Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-27
THOMAS SWIFT PASSES AWAY
Another Omaha Pioneer Of the Fifties
Goes to His Reward.
DIES AFTER SHORT ILLNESS
wife, Chndren and Grandchildren nj
the Bedside when the Final
Call Comes Last
Might.

Might.
Thomas swift, one of the early pio-
neers Of Omaha, died at 10 O'Clock Saturday
night at his home, zoe worth Fifteenth
street. In his 18th year. At his bedside
we're Mrs. Swift, his helpmeet for over
half century. and all OF his children
John T., James c. and Thomas f. Swift
Mrs. T. J. Fitzmorris. Miss Margaret
Swift and Mrs. c. B. Dugdale, several
grandchildren and intimate friends of the
family.
Just two weeks ago Mr.. Swift showed
the first sign Of the illness which proved
fatal What at first appeared to be
slight cold developed into the grippe, which
swept through his system with a speed
and fierceness that baffled the skill Of
physicians 1t was hoped that his rugged
constitution would be bulwark Of defense
but that quickly gave way. His last hours
were free from the pain OF preceding
days. and consciousness remained almost
to the end.
Born I'm Ireland.
Thomas Swift was born near Galway,
Ireland, in 1886. At the age OF Z, he came
with his parents to the United states, the
route to New Orleans, a trip by sailing
ship occupying eight weeks. Lesser hard
ships and an equally slow speed marked
the journey by river TO Louisville, Ky.
where the family settled. The ensuing
boyhood years lacked all the essential joys
common in the boyhood life OF today. The
Irish emigrant in those days even more
than In later years had no other capital
will 20, M he
limited demand for labor and insufficient
wages put young Swift on the treadmill
at an early age. River traffic afforded the
chief source Of employment and naturally
attracted a youngster hustling for what
ever promised betterment. He worked on
boats up and down the Ohio. making one
! trip to New Orleans and back. and ex-
| perienced many painful hardshps striving
to keep the working pace Of fullgrown
/ men. Thus for dozen years in the south
he turned willing hands TO whatever Of
fered an honest living. and became so
Injured to hardship that It had lost its
! terrors for him.
! Omaha had been informally dedicated
as townsite barely two years when Mr.
Swift Joined the infant community in May
1856. He came up from st. Louis on the
steamboat Keystone, which brought in
some Of the material for the construction
Of the capitol building of the young terri
tory Of Nebraska. That was a great
busting year for the settlement, and the
newcomer, then 20 years of age, Joined tn,
procession of home builders.
Freighted from Omaha to Denver.
Freightlng and trading were Mr. Swift
chief occupation in the pioneer days A
first his field was restricted to nerbS
settlements, extending as far south as st
Joe and north to Dakota City, buying anC
selling produce Wherever the chance of
fered. Later on he freighted from Omah'
to Denver, making numerous trips eacl
way until his limited resources were over
Swallowed by the huge wagon trains out
fitted at points down the river. Although
the trails to the west were frequently in
tested with hostile Indians, Mr.. Swift hat
no trouble IN any Of his trips.
with the beginning Of the Union Pacifi
and its construction westward, Mr. Swift
devoted his energies to grading con
tracts and teaming at home and continue,
in that line until his retirement from
active work some twenty years ago.
Physically Mr.. Swift was an idea
argonaut. Straight as a forest pine, stand
ing six feet three in his stockings. Spar
of body and 1.-THE of limb, he could vaul
into a saddle without touching a stirrup
and. could easily keep pace afoot or Of
horseback, with the best Of plainsmen H
took an active interest in public affairs an
in the upbuilding OF Omaha, but neve
sought, nor desired public station Tn
only semi-public office he held was tn
, presidency of the Douglas County Pioneers
association, an honor he esteemed highly
Mr. Swift was married to Miss Bridge
Doolan in Omaha in 1857. They built thel
home on the northeast corner of Fifteenth
r and Chicago streets. There all their chill
l dren we're born and there his life ended
. He was a member Of the Catholic church
assisted in building the original ST. Mary
} church on Eighth and Howard streets, an
had been a member of st. Phlomena'
I parish since its creation. He was also
81 member of Omaha council, knights q
Columbus.
' Arrangements for the funeral will be an
E nounced later. Patrick Swift, brother c
y the deceased left Butte, Mont, for Oman
last evening in response to a telegram ser
D early in the day.