Job F. Swift
In memory of
Dr. Job F. Swift
Born
Litchfield, Conn.
July 16, 1819
Died
Oct. 14, 1850
Aged
31 yrs.m 2mos. 28 days
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
- News article, 1849
On Monday last the company of Rangers raised by order of the Governor was organized and mustered into the service of the State. The following officers were elected by the company: Blackwell, capt.: Walter, first lieutenant; Rankin, second lieutenant; and Atkens, third lieutenant C. G. Bryant was appointed commissary and Quarter Master, and Dr. Swift is
the Surgeon. A detachment of the men, under Lt. Walker, have been station Barranco Blanco, and small parties have been sent to Laredo and to Brownsville. By the Indian news in another column, it will be seen that Lt. Walker and his party have some work on hand already.
Source: Corpus Christi Star, June 23, 1849, p. 2, col. 1
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission - News article, 1899
The old Swift homestead on Water street was pulled down yesterday by Messrs. Reid & Sutherland, who will erect anew two-story cottage for E. T. Merriman. The old one was erected in the early days of Corpus Christi over forty years ago, and has housed many people in its time; several times it was a boarding house. A number of our people were born in it, Mr. Nelson Noakes among the number. At one time twins were recorded; several marriages and deaths took place there some of he deaths being very sad indeed. The house stood until it could stand no longer and now it is a thing of the past. During the war between the states a number of Confederates took refuge in the building hiding out from the "Yankees," who had made a raid on the town. Dr. Robertson, postmaster and druggist, ran through the block from main street and hid in the pantry, Mrs. Swift and one of her daughters placing the sideboard up against the door in such a manner that his pursuers never discovered him though they searched high and low. Mr. John Riggs, who hid under a sofa was soon found, pulled out and carried away on a vessel with other prisoners. The late Judge Gilpin had a novel and narrow escape from the Federals, which incident Mr. Julius Henry relates with a good deal of interest.
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, October 13, 1899, p. 4, col. 3
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission - Biography
Job F. Swift was born in Litchfeld, Connecticut in July of 1819, the son of Ira Swift and Grace Rogers. His father Ira was born 17 Feb. 1778 in Cornwall, Litchfield, Connecticut and married there on 2 October 1800 to Grace who was born 28 January 1779 in New Haven, Connecticut. She died on 06 December 1844. Dr. Job Swift married Susan Shipp Gray on 28 April 1841 in Trigg, Kentucky. Susan had been born there on 22 May 1823 (another record says on 13 May 1821). She was the daughter of Archie Gray (married in 1822) and Mary B. Humphries (1803-1846). Job and Susan initially resided in Kentucky, and their daughters were born there. They subsequently moved to Texas where Job was active in the Rangers both as a fighter and as a medic to help in need. He died very young in 1850, and his widow remained in Corpus Christi to raise her children. One daughter, Marcella J. Swift, died as a teenager during the 1867 Yellow Fever epidemic. Her sister Mary Grace Swift married Wm. H. Maltby, a local newspaperman, on 15 July 1860, but she too died in the 1867 Yellow Fever epidemic and was buried along with Marcella in Old Bayview Cemetery. Job's daughter Amanda Leona Swift (born 02 August 1842 in Kentucky) married 22 August 1860 in Nueces County to Minister John Ludowick Harper (born 26 January 1829 in Linden, Marengo County, Alabama). They were residing in Bandera County, Texas in 1880 (Federal Census, Bandera County, p. 19B) with six children. Their oldest son, Matthias, died at only 19 years old when thrown from a horse in July of 1884 at Waresville (see Caller issue of 03 August 1884, page 5). In later years (Caller issue of 30 April 1897, page 3, col. 1) the Corpus Christi Caller reported how the daughters of Mary Grace Swift-Maltby visited their aunt Amanda Harper when the Harper family was residing in Utopia (Uvalde County). Job F. Swift was an early burial in Old Bayview Cemetery, but he rests with daughters Marcella and Mary Grace as well as his granddaughters born to Wm. H. and Mary Grace Maltby.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell