Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-09-12
WILLIAM H. SWINDLE.
(Ear1vi11e PhOenix)-

William H. Swindle, junior mem
Der of the we'll known firm of Van
feet & Swindle, stock buyers, died
at his farm home east of Earlville
very suddenly early Monday morn
ing The cause of his death was
gastritis. Mr.. Swindle was in his
usual health the evening before his
death but during the night was seiz-
ed with an attack of stomach trouble.
About two o'clock a physician was
summoned and everything was done
to relieve him, but of no avail. An
autopsy was held Tuesday and it was
found that his disease was chronic
gastritis with a contributary cause
of death of acute dilation of the
stomach. His death was shock to
the community and his many friends
throughout the county, whose sincere
sympathy is at this time extended to
the bereft wife, children, mother, sis
ter and brothers. g..
The funeral services were held
Wednesday afternoon from the Con-
gregational church. The business
places of the town were closed dur
ing the services. Rev. A. Winfield
Virgins took for the text of the fu-
neral sermon, Samuel l., 20:3, There
is but a step between me and death"
The church was crowded with sor-
rowing friends and relatives who had
gathered to pay their last tribute to
the departed one and the attendance
at the obsequies bespeaks of the pop
ularity of the young business man,
whose untimely death is deeply
mourned. The pastor read the fol-
lowing obituary:
William Henry Swindle was born
at Silver Creek, near Ryan, Iowa, on
April 4, 1880, and died at Earlville
on September 8, 1917, age 81 years, 4
months and 80 days. He spent his
boyhood and youth on the farm, at
tending the public schools Of the
neighborhood until he was prepared
to enter the Epworth Seminary. Az
ter leaving here he attended the Cap
ital City Commercial College at Des
Moines. He was united in marriage
to Miss Opal. Vanfleet of Earlville,
September rs, 1907, who with her
two little boys, Earl and Duane, his
aged mother, four brothers, Frank of
Brandon, Iowa, Charles of Marcus,
Iowa, Anthony J. Of Tacoma, Wash,
and Dr. Robert N. of Chicago, two
sisters, Mrs. Mary Ann Robinson and
Mrs. Bessie Henderson of Ryan are
left to mourn the loss of a loving
husband, an indulgent father, a duti-
full son and thoughtful brother.
Brother Swindle united with the
M. E. church at Silver Creek when
but boy, but never fell away from
his faithful service and as a lad and
youth was an active worker in the
church and Sunday school, and when
he became an active business man he
never forgot to take an active part in
the Sunday school work. After his
marriage he lived for five years on the
farm near Ryan, then in 1913 he form
ed a partnership with H. J. Vanf1eet
and moved to the farm east OF Earl
VILE where he made host Of friends
and by his genial spirit and unas-
Stunning mannerism was highly es-
teemed by all who came in contact
with him.
Brother Swindle was clean,
Christian gentleman and his place
will be hard to fill. He was in
church and Sunday school last Sun
day morning and taught his class of
boys, was happy and planning for
the future, retired for rest that night
and before the dawn of another day
was in Eternity. He was the presi-
dent of the adult Bible class Of the
CONGREGATIONAL church and will be
missed by all its members.