LAST BUGLE SOUNDS FOR WILLIAM E. SWIHART

(veteran)

William E. Swihart passed away at his home at Kennard, Monday, November 13, 1922, after an illness of nineteen months, the result of a series of paralytic strokes.

William E. Swihart was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 24, 1847, and was therefore in his seventy-fifth year. When about eleven years of age he came with his parents to Washington County, Nebraska, locating at Fr. Calhoun, but afterwards moved to Fontanelle.

In 1864, when he was but sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Co. C., 1st Nebraska Black Horse Battalion, which was afterwards consolidated with the 1st Nebraska Infantry, and served in its musical section as fifer, until the close of the Civil War. He returned to his home in Washington County where he worked on his father's farm, and on February 5, 1868, he was married to Sarah E. Allen and eight children were born to the union, two of whom died in infancy. The children living are: Chas. H. Swihart of Niobrara, Nebr.; Mrs. Pearl Wild, of Blair; John Albert Swihart, of Kennard; Mrs. Jessie Olson, Los Angeles, Calif.; M.I. Swihart, Hoskins, Nebr.; and Mrs. Grace Rathmann, Blair, all of whom with the exception of Mr. Olson were present at the funeral. There also survives one brother, John Swihart, who lives in Idaho, and one sister, Mrs. Nancy Spink, of Council Bluffs, and twenty-one grandchildren.

The wife and mother passed away February 28, 1902, and on January 13, 1904, he married Sarah French, who has been his constant companion for eighteen years, and faithfully administered to his needs during the closing years of his life.

Besides being a farmer and a blacksmith, Mr. Swihart was a musician and a contributor to news papers. For over thirty years he officiated as correspondent for the various papers of the county over the non de plume of "Blitz." His writings were always a happy mixture of news, pathos, wit and humor. He was a violinist of considerable note, and was, until recent years, ever ready to contribute his part to any local entertainment, on his violin. Mr. Swihart was a most popular man, not only in his home town, but wherever he was known, because of his cheerful disposition and his readiness to please. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and an Odd Fellow.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church in Kennard, Wednesday at 1:30 P.M., and was largely attended. Newton W. Gaines of Lincoln, a friend of many years standing, at the request of the deceased, gave the funeral address, and the beautiful service of the I.O.O.F. was rendered, members of the G.A.R also assisting and sounding taps at the grave.

The life work of a good citizen has closed; the life march of a soldier has ended, and "at dawning to assail ye no bugles sound reveille."

Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Spink, Mr. and Mrs. R. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. McMillan, and Mr. and Mrs Arthur Skillen, all of Council Bluffs; Mrs. Bertha Rood of Omaha, and Harold Olson of Crawford, Nebr.

#2-2 Nov., 1922 - The Pilot

W. E. Swihart - Veteran of Civil War years (a fifer) - 1st Nebraska Black Horse Battalion later consolidated with a Nebraska infantry regiment.

