Dr. Hardy Maxey Swift (1870-1942)

Accident Injuries fatal to man who was three times Mayor of Mt. Vernon.

Dr. Hardy Maxey Swift, Mt. Vernon for three terms and twice a member of the Illinois State Legislature, died at 12:03 A.M. Sunday at Mt. Vernon Hospital of injuries received last Wednesday in a collision of automobiles a short distance north of this city. His age was 71 years, five months and 16 days.

Dr. Swift lapsed into a coma Friday night and physicians held but little hope for his recovery. He suffered crushing injuries to a leg and hip, fractured ribs, a chest injury and cut to his face and arms.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2:30 P.M. at Myers Chapel, conducted by the Rev. M.A. Souers, pastor of the First Methodist church. Buriel will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The body will remain at Myers Chapel, where friends may call up to the funeral hour. Dr. Swift was born August 29, 1870 in Jefferson County, the son of James M. and Drucilla Maxey Swift, pioneers of Illinois.

He was elected in the public schools of Jefferson county and Ewing College. In 1892 he matriculated in P.M., Medical College of Illinois and in 1895 graduted from the College of Medicine of Indiana and began his practice at Opdyke.

After 11 years of rural practice he moved to Mt. Vernon to become superintendent of Mt. Vernon Hospital, a position he held for five years.

Dr. Swift, a Democrat was elected Mayor of Mt. Vernon in 1911. He was reelected in 1927 and after serving for two years was again elected mayor in 1929. In 1934 he was elected to the General Assembly of Illinois as a representative of the 46th district and served two terms as a state legislator.

On September 16, 1894 he was united in marriage with Mary Alice Moss who survives. The family home is at 1920 College.

He was a member of the First Methodist church.

Besides his widow, he is survived by one son, Harry M. Swift of Mt. Vernon; a daughter , Mrs. Delber E. Veatch, of Elkhart, Indiana ; two brothers, Ettis Swift of St. Petersburg, Fl., and A.R. Swift of Mt. Vernon; four sisters, Mrs Lula Gilmore