Obit: Swann, William Robert (1858 – 1938)
Contact:  Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Swann, Waterman, Kayhart, Jackson, Lueth, Stone, Fairbrother, Roseman, Draper

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 10 Nov. 1938

Swann, William Robert (22 Nov. 1858 - 6 Nov. 1938)

William Robert Swann passed away at his home on East Division Street Sunday evening, November 6, at 9:10 o’clock, after an illness of five months duration, four weeks of that time being spent at the Marshfield hospital following an operation.

Mr. Swann was born in Sheboygan County November 22, 1858. He was left an orphan at the age of 12, and, early in life, he learned to make his own way in the world.

He came to Clark County in 1877 and after working about for a time, purchased an 80 acre tract of hardwood timber land one-half smile south of the Ridge church. He was married to Frances Waterman in 1880, and here they carved out a home for themselves and reared a family of three sons. Their first home was a crude log structure and gradually, as time and finances permitted, Mr. Swann added substantial and comfortable buildings to the farm.

Besides his farm work, Mr. Swann followed the carpenter trade, working with Lime Hall and Lon Huckstead, and has to his credit the erection of many fine buildings in Clark County, among them several of the buildings on the fairgrounds and two homes in Neillsville, Wis. He took great pride in doing well each job he undertook. Always jovial and friendly, he made and retained a large group of friends.

In 1909 he rented his farm, and he and Mrs. Swann moved to Neillsville into their new home on Division Street. He later sold this dwelling and built a bungalow on his east lot. Mrs. Swann passed away in August, 1917.

In 1918 Mr. Swann was again married, to Miss Neva Kayhart of the town of Weston, who survives him. He leaves also three sons, Ernest, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; George W., Crandon, and A. R. Swann, who lives on the home place, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, two half-sisters and two half-brothers, the sisters being twins: Mrs. Mamie Fairbrother Jackson, Chicago; Mrs. Nellie Fairbrother Lueth, Adams; Ernest Fairborther, Bantry, N. D.; and Carter Fairbrother, Fleet, Alberta, Canada.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church, Rev. E. P. Stone officiating. He was a member of the Methodist Church for the past 50 years. Interment took place in the Neillsville Cemetery.

Those from out of town who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Swann and Mr. and Mrs. George W. Swann of Crandon; Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Swann of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie Lueth of Adams; Mrs. Louise Roseman and Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Draper of Loyal and Nellie Swann of Oshkosh.