Obituary for Jesse Swinney (1824-1898)
Uncited clipping.
From the papers of Mary Omahundro Hutt Walker

Jesse SWINNEY was born in Sommerset county, Ky., in the year 1824. When about twenty-six years of age he came to Missouri, stopping in St. Louis, where he worked at his trade, that of a currier of leather, for about one year. From St. Louis he went to Montgomery county, where he lived for about two years, teaching school, and where and when, also, he was married to Miss Mary Ann PEARL; he then went to Texas, living one year, when, on account of ill health, he returned to Montgomery county and resumed school teaching; and, in about the year 1855, came to Troy, where he lived several years, working in what was at the time the largest tannery west of the Alleghaney mountains. In about 1860, Brother SWINNEY moved over on Sandy creek, in what is now known as Burr Oak township, operating a tannery of his own.

The troublesome times of the Civil war coming on, making it unpleasant and many times unsafe for a man to remain at home, he left his family and went to Quincy, ILL., for awhile; and, upon returning to his family, moved to Montgomery county, where he lived for about five years. About 1868 he came to Troy again, at which place he had continuously lived until his death. In about the year 1877, Brother SWINNEY'S wife died, there having been born to their union nine children, one dying in infancy and one at the age of two or three years leaving seven children, three sons and four daughters, still living.

Twenty years ago he was married to MRS. ALICE REYNOLDS; to this union were born four children, two girls and two boys, all living. More than a half a century ago Brother SWINNEY associated himself with the Disciples of Christ by confessing his faith in the Savior and being baptized by his brother, Wm H. SWINNEY, and the purity of his after-life was above question.

For about ten years he had been a sufferer, and had been growing perceptibly feebler and weaker each year. On Tuesday, the 4th inst., he was able to be up and out on the street, and at night ate his supper as usual and retired rather late, and did not go to sleep; about 12 o'clock he gave signs of great suffering, and then asked by his faithful wife what was the matter, replied that his head hurt him. A physician was hastily summoned, and upon his arrival at his bedside found him unconscious, in which condition he remained until 2 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1898, when he died, in his 74th year. The funeral was preached at the Christian church Thursday afternoon, by the writer, and the remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery to await the resurrection morn. R.L.MORTON

[Transcriber's Notes:

There is no census record of this man nor any of his family name in the book "Gone But Not Forgotten" Vol. 9 which contains Troy City Cem.

It must have been a safe haven in ILL for the Missourians during the Civil War. My GGr-grandfather Oscar Caleb McKay was in Butler Co. ILL during that time. His family was in Montgomery Co. as well. Was it safer to be in Montgomery Co. than Lincoln Co. at the time? I have been told by the older folks who had stories handed down that if a man was home, many times they were called out of the house and asked if they were Confederates or Northerners, some were shot when they gave the wrong answer not knowing which side the person asking the question, was on, North or South. j.g ]

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by June Groshong, 27 November, 2003.

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