Franklin Swift (1815- 1868) owned the Sinclair Mills flour mill. Swift Street is named after him.

After his death, his daughter Mary Loomis and son in law John Loomis continued in the milling trade.

Franklin Swift obituary (Photocopied by TJS from Ben and Elsie Bourns, Cedro Wooley, WA, scrapbook) reads:

"In this city [Ann Arbor, MI], September 26, 1868, of ulceration of the stomach, Franklin Swift, aged about 53 years. Mr. Swift's health had been failing for about two years past, and about two months since he thought to benefit his health by a trip to the East among his friends, but his health failed him more rapidly after he left home, rather than improved, so much so that he made the attempt, and succeeded in reaching home on Wednesday, of last week, and sank rapidly after his arrival, and, about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, he breathed his last. His death was full of peace, the consolations of religion was full and precious [he may have been Methodist -TJS]. And as he realized that he must leave his friends here, he rejoiced in the hope of meeting them in the glorious rest which his Savior had gone to prepare for all those who put their trust in Him. He was in business, in this city for several years, and was highly respected by all who knew him. In him the poor have lost a benefactor and friend. The funeral took place from his late residence, State Street, on Tuesday at 10 1/2 o'clock, and his remains were followed to their final resting place by a very large number of friends, who deeply sympathize with the bereaved family."

BORN: 10 Nov 1815 to William (1789?-1848) and Rachel (Barlow) (1795-1874) Swift (family notes); 1819 -from death cert, from given age 49 at death in 1868. If he was 36(?) at his 3rd wedding in Jan 1854, he was born in 1817 or 18. But if he died age "52.10.16" on 26 Sep 1868 (as given from Gene. Soc. of Wash. Co. research), he would have been born 1815. He was 34 in the 1850 Fed Census, suggesting he was b. abt. 1816. Birthplace: The Barlow Gen. says he was b. Monteville, Montgomery Co., NY, but GSWC notes say he was b. Schoharie Co., NY. There are several Montevilles in NY, but apparently none in Montgomery Co. A William Swift appears in the 1820 Census in Schoharie Co.

Occupation: Franklin was fairly successful as a miller (of grain). There exist city directory advertisments showing a large mill building with SWIFT across an outside wall. In the 1850 Mich Fed. Census, his profession is given as "miller". Siblings: Angeline b. abt. 1825, NY; Bolivar, also a miller, b. abt. 1830 NY; perhaps William Henry, Lucy, and Mary as well.

MARRIAGES: (1) 22 Feb 1840, to Harriet Newell Purdy (1818-1849), at Plymouth, Wayne Co., MI. Children:

Lucy Swift, b. 1841? MI (is age 4 in 1850 census)

John Marvin Swift, b. 1844 MI (is age 7 in 1850 census)

Mary Elizabeth Swift, b. 1845 MI (is age 5 in 1850 census) (2) 5 Sept 1850, to Sarah Britten (~1831 - <1854) at Ann Arbor, MI.

No children. (3) 11 Jan 1854, to Laura Elizabeth Phillips (1822/26-1882), he age 36, she age 28 (copy of m. cert. from MI vital records). Child:

Lodorsca Adelaide Swift b. 1859 Ann Arbor, MI.

DEATH: 26 SEP 1868 at Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., MI, age 49 years, from copy of death cert. Death cert. gives cause of death unknown. This implies birth date in ~1819. Gen. Soc. of Washtenaw Co. research says that "[[Forest Hill Cem]] records (Block 67, Lot #5 show Franklin Swift b Schoharie Co. NY d 26 Sep 1868 (Cause of Death (COD) listed but I did not copy) ae 52.10.16, William Deubel informant" [Deubel m. Sally Purdy dau of James Purdy; H.N. Purdy was Franklin's first wife. Franklin's mother was supposedly born in Schoharie Co., NY, but Franklin was supposedly born in Montgomery Co. NY -TJS].

Ancestry information source

Edit tags