Benjamin F. Swatman

New Plymouth Sentinel
Friday, March 05, 1920

PIONEER LAYS DOWN LIFE'S BURDEN

B. F. Swatman Passes Away Friday Night After Long Illness

After a lingering illness, like a candle slowly burning away, B. F. Swatman closed forever his eyes on earthly matters at his home on east Boulevard, February 27th at the age of 59 year and 14 days. The deceased was born in Page county, Iowa on Feb. 13th, 1861. When a babe at his mother's breast, his father responded to his country's call and served in the Union army, never to return from the battle field. In order to support the family, the mother was compelled to place the babe in the Soldier's Orphan Home at Glenwood, Iowa. In 1872, he with the rest of the family moved to Tabor, Iowa, and deceased there joined the Congregational church while a boy.

March 3rd, 1886 he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Weatherhead and the new home was established at Wessington Springs, S.D. Five children blessed this union - two sons and three daughters. One son died in infancy, the other children all survive. They are Mrs. Fred Harper of Emmett, Miss Lillian a school teacher, Miss Charlotte, County Supt. of Payette County Schools, and Elmer a college youth on the Pacific coast. For years he was druggist at Tabor, Iowa, and in 1904 Mr. Swatman and family came to Idaho, settling here at New Plymouth where he has been a druggist all the time until he sold out last winter on account of failing health. In 1883 he graduated from Tabor college.

Funeral services were conducted at the Congregational church on Monday afternoon by Reverends Knight and Rice, the music furnished by Mrs. Collinsworth and Miss Sundles, the floral offerings were profuse, the members of the local M.W.A. attended in a body and the remains were quietly laid to rest in Park View cemetery. Our measure of this strong man is found on the editorial page.

Card of Thanks

Words fail to express our gratitude and appreciation to the many friends for the kind acts and the help given during the sickness and death of our dear one. The beautiful floral offerings which expressed to us the heart felt sympathy of our friends were also greatly appreciated.

Mrs. B.F. Swatman, Lillian, Charlotte and Elmer Swatman, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Harper, Ray Weatherhead.

Payette Enterprise (Thursday, March 04, 1920)

B. F. SWATMAN PASSES AWAY

Mr. B. F. Swatman, a highly respected citizen of New Plymouth, passed away at his home Feb. 28th.

He had been in failing health for the past two years but continued in the drug business until a few weeks ago. He will be greatly missed by the people of that community as he was always a leader in public affairs and took an interest in the upbuilding of the City of New Plymouth.

B.F. Swatman was born in Page County, Iowa, February 13th, 1861, was married to Josephine Weatherhead, March 3, 1886. He came with his family to Payette in 1904 and located at New Plymouth a few months later, and engaged in the drug business and has made New Plymouth their home until the time of his death. Besides a wife, he is survived by four children, Mrs. Fred Harper of Emmett, Miss Lillian Swatman, teacher in the Fruitland school, Miss Charlotte, Superintendent at Payette and Elmer Swatman now attending College some where on the coast. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Congregational Church of which he had been a faithful member, conducted by Rev. Knight and Rev. Rice of New Plymouth. Interment was made in Park View Cemetery.