Lawyer, editor and publisher, founder "Public Record," son of William Moseley Swain, founder of "Public Ledger," and brother of Charles M. Swain, capitalist. William James' home, located in West Philadelphia/University City, became the first Ronald McDonald House in the country in 1981.
"RECORD'S" FOUNDER DEAD.
William J. Swain Passes Away at Spring Lake, N.J.
William J. Swain, founder of The Public Record, out of which "The Philadelphia Record" was evolved in 1877, died on Monday at his summer home, at Spring Lake, N. J., in his sixty-fifth year. He contracted a heavy cold a few weeks ago, shortly after riding to Spring Lake from this city in his automobile, and from this developed asthma, to which he was subject, and bronchitis. He was in seemingly good health on Tuesday last, when he met his wife at the railroad station, but on Wednesday his breathing became heavy, and he quickly subcumbed. His wife and son William were present at his death, which occurred painlessly on Monday at noon. Mr. Swain was born on April 2, 1839, in New York city, during a temporary visit there of his parents. He was the son of William M. Swain, who was one of the firm of Swain, Abell & Simmons, which founded the Public Ledger, in 1836. The son was given his education in the private schools of Mr. Bumstead, in Manayunk; Professor Balmar, near West Chester, and Dr. John W. Fairies, on Dean street, below Locust. He never entered college. Later he spent some years in a surveyor's office, with the idea of taking up that profession. In 1860 he was given the opportunity for extended travel in Europe, and he also visited Egypt; but the events of the Civil War drew him homeward, and he desired earnestly to enter the army, as a commission had been promised him by Simon Cameron; but his father forbade. The young man then joined the clerical staff of the Public Ledger, acting also has his father's amanuensis in several private business enterprises until his father's death in 1868. In May, 1870, Mr. Swain founded as his own venture The Public Record, and closely associated Richard G. Oellers with him in the management. It was started as a 1-cent paper, but this idea did not bring financial success, and it was shortly obliged to adopt the 2-cent policy of its competitors. Although Mr. Swain was a Republican, the newspaper was not permitted to preach partisanship, the proprietor preferring to follow the strictly independent ideals of his father. The newspaper was sold in 1877 to William M. Singerly, and became "The Philadelphia Record." The only other business enterprise with which Mr. Swain connected himself was the West Philadelphia Passenger Railway Company, of which he was a director. Samuel Baugh, John F. Gross and others interested themselves in looking into the question of over-issues of the company's stock in 1877, with the result that John S. Morton, the president of the corporation, and Samuel P. Huhn were sent to the penitentiary. After this incident Mr. Swain devoted himself almost exclusively to his home and family affairs. He was of a retiring disposition, and always refused to join social clubs, secret societies and other organizations which would interfere with his privacy. He lived formerly on Broad street, above Master, but for a number of years before his death made his home during the winter at No. 3925 Chestnut street. On March 21, 1872, he was married to Miss Virginia A. King, of this city, who survives him, with one son. Funeral services will be held to-morrow morning at 10:30 o'clock at No. 3925 Chestnut street. Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook, pastor emeritus of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, has been asked to conduct the services, and he will be assisted by Rev. Frank Rose, of this city, who was formerly a chaplain in the navy. Interment will be made in the family vault in Woodlands Cemetery.
"RECORD'S" FOUNDER DEAD.
William J. Swain Passes Away at Spring Lake, N.J.
