Person Page - 1430

Predeceased by her husband, Austin Kennedy Hamilton.⁵

He filed for a homestead at NE Sec 22, Twp 21, Rge 10, Mer W1 but it was later cancelled.²⁰

WERE NEVER HEARD FROM.
Sharon People Wish to Settle an Estate, Complicated by Love Affair of 26 Years Ago.
SHARON, July 21---An elopement which startled the residents of the town 26 years ago, has again been brought to the attention of the public, when Chas. F. Holbrook of Stoughton yesterday petitioned Judge Flint of the Norfolk probate court, at Dedham, that the property of Nancy E. Tisdale be distributed among her heirs.

The Tisdale family were old residents of the town. In 1884 Nancy E. Tisdale eloped with her sister's husband, James Smith, also a resident of the town. Mrs Smith never heard from her husband, and the Tisdale family were unable to ever locate their daughter. The petition Is brought on the grounds that Nancy E. Tisdale is dead. The case was continued to Sept 7.²¹

J. F. (sic) Swift, Indian Head, Passes Away
Homesteaded Near File Hills Fifty Years Ago; Funeral Set for Sunday
Special to the Star-Phoenix
INDIAN HEAD, May 24.--Death claimed one of the district's outstanding pioneer figures today in the person of James Britton Swift, 82.

Born at Boston, Mass., on April 9, 1853, he came to the Wolseley district and homesteaded near the File Hills in the early 80s and moved to the Bell farm in 1885. In 1888 he came to the town of Indian Head.

Early sporting activities in Indian Head owe much to the interest of Mr. Swift. He helped to organize the Indian Head Curling Club and assisted at the building of the first rink In 1888. In 1889 he won the Major Bell trophy and captured the district medal in 1891. He was for a time vice-president of the gun club, was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 8 which was organized 38 years ago, and was also a member of the encampment and was grand trustee for some four years.

Mr. Swift is survived by his widow and one son, J. E. Swift, at home, and one daughter, Mrs. R. H. Johnston, Yorkton. The funeral will be held from the home on Sunday. The Odd Fellows' rites will be observed.¹⁸

INDIAN HEAD PIONEER DIES
     James B. Swift, 82, Who Came to Wolseley District in 1880's, Passes
     (Special Despatch)
     INDIAN HEAD, Sask., May 25.---
Death claimed one of the district's outstanding pioneer figures Friday in the person of James Britton Swift, 82.
     Born at Boston, Mass., on April 9. 1853, Mr. Swift came to the Wolseley district and homesteaded near the File Hills in the early 80's, and moved to the Bell farm in 1885.
     In 1888 he came to the town of Indian Head, and for 20 years was agent for the Massey-Harris Company. It was he who introduced the first twine binder to the district.
     Of recent weeks he had taken a lively interest in the Rebellion series, as he was residing only a quarter of a mile from the Indian reserve while the Riel rebellion was In progress, though he took no active part in it.
     Interested In Sport
     Early sporting activities in Indian Head owe much to the interest of Mr. Swift. He helped to organize the Indian Head Curling club and assisted at the building of the first rink in 1888. In 1889 he won the Major Bell curling trophy and captured the district medal in 1891.
     He was for a time vice-president of the Gun club, was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. lodge No. 8, which was organized 38 years ago, and was also a member of the encampment and was grand trustee for some four years from about 1908.
     Mr. Swift was married on June 19, 1882 at Boston, and is survived by his widow and one son, J. E. Swift, at home, and one daughter, Mrs. R. H. Johnston, Yorkton.
     The funeral will be held from the home on Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. with Rev. W. A. Osborne, of the Indian Head United church, officiating. The Odd Fellows' rites will be observed.
     Funeral arrangements are in the hands of Charles Farrow, of Sintaluta.¹⁴

It is interesting to note that James and his legal wife, Susie died within 5 weeks of each other though they had not seen each other for about 50 years.²³