The funeral of W. E. Swihart whose death occurred at 1:30 Monday, November 13th, was held at the Methodist church in Kennard at 1 o’clock last Wednesday. By his request Newton Gaines delivered the funeral address, and those who heard it say it was a fine tribute to an old friend. The music was furnished by the choir of the Methodist church with a solo by Miss Weston and a violin solo by Otto Olson. The burial services were conducted by the Kennard I.O.O.F. lodge members, taps being sounded by G. E. Kronberg. Despite the bad roads the attendance was large and the burial services went off so smoothly the family were greatly comforted and pleased, for they were sure it was just as Mr. Swihart would have wished it to be. Deceased was born in Stark county, Ohio March 28th, 1847, and so was past 75 years of age at the time of his death. He came to Nebraska in a prairie schooner with his parents in 1858, crossing the Missouri river in a skiff at DeSoto, where they made their home. His father was the first sheriff of Washington county, serving for eight years. When William was 16 years old he enlisted in the 1st Nebraska Black Horse battalion, which was later consolidated with a Nebraska infantry regiment. He was fifer and won much attention for his excellent work on this instrument, both during and after the war. He served for eighteen months, being mustered out in 1865. He was married to Sarah Allen February 5th, 1866, to which union eight children were born, one child dying in infancy and one daughter, Mary, at the age of 10 years. The children living are Chas. H. of Niobrara, Neb.; Pearl C. Wilds of Blair; John A. of Kennard; Jessie, Mrs. C. A. Olson of Los Angeles, Calif.; Mark I. of Hoskins, Neb.; Grace, Mrs. G. A. Rathmann of this city. Mrs. Swihart died February 28th, 1902, and in January, 1904 he was married to Mrs. Sarah French who survives him. He is survived also by one sister, Mrs. Nancy Allen Spinl of Council Bluffs, Ia.; and one brother, John, of LaJunta, Colo. He was a member of the Kennard I.O.O.F. lodge and John A. Dix Post of this city. The family lived on a farm in the Brewster school district until 1880 when they moved to Kennard which has since been their home, all but one year spent in South Dakota. There he followed the trade of a blacksmith for many years. Some months ago he suffered a paralytic stroke, from which he recovered partially when another came and he slowly sank to his death. Mr. Swihart was one of the prominent characters of the pioneer days in this county, being noted for his wit and unfailing good humor. For many years he corresponded for The Pilot under the pen name of “Blitz”. He was a good talker and was always in demand at such places as pioneer and old settler picnic occasions. His passing means the loss of another of the early pioneers of whom there are very few now living, and to whom we all owe a debt of love and gratitude we should not soon forget.

#3- 16 Nov., 1922 - The Enterprise - Veteran during Civil War

WILLIAM E. SWIHART

William E. Swihart was born in Stark county, Ohio March 28, 1847. With his parents he came to Nebraska in 1857 in a prairie schooner, crossing the river at DeSoto in a skiff, and in the following year they settled in DeSoto where they lived until deceased was sixteen years of age when he enlisted in the First Nebraska Black Horse battalion which later was consolidated with the First Nebraska Infantry. After a service of eighteen months, he was mustered out in 1865.

He was married Feb. 5, 1866 to Miss Sarah Allen, and to this union eight children were born, one child died in infancy and a daughter, May, died at the age of 10 years.

Since the year 1880 he has been a resident of Kennard with the exception of one summer which was spent in the Black Hills, South Dakota. During his long residence in this county, he has made a wide acquaintance and many warm friendships. He was a man of cheerful disposition, always seeing the bright side of life which, coupled with more than ordinary ability, made him stand out as a character by himself, and in visiting Kennard the old timer didn’t feel right if he hadn’t met “Uncle Bill Swihart”.

He was a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge and of the John A. Dix Post, in both of which orders he was an active worker. He knew the early history of this county as few men knew it, and he could entertain a company for hours with his tales of earlier happenings which we grieve were not put in print.

Up to the time of suffering a stroke of paralysis, April 10, 1921, he was in good health, but since that time he has been bedfast, but during his illness the cheerful disposition which has always characterized him did not forsake him, and his friends who called on him were met in the same old way as when he was in his prime.

The end came Nov. 13, the funeral being held Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the Methodist church at 1:30 p.m. at Kennard. Mr. Newton Gaines, a life long friend, delivered the funeral address, bringing out the facts in the career of the deceased as no other man could have done, and which went to the hearts of all those present.

Interment was made in the Kennard cemetery.

The six children surviving are: Chas. H. of Niobrara; Mrs. Pearl C. Wilds of Blair; John A. of Kennard; Jessie E. Olson of Los Angeles, California; Mark I. of Hoskins; and Mrs. Grace Rathmann of Blair. Also a sister, Mrs. Nancy Allen Spink of Council Bluffs and a brother, John of Colorado.

Note: Buried in Blk 3 Lt 32 Sp 2 in the Kennard Cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #26513839