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Permanent LinkRepresentative Curran Freeman Swift View All Years
HON. CURRAN FREEMAN SWIFT
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life and services of the Honorable Curran Freeman Swift, of Shelby county, member of the House of Representatives in the Thirty-second and Thirty-third General Assemblies, beg leave to submit the following memorial:
Curran Freeman Swift was born in Davis County, Iowa, March 16, 1861, and spent his early boyhood in that county, attending district school in season. Later he took a teacher’s course in the Southern Iowa Normal and Commercial Institute at Bloomfield and later a course in science.
He came to Shelby county in the year 1882 and began his career as a teacher and so well did he perform his duties, that he was later chosen county superintendent of schools and served two terms. During this service he acquired a taste for politics, which remained with him all through life. His office holding record included, besides the county superintendency heretofore mentioned, many years as a member of the Board of Education of the Independent District of Harlan; two terms as mayor of Harlan, member of the Iowa legislature in the Thirty-second and Thirty-third General Assemblies and was postmaster at the time of his death.
Of all men who have grown up in western Iowa, none contributed more to the upbuilding of the country and there was hardly a worthy enterprise undertaken but that his name and influence were not taken into consideration. His was indeed a life of usefulness, the possessor of a great personality, strong physically, mentally, and possessed of wonderful persuasive powers and of more than average ability as a speaker. He had an active sense of humor and, as a mimic, had few superiors.
He was a thirty-second degree Mason, and Past Master of Parian Lodge, Past High Priest of Olivet Chapter, Past Commander of Mt. Zion Commandery and a member of Za Ga Zig Temple of Des .Moines.
Mr. Swift owned and managed quite a large farm during his life, in connection with his other business and took pride in the pure-bred stock which he owned.
He was not an old man, only in the prime of life, when the Supreme Ruler summoned him and gathered him unto his fold. It may be truly said of him:
“Large was his bounty and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send;
He gave to misery, ‘twas all he had—a tear,
He gained from Heaven, ‘twas all he asked, a friend.”
He gave to his community, his city, state and nation, largely of his time, his talents and his love. He sought no greater reward than the reward of faithful friends, which he gained in large measures.
Be It Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the Forty-first General Assembly, That in the passing of Honorable Curran Freeman Swift, this Assembly express its realization of the loss of one of the leaders in the state, a man of strong character and sterling worth, a man of high ideals in Christian living, and the· House would tender by this resolution, its sympathy to the family who survives.
Be It Further Resolved, That a duly enrolled copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family of the deceased.
GEO. E. MILLER,
ARTHUR STOOKESBERRY,
WILBUR F. HUBBARD,
Committee.
Unanimously adopted March 30, 1925.