William J. Swain, founder of The Public Record, out of which "The Philadelphia Record" was evolved in 1877, died on Monday at his summer home, at Spring Lake, N. J., in his sixty-fifth year. He contracted a heavy cold a few weeks ago, shortly after riding to Spring Lake from this city in his automobile, and from this developed asthma, to which he was subject, and bronchitis. He was in seemingly good health on Tuesday last, when he met his wife at the railroad station, but on Wednesday his breathing became heavy, and he quickly subcumbed. His wife and son William were present at his death, which occurred painlessly on Monday at noon. Mr. Swain was born on April 2, 1839, in New York city, during a temporary visit there of his parents. He was the son of William M. Swain, who was one of the firm of Swain, Abell & Simmons, which founded the Public Ledger, in 1836. The son was given his education in the private schools of Mr. Bumstead, in Manayunk; Professor Balmar, near West Chester, and Dr. John W. Fairies, on Dean street, below Locust. He never entered college. Later he spent some years in a surveyor's office, with the idea of taking up that profession. In 1860 he was given the opportunity for extended travel in Europe, and he also visited Egypt; but the events of the Civil War drew him homeward, and he desired earnestly to enter the army, as a commission had been promised him by Simon Cameron; but his father forbade. The young man then joined the clerical staff of the Public Ledger, acting also has his father's amanuensis in several private business enterprises until his father's death in 1868. In May, 1870, Mr. Swain founded as his own venture The Public Record, and closely associated Richard G. Oellers with him in the management. It was started as a 1-cent paper, but this idea did not bring financial success, and it was shortly obliged to adopt the 2-cent policy of its competitors. Although Mr. Swain was a Republican, the newspaper was not permitted to preach partisanship, the proprietor preferring to follow the strictly independent ideals of his father. The newspaper was sold in 1877 to William M. Singerly, and became "The Philadelphia Record." The only other business enterprise with which Mr. Swain connected himself was the West Philadelphia Passenger Railway Company, of which he was a director. Samuel Baugh, John F. Gross and others interested themselves in looking into the question of over-issues of the company's stock in 1877, with the result that John S. Morton, the president of the corporation, and Samuel P. Huhn were sent to the penitentiary. After this incident Mr. Swain devoted himself almost exclusively to his home and family affairs. He was of a retiring disposition, and always refused to join social clubs, secret societies and other organizations which would interfere with his privacy. He lived formerly on Broad street, above Master, but for a number of years before his death made his home during the winter at No. 3925 Chestnut street. On March 21, 1872, he was married to Miss Virginia A. King, of this city, who survives him, with one son. Funeral services will be held to-morrow morning at 10:30 o'clock at No. 3925 Chestnut street. Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook, pastor emeritus of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, has been asked to conduct the services, and he will be assisted by Rev. Frank Rose, of this city, who was formerly a chaplain in the navy. Interment will be made in the family vault in Woodlands Cemetery.
Lawyer, editor and publisher, founder "Public Record," son of William Moseley Swain, founder of "Public Ledger," and brother of Charles M. Swain, capitalist. William James' home, located in West Philadelphia/University City, became the first Ronald McDonald House in the country in 1981.
"RECORD'S" FOUNDER DEAD.
William J. Swain Passes Away at Spring Lake, N.J.
William J. Swain, founder of The Public Record, out of which "The Philadelphia Record" was evolved in 1877, died on Monday at his summer home, at Spring Lake, N. J., in his sixty-fifth year. He contracted a heavy cold a few weeks ago, shortly after riding to Spring Lake from this city in his automobile, and from this developed asthma, to which he was subject, and bronchitis. He was in seemingly good health on Tuesday last, when he met his wife at the railroad station, but on Wednesday his breathing became heavy, and he quickly subcumbed. His wife and son William were present at his death, which occurred painlessly on Monday at noon. Mr. Swain was born on April 2, 1839, in New York city, during a temporary visit there of his parents. He was the son of William M. Swain, who was one of the firm of Swain, Abell & Simmons, which founded the Public Ledger, in 1836. The son was given his education in the private schools of Mr. Bumstead, in Manayunk; Professor Balmar, near West Chester, and Dr. John W. Fairies, on Dean street, below Locust. He never entered college. Later he spent some years in a surveyor's office, with the idea of taking up that profession. In 1860 he was given the opportunity for extended travel in Europe, and he also visited Egypt; but the events of the Civil War drew him homeward, and he desired earnestly to enter the army, as a commission had been promised him by Simon Cameron; but his father forbade. The young man then joined the clerical staff of the Public Ledger, acting also has his father's amanuensis in several private business enterprises until his father's death in 1868. In May, 1870, Mr. Swain founded as his own venture The Public Record, and closely associated Richard G. Oellers with him in the management. It was started as a 1-cent paper, but this idea did not bring financial success, and it was shortly obliged to adopt the 2-cent policy of its competitors. Although Mr. Swain was a Republican, the newspaper was not permitted to preach partisanship, the proprietor preferring to follow the strictly independent ideals of his father. The newspaper was sold in 1877 to William M. Singerly, and became "The Philadelphia Record." The only other business enterprise with which Mr. Swain connected himself was the West Philadelphia Passenger Railway Company, of which he was a director. Samuel Baugh, John F. Gross and others interested themselves in looking into the question of over-issues of the company's stock in 1877, with the result that John S. Morton, the president of the corporation, and Samuel P. Huhn were sent to the penitentiary. After this incident Mr. Swain devoted himself almost exclusively to his home and family affairs. He was of a retiring disposition, and always refused to join social clubs, secret societies and other organizations which would interfere with his privacy. He lived formerly on Broad street, above Master, but for a number of years before his death made his home during the winter at No. 3925 Chestnut street. On March 21, 1872, he was married to Miss Virginia A. King, of this city, who survives him, with one son. Funeral services will be held to-morrow morning at 10:30 o'clock at No. 3925 Chestnut street. Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook, pastor emeritus of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, has been asked to conduct the services, and he will be assisted by Rev. Frank Rose, of this city, who was formerly a chaplain in the navy. Interment will be made in the family vault in Woodlands Cemetery.
