Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-02-18
MEMORIAL

At the meeting of the Wausau
Rotary club held Monday noon, John
A Sullivan presented and read the
following memorial to the late Harvey
Swarthout:
Who shall question the wisdom of
an all wise Providence, when there is
removed from amongst US one beloved
of his fellowmen as Harvey Swarthout.
He was my friend; he was your friend |;
it was my privilege to know Harvey
as few men knew him. l have bene-
flied much by that friendship. His
was life well spent We are priv
ileged to gather here in a building
which speaks for his ability in his
chosen profession. What finer monu-
ment to his memory. Only one we
cherish more, the character he builded
Anything | might say can add not one
thing to the indelible impression he
left on this community in which he
labored. 1t is fitting, however, that
we reflect on his life. 1t was an in
spiration. Nature did not endow him
with a strong body, but redeemed a
physical handicap with a keen, bright
mind. Did this physical handicap sour
him? Did he whine? Did he sulk
Did he rail at fate? No. With his
CHEEKY disposition he spread a sun
shine, which made him welcome in any
/ assemblage. AS one of his friends
aptly put it-you forgot his physical
| defect in the breadth of his personal
ity, and it is true, his natural cheer
fulness was enhanced by cultivated
disposition to make the world better
for hiC HAVING 1iupd in If
Harvey Reese Swarthout was born
in Manistee, Mich, on July 81, 1888
| Owing to conditions, his mother, fireG
made it possible for him to walk
Many times he told me of that de-
votion and what it meant to him. His
reverence for his mother was sacred
thing. From it he absorbed a manli
| ness ard kindness, which we came
| to know and admire. He had a pas.
| sion to create lasting things. Thi:
| structure eXemplifies his genius. HI
| loved nature and all the beauties o.
nature. Many times, all alone, HI
| roamed the woods, returning with {
| specially favored sketch of a secluded
| nook. He was self-made man il
the truest sense of that expression
At the age of eighteen he moved tt
| Milwaukee, where he started to stud,
| Architecture. He could not afford {
| college course. That, however, did no
stop him from realizing his ambition
| as shown from his work there ant
| here.
| Modestly he showed me some letter!
| from former employers complimentins
him on what he had accomplished
These he cherished, saying they repre-
sented the foundation of his career
Though that career was short lived
how well he employed the time al
lotted him. For reasons which w,
know not of, he was not permitted
to finish his last undertaking, but lik,
this beautiful structure it will stanC
F. as lasting monument to his memory
| Harvey Swarthout's love of countr,
| stood out as boldly as his character
love of country, love of fellowmen
love of nature, love of the beautiful
and good endeared him to us all anC
made his life an nspiration-made i
a model for us to follow
| He was an ideal citizen, active in al
| civic life. He was a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, the Wausal
club, the Milwaukee Yacht club, Arts
and Craft club and other organiza
| tions.
| He fought a good fight;
| He finished his allotted course;
| We revere his memory.