Very glad to reach you, even though you might not have any info. I'll certainly add what info I have, which I've only come across recently while doing further research on known family members of mine long since put to bed. The major interest with James is that I uncovered a family scandal that no one (in my lifetime) had heard about. James Swift was not his birth name. He was the brother of my great great grandfather, Deroyce Smith from Easton, MA. James was born James Britton Smith, son of Asahel Smith and Almira Gilbert. Both Deroyce and James married daughters of Abijah Tisdale (Harriet and Susie respectively) around 1878 in Easton. I lost track of James after the 1880 census and never knew about him until recently when I discovered the obituary for Gertrude Ivadelle Swift and her parents were listed as James "Brillon" Swift and Nancy Gertrude Tisdale. I checked the 1901 Canada Census and found them living in Indian Head... their full birthdates being spot on to James Smith and Susie's other sister, Nancy. Come to find out, James and Nancy ran away from their families and were never heard from again. Apparently James changed his last name to Swift and they settled at Indian Head in 1884, one year after the birth of James and Susie's son, Kenneth. I've been trying to find out more info on James and Nancy, if they were ever married, whether or not anyone knew of their secret. I wonder if their kids, James Ernest and Ivadelle, even knew themselves. I will keep an eye on your page and add what info I have.

In a follow up email he wrote:
Just a quick note to say that I received the funeral home entries for both Nancy and James Swift a couple days ago. Both funerals and caskets were bought by their son "Ernest" and daughter Ivadelle Johnston shows up in one as making a payment. As I suspected, no parents were given except Nancy's maiden name listed as Tisdale and her birthplace was Boston (though she was really born in Easton). This confirms the suspicion that James and Nancy's children never knew their story and probably never knew who their grandparents were. James' full name on the record was James Britton Swift so Brillon must have been a transcription error. I now have their exact death dates so will add that info to the page.¹⁶

WERE NEVER HEARD FROM.
Sharon People Wish to Settle an Estate, Complicated by Love Affair of 26 Years Ago.
SHARON, July 21---An elopement which startled the residents of the town 26 years ago, has again been brought to the attention of the public, when Chas. F. Holbrook of Stoughton yesterday petitioned Judge Flint of the Norfolk probate court, at Dedham, that the property of Nancy E. Tisdale be distributed among her heirs.

The Tisdale family were old residents of the town. In 1884 Nancy E. Tisdale eloped with her sister's husband, James Smith, also a resident of the town. Mrs Smith never heard from her husband, and the Tisdale family were unable to ever locate their daughter. The petition Is brought on the grounds that Nancy E. Tisdale is dead. The case was continued to Sept 7.¹²

Very glad to reach you, even though you might not have any info. I'll certainly add what info I have, which I've only come across recently while doing further research on known family members of mine long since put to bed. The major interest with James is that I uncovered a family scandal that no one (in my lifetime) had heard about. James Swift was not his birth name. He was the brother of my great great grandfather, Deroyce Smith from Easton, MA. James was born James Britton Smith, son of Asahel Smith and Almira Gilbert. Both Deroyce and James married daughters of Abijah Tisdale (Harriet and Susie respectively) around 1878 in Easton. I lost track of James after the 1880 census and never knew about him until recently when I discovered the obituary for Gertrude Ivadelle Swift and her parents were listed as James "Brillon" Swift and Nancy Gertrude Tisdale. I checked the 1901 Canada Census and found them living in Indian Head... their full birthdates being spot on to James Smith and Susie's other sister, Nancy. Come to find out, James and Nancy ran away from their families and were never heard from again. Apparently James changed his last name to Swift and they settled at Indian Head in 1884, one year after the birth of James and Susie's son, Kenneth. I've been trying to find out more info on James and Nancy, if they were ever married, whether or not anyone knew of their secret. I wonder if their kids, James Ernest and Ivadelle, even knew themselves. I will keep an eye on your page and add what info I have.

In a follow up email he wrote:
Just a quick note to say that I received the funeral home entries for both Nancy and James Swift a couple days ago. Both funerals and caskets were bought by their son "Ernest" and daughter Ivadelle Johnston shows up in one as making a payment. As I suspected, no parents were given except Nancy's maiden name listed as Tisdale and her birthplace was Boston (though she was really born in Easton). This confirms the suspicion that James and Nancy's children never knew their story and probably never knew who their grandparents were. James' full name on the record was James Britton Swift so Brillon must have been a transcription error. I now have their exact death dates so will add that info to the page.¹¹

Survivor(s): Mrs. R H Johnston.¹

Survived by his wife, the former Ida Rear. Predeceased by his parents: John Taylor and Mrs. John Taylor.²