"RECORD'S" FOUNDER DEAD.
William J. Swain Passes Away at Spring Lake, N.J.
William J. Swain, founder of The Public Record, out of which "The Philadelphia Record" was evolved in 1877, died on Monday at his summer home, at Spring Lake, N. J., in his sixty-fifth year. He contracted a heavy cold a few weeks ago, shortly after riding to Spring Lake from this city in his automobile, and from this developed asthma, to which he was subject, and bronchitis. He was in seemingly good health on Tuesday last, when he met his wife at the railroad station, but on Wednesday his breathing became heavy, and he quickly subcumbed. His wife and son William were present at his death, which occurred painlessly on Monday at noon. Mr. Swain was born on April 2, 1839, in New York city, during a temporary visit there of his parents. He was the son of William M. Swain, who was one of the firm of Swain, Abell & Simmons, which founded the Public Ledger, in 1836. The son was given his education in the private schools of Mr. Bumstead, in Manayunk; Professor Balmar, near West Chester, and Dr. John W. Fairies, on Dean street, below Locust. He never entered college. Later he spent some years in a surveyor's office, with the idea of taking up that profession. In 1860 he was given the opportunity for extended travel in Europe, and he also visited Egypt; but the events of the Civil War drew him homeward, and he desired earnestly to enter the army, as a commission had been promised him by Simon Cameron; but his father forbade. The young man then joined the clerical staff of the Public Ledger, acting also has his father's amanuensis in several private business enterprises until his father's death in 1868. In May, 1870, Mr. Swain founded as his own venture The Public Record, and closely associated Richard G. Oellers with him in the management. It was started as a 1-cent paper, but this idea did not bring financial success, and it was shortly obliged to adopt the 2-cent policy of its competitors. Although Mr. Swain was a Republican, the newspaper was not permitted to preach partisanship, the proprietor preferring to follow the strictly independent ideals of his father. The newspaper was sold in 1877 to William M. Singerly, and became "The Philadelphia Record." The only other business enterprise with which Mr. Swain connected himself was the West Philadelphia Passenger Railway Company, of which he was a director. Samuel Baugh, John F. Gross and others interested themselves in looking into the question of over-issues of the company's stock in 1877, with the result that John S. Morton, the president of the corporation, and Samuel P. Huhn were sent to the penitentiary. After this incident Mr. Swain devoted himself almost exclusively to his home and family affairs. He was of a retiring disposition, and always refused to join social clubs, secret societies and other organizations which would interfere with his privacy. He lived formerly on Broad street, above Master, but for a number of years before his death made his home during the winter at No. 3925 Chestnut street. On March 21, 1872, he was married to Miss Virginia A. King, of this city, who survives him, with one son. Funeral services will be held to-morrow morning at 10:30 o'clock at No. 3925 Chestnut street. Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook, pastor emeritus of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, has been asked to conduct the services, and he will be assisted by Rev. Frank Rose, of this city, who was formerly a chaplain in the navy. Interment will be made in the family vault in Woodlands Cemetery.
Gravesite Details
Buried 18 June 1903
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
