WILLIAM WALLACE SWIFT (1922) Johnson County, Arkansas

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by James McDaniel
E-mail <mcdanielj@sbcglobal.net>
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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

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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.
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