WILLIAM WALLACE SWIFT (1922) Johnson County, Arkansas Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by James McDaniel E-mail ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Obituary 11/09/1922 Herald Democrat, Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas William Wallace Swift, better known for the last half century as "Uncle Buck", passed away November 1st, 1922 at his home five miles northwest of Charleston, Arkansas, to which place he moved in January, 1881, and remained ever since. Mr. Swift was eighty-nine years old on August 1st, of this year. When only four years old he moved with his parents from Henry County, Tennessee, in 1837. They came by river transportation from Memphis to old Spadra Bluff on the Arkansas river four miles south of Clarksville. After landing, they loaded their household goods on an ox wagon and started across Mulberry Mountain to the valley between this mountain and Boston Mountain, locating in the neighborhood of where Yale postoffice is now located. After remaining here a few years his father decided he had rather try south of the mountains, so he purchased a farm between the east and middle prongs of Horsehead Creek. William Wallace, being one of the oldest boys, assisted his father in the farm work generally, making a crop in the spring and summer; clearing land, cutting and splitting rails, and building fences in the winter. During the gold excitement in California in 1849 and 1850 his father started to the gold fields of California, leaving the responsibility and care ofAunt Hardenie (his mother) and younger brothers and sisters, resting upon him, then only a mere youth, yet in his teens. So arduously did he work and economize that he met the oprobation of his mother and won for himself the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He remained single until he was nearly twenty-four years of age. On the 13th day of September, 1857 he was married to Martha Boyer, the oldest sister of James W. and W.S. Boyer. She is now in her 82nd year. His hospitality and charitable disposition was such that it won for him a reputation that was known far and wide. The traveler driving across the country would tighten up his lines and tap his team with his whip in order to reach uncle Buck's before night fall, where he knew he would find food and lodging for himself, and shelter and provander for his team, without money and without price. Neither did he forget the widow and the orphan. He was known to take his hired hands and teams and work over their crops, refusing pay for his work when completed. Again he has gone to his granaryand taken fruits of his own labor and contributed them to those who were in want of the same. He would also go to his smoke house where the fine hams hung almost by the score, and give to the needy and hungry. He worked on the farm until he was 85 years old, making a regular hand during the crop season. Since the above date his general physical condition has been gradually failing him, though he has been able to walk about the place and assist in the management of the affairs of the farm ntil the last year or two. On the morning of his death he ate a hearty breakfast, got up and dressed himself, walked out to the barn yard where he became very nervous, and turned back toward the house. His wife, seeing his condition went out and helped him into the house. He took hold of the foot of the bed and asked for help to get onto the bed, then dropped dead. Thus ends the life of one of Arkansas' oldest and best citizens. He leftbehind a wife and two sons, J.W. of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and A.A. Swift who lives on the farm and watched after him. Written by a brother-in-law, James W. Boyer --------- Submitted by James McDaniel. The original of this obituary was found in the vertical files of the Johnson County Library at Clarksville, and can also befound on microfilm at the Arkansas History Commission. Mr. Swift was a brother of America Malvina Swift, whose daughter Elizabeth Ogilvie married William Bowman McDaniel. The McDaniels, Ogilvies, and Swiftswere long time neighbors in the Horsehead Creek area. ************************************************************************