Susan S. Wyatt
In Memory of
Susan S. Wyatt
Born
Trigg County, KY
May 13, 1821
Died
April 12, 1882
Aged 60 years, 11 mos.
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
1. Biography
Susan Swift Wyatt was born Susan Shipp Gray in Trigg, Kentucky. One family record says she was born 22 May 1823, but her stone says she was born 13 May 1821. She was the daughter of Archie Gray and Mary B. Humphries (1803-1846). Susan initially married Dr. Job F. Swift in Trigg on 28 April 1841. Job was born in Litchfield, Connecticut in July of 1819, the son of Ira Swift and Grace Rogers. 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. 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 their 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 and Susan's daughter Amanda Leona Swift (born 2 August 1842 in Kentucky) married 22 August 1860 in Nueces County to Minister John Ludowick Harper (born 26 January 1829 in Linden, Margengo County, Alabama). They were residing in Bandera County, Texas in 1880 (Federal Census, Bandera County, p. 19B) with six children. Their eldest son, Matthias, died at only 19 years old when thrown from a horse in July of 1884 at Waresville (see Caller issue of 3 August 1884, page 5). Widow Swift married again on 27 June 1872 and for that reason she is buried under the name Wyatt. In later years (Caller issue of 30 April 1897, page 3 column 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), Texas. The remains of Job Swift and Susan Swift Wyatt rest in Old Bayview Cemetery with their daughters Marcella and Mary Grace as well as granddaughters born to Wm. H. Maltby and Mary Grace.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
2. 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