OBITUARY, Shelby [IN] Democrat, Thursday, October 22, 1903:

Mrs. Louise Swain died at her residence near Manilla Wednesday evening. She was eighty-two years of age. The funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday.


OBITUARY, Rushville [IN] Republican, Friday, October 30, 1903:

Louisa Coffin Swain, daughter of Moses and Phoebe Coffin, was born in Stokes county, N.C. died October 14, 1903, aged 82 years, 4 months and 17 days. She was moved with her parents to Indiana in the year 1850, living in Union county two years from there she moved to Shelby county where she lived a short while, thence to Rush county where she spent the remainder of her life. She was married to Prior Swain February 20, 1845. Two children were born to this union one having died in infancy the other Jennie Barnard survives, with a number of relatives and friends to mourn their loss.

Having had a birthright membership in the Friend's church she consecrated herself to the Lord and his work thirty years ago, ever after living a consistent and an active Christian life. She was always found in the Sunday school and meeting until about one year ago when sickness deprived her of this privilege, this being a great cross to her, but she was fully resigned to the will of the master. In her last sickness the spirit of Christ was shown in unspeakable happiness, while exhorting and encouraging all Christians who came to see her to be true to their faith, in the meantime giving the unsaved a word of warning.

Believing that her work was finished she peacefully submitted to the will of the Lord, and departed this life in the triumph of the living faith.

"Dear Jennie Barnard and bereaved family

Oh how thee will miss thy dear mother
Who has been so loving and kind,
But has now gone to the world Superior,
To the one she has left behind.

She will be missed as a dear mother
For no other one can fill her place,
But has gone where we hope to meet her
When we are called to the works of grace.

She will be missed by the neighbors
Whom she often loved to meet,
And will be missed by the members
Where her pew is now an empty seat.

She will be missed at the Sunday school
Where she loved so well to attend.
She always had a kind word for the children,
Or a word for some dear friend.

She will be missed around the fireside,
Her prayers you will hear no more.
But let us heed her instructions,
For it is what we should all adore.

Oh I shall miss those dear letters
Which she has written so many to me.
Can I ever find another
Whom I can confide in so free.

She might have lived several years
Yet we might not meet again,
With age and distance lying between us
To prevent our longing aim.

But when the sad news came this morning
Telling that my sister was gone
Oh my heart was filled with sadness,
Oh Lord not my will but thine be done.

This is the day it may not be the hour
When dear sister will be laid away,
Let us all be prepared for that home above
Where there will be no need of sunlight rays.

The above lines were composed and written by Mary Macy, of Grand Rapids, Mich., who is 80 years old."