of
Rowe Mass. Mrs. Harold c. Bentley of
! Newburg. n. V, and Miss Eva NJ Swift
| OF Wellesley college and two brothers.
Parke Il. Swift, bank cashier in Athol,
| and Herbert NJ. Swift of Manchester
| Centre, this state His brothers and
| sisters had been here during his last
| illness and DR.. f. ID. Stafford of North
Adams, friend of the family. made
| visits to the bedside in council with the
| family physician.
Mr.. Swift took keen interest in mill
| t1rY affairs, and soon after coming here
| Cnlis ted in Company l. Vermont National
| Guard. He was mustered into the SER
| wee of the United States as bugler of the
&C mrny in the Spanish American war
| nd soon after the Vermont regiment
| reached Chickamauga was appointed
| principal musician of the regiment
! position which he filed until mustered
| on, of the service in the fall of 1898.
| Mr.. Swift had been connected with the
| First Regiment band many years. and
| since it became an enlisted organization
| of the National Guard he held In 1t the
rank of principal musician. In the band
he played the trombone and other instru-
ments. In all of the affairs of the band.
including its annual entertainments. he
| was Jealous and untirng worker.
No man had been more faithful than
Mr. Swift in the work for the upbuildng
of Brattleboro lodge, F. & \. NJ, with
which he had been affiliated nearly u
| years. He was present at practically
every meeting and always had part In
the work For several years he was
regular organst. and was then elected
| junior warden, serving later as senior
warden. and then being honored with two
elections to the head Of the lodge as
| worshpfu master. in 1901 and 1905. In
1906 he filled with great acceptance the
position of district deputy gra nd master
of the Sth Masonic district of Vermont.
He was also deeply interested in the
affairs Of Bingham chapter, O. T. s.. and
was serving his second term as worthy
patron of that organization,
| Mr. Swift took up phOtogra ply as an
enthusiastic amateur and developed so
much artistic skill that he became viz
tuallv a professionals and had devoted
much time to this work the past several
years He was also correspondent for
the Music Trades and other musical pub
cations.
Mr. Swift was a genial, warm-hearted.
generous spirited man and hundreds OF
people will feel in his death the loss OF
a personal friend. AS musician he
had few equals, either in technical know
ledge of instruments and harmonies, or
in the ability to interpret musical COM
positions with artistic expression. He
was well read in standard literature. and
made choice of certain famous authors.
particularly Hugo. with enthusiastic de-
votion.
The funeral will be held in the home
this. Friday, afternoon at l O'Clock. Rev,
D. f. Trout of the Cniversalist church
and Rev. DR.. j. r. Cow of the Baptist
church will officiate.
The Brattleboro lodge. F. & A. NJ,
| Sedgwick post. G, A. r., and Woman $
Relief corps, the First Regiment band
and the Spanish American War veterans
| will attend the funeral. and the COM
initial services will be conducted by Brat
tleboro lodge. F. & A. NJ.