SWIFT, Flower - Putnam

Flower Swift was born May 18, 1817 in Whitley County, Kentucky and came with his parents, John and Catharine Swift to this state and settled near Bloomington, Monroe County and in January 1823 settled in Warren Township, this county and lived here with the exception of a short stay in Iowa until June 1894 when he went to live with his son, James Swift, 2 ½ miles from his old home.  Mr. Swift was a pioneer of this township.  Part of the farm on which he lived he entered and never made a transfer of it. His death occurred May 30, 1895 after a very brief illness.  He was married to Mary Ann Evans Feb 25, 1840 and to them were born six children – one son and one daughter died in infancy; four are still living.  Mr. Swift was known to be an upright, truthful man and could be relied upon as punctual in all his business transactions; kind to his family and ready at all times to help the needy.  Although somewhat peculiar in his religious views, he believed strongly in rewards hereafter and during his last years was a strong advocate of religious principles and his whole nature seemed warmed and changed and had he known the end was so near he would doubtless have told what his actions spoke – that he had given himself to the Master. He realized the end was near and expressed no fear for the consequences, but was willing that God should be his judge – a friend!