The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-03-07
DEATH SUMMONS
COL. P. H. SWIFT
FORMER EDITOR OF THE LEADER
LAID TO REST IN OAK HILL
CEMETERY SUNDAY.
Interesting Career of Editor, Lawyer,
Educator, Legislator and Prom
inent Politician.

Pardon Holden Swift, who passed
away at the home of his granddaugh-
ter in Madison, Thursday, was lald
away in his final resting place IN oak
Hill cemetery beside his wife sunday
after services at the home OF MS SIS
ter, Mrs. A. r Wiggenhorn, IN this
CITY. had been conducted by Marshall
Richardson of GAINESVILLE, OF the Chris
tian Science church, of which church
Colonel Swift had been the local first
reader for a number of years.
He was a man VINO had had a varied
career. and an interesting one, always
upholding the right and just in life
and endeared himself to all with
wnom he come in contact.
Mr.. Swift was enabled to trace his
ancestry in this country back to the
sixteenth century, when his paternal
ancestors came to America from Ire
land, locating in Vermont. His grand
father was troop commander III the
war of 1912, and another relative was
General Swift, United States senator
from Vermont.
His mothers people were British,
and came to America in the seven
teenth century, settling in Rhode ISL
and They distinguished themselves
in the Revolutionary war.
Mr.. Swift was born in Orange coun-
ty. Vermont, December II, 1843, and
came to Wisconsin with his parents
i'm 1853 the family locating where
Edgerton now stands, and plating
that city
Our subject attended the common
schools or Edgerton until 1857, when
he entered the Albion academy and
teachers seminary, where he remain
ed until June, 1861. In June, 1861, he
enlisted in Company G., Eleventh Wis
consin volunteer infantry, and was
subsequently promoted to sergeant.
lie remained in company G, until
August 80, 1862, when he was pro-
moJed to second lieutenant in Com
pany e, Thirty-third Wisconsin volun-
teer infantry upon recommendation
of the field officer "for merit" He
was promoted to first lieutenant June
"a, 1854 in the same company, and
to captain, August 20, 1864; both pro-
motions were received at the siege OF
Vicksburg He was wounded at Tu-
pelo. Miss, July Is, 1864, by a frag-
ment of a shell, and resigned Septem-
Der 27 1864, at Little Rock, Ark. OF
his five brothers who engaged in the
war, two were killed in battle, two
were wounded, and one crippled for
life. After his resignation Capt. Swift
returned to Edgerton and soon after
entered upon the study OF law, and
was admitted to the Rock county bar
in June, 1867. He located at Beaver
Falls, Mimi, and engaged in the prac
tice OF his profession. In 1868 he was
elected prosecuting attorney for the
county and in 1870 was elected to
seat in the Minnesota legislature, and
while there he was chairman OF two
important committees.
While a member of the Minnesota
legislature a resolution was passed
that in naming new county the name
should be that OF the youngest mem
Der of the legislature. Mr. Swift was
that member, and this is the history
of the naming of Swift county, Mime
sofa.
In 1872 he moved from Minnesota
to Calumet, Mich, and 1876 he came
to Wisconsin and for nearly forty
years engaged in journalism, retiring
from active service only last Novem-
Der, when he and his son, Ward, dis
posed of their interests in the Water
I ,io1 hn if-.
Mr. Swift had been connected since
leaving Rice Lake in 1906, having
taken over the ownership of the Chro-
notype on January 1, 1885. Some
years later the Leader was launched
at Rice Lake by Col. Swift and his
son. Nine years ago last April, Col.
Swift disposed of his newspaper in
terest at Rice Lake, coming to Water
town, where he purchased the Water
town Republican, the name of which
was changed a few months later to
the Leader, at which time daily
paper was established by Col Swift,
who had associated with him his two
sons. From that time, Waterfowl
has been the home of the deceased.
Upon coming to Wisconsin from
Michigan, he publishing papers at
Clinton and Oconto. For six years he
was editor and publisher of the Ocon-
to County Reporter. From January,
1856, to May, 1888, the subject Of this
sketch was state timber agent by ap-
pointment of Governor j. NJ. Rusk
In the early SOS he was superinten-
dent OF schools at Rice Lake, and in
1866 served as special agent in the
department OF interior. He was also
correspondence clerk in state treas
ury department for four years during
Governor Scofield's administration.
Politically, Col Swift was always
Republican. May 25, 1865, he mar
ried Mrs Mary G. Swift, widow of his
brother, Henry, who was killed in
battle in 1868 She was the mother
of one child, Henry S., Jr To Mr.. and
Mrs. Swift have been born two sons,
Dean 5. of Winona, Mimi, and Ward
l.. of Eau Claire who survive their