SWAN, Christopher Irving Sr., Beeville Picayune, Thursday, 22 Aug 1919, front page:

WHO CAN TAKE HIS PLACE?

Christopher Irving Swan, Sr. was born February 10, 1850 and he died August 18, 1918 after an 
illness of acute indigestion, which terminated fatally at 4:30 o'clock Sunday morning, just as the 
car in which he was being brought to this city reached the Beeville Hospital. The body was taken 
to the Walker Funeral Home and there taken in charge by N. B. Walker, the first friend made by 
Mr. Swan when he arrived in Bee County twenty-two years ago, and was taken back to Normanna 
on the morning train, escorted by County Clerk F. J. Malone and Postmaster E. M. Quinn.

The interment was in San Domingo Cemetery at 6 o'clock Sunday afternoon and was largely attended 
being conducted by Mr. Swan's friend, Professor T. M. Clark of Portland, who read scripture and offered 
prayer after which R. W. Barron of this city delivered the funeral oration — such as one and only a friend 
could have given.  The "Tribute To My Friend" by Prof. Clark came from his heart and deeply touched all 
present. - Few deserved and few can pay such a tribute.  The Masonic Lodge of Beeville took charge of 
the services at this point and the beautiful and impressive burial ritual was never more beautiful and 
impressively rendered. The hands of brothers who had tested his worth by the square and compass 
performed every needed service in placing the earthly remains in the resting place prepared by his friends.

"I cannot say, I will not say, that he is dead — he is just away.
With a cheery smile and clasp of the hand.
He has wandered into the unknown land.
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingered there.
And you, oh! you who the wildest yearn
For the old time stop and the glad return.
Think of him passing on, my dear
In the love of there as the love of here.
Think of him faring on, I say;
He is not dead, he is just away.

Deceased was a son of Burr Harrison Swan, a Kentuckian whose father, Edward Swan was born in Virginia, 
and Sophia Hickman Loer and was born in Chambersburg, Pike County, Illinois on February 10, 1850, died 
in Beeville Texas, August 18, 1918 in "God's out doors."

Mr. Swan received his education in the greatest schools of his native town and in the Illinois State Normal, 
near Bloomington. He made school teaching his profession and the study of history and law a life-long 
recreation. In early youth he joined the Christian Church and lived a life consistent with the teachings of 
Jesus Christ. His generosity and charity were unbounded. There was nothing of the hypocrite or Pharisee 
in his Christianity. He preached by precept and example the religion of the square deal. In church relations 
he was an able teacher and leader.

Mr. Swan married in Newberg Corners, Pike County, Illinois, Miss Caroline Cordelia Dunham, August 1, 1875, 
Reverend T. W. Cottingham officiating. Five children of this union are living; Burr Harrison Swan of Pittsfield, 
Illinois, Mrs. Frances Anne Hunter of Colorado Springs, Colorado, John F. Swan, Normanna, Texas, Christopher 
Irving Swan, Jr. Co. G. 23rd Reg. Engineers, U. S. A. General Hospital, Fort McHenry, Maryland, and Mrs. Nina 
Redfield Cherry, Normanna Texas. Nine grandchildren also survive the grandfather who was always their 
dearest comrade. He is also survived by the bride of his youth.

In his home county back in Illinois, Mr. Swan filled the office of county clerk for four years and that of county 
superintendent of schools for an equal length of time. During the latter period he graded the country schools 
Pike County. He was later owner and editor of "The Pike County Banner" a democratic weekly newspaper of 
Pittsfield, Illinois which became so popular with the teachers of the county that it was termed "the teachers" 
paper.

In July 1898, after years of office work and exposure to inclement weather visiting schools had made a decline 
in his health, he decided to try the Texas climate, which proved so kindly that in December 1898 he was joined 
by his wife and three younger children in Normanna where they have since made their home.  Mr. Swan's 
unusually ability and high character were not long in asserting themselves in his adoptive home and for years 
he has been looked upon as one of the leading citizens of the county. Four years ago he was elected county 
commissioner of Precinct No. 2 and was re-elected two years later. He attended a session of Commissioners 
Court here early last week and helped fix the county tax rate for the coming year. At that time he was seemingly 
in good health, and the news of his death here Sunday morning was a great shock to his hundreds of Beeville 
friends.

The writer had the good fortune to be closely associated with Mr. Swan from the first day of his arrival to the 
county, almost and as the years lengthened the friendship grew and we feel a matter it was our good fortune to 
live in the same little town with him and it was there we got an insight into the character but few were privileged 
to gain outside his family circle. With Mrs. Swan away and the younger children at college, we were in the family 
home much of that time and therefore learned to love him almost as a son loves his father and to honor and 
respect him for his high ideals and Christian character. The night was never too dark nor the distance too great 
for him to do a friend a favor, and to those who despitefully used him in their days of plenty, he was equally as 
willing to assist and give good council when adversity overtook them and they went to him with their tales of woe. 
The poor people were his special friends and to that class of the Normanna country his death is a severe 
blow indeed.

Mr. Swan was one of the best informed men in this section. He had a large library and the books were well worn 
from his reading. He gave freely of his store of knowledge and assisted his neighbor and friends in hundred of 
ways. Indeed he was the mental advisor of the Normanna section and was never so busy with his own work but 
that he would step to do a favor for any applying.

Among the gentle sloping hills which he had learned to love so well during the past twenty-two years this friend 
of man sleeps peacefully in San Domingo cemetery. In this same cemetery he had helped lay away many of the 
citizens of that community, often being asked to conduct the religious service. Some of the prettiest attributions 
ever paid at a grave have fallen from his lips as he instilled the virtue of some departed friends in the very cemetery 
where now his own remains are at rest to await the final summons. It is worth while to live and die as this man 
lived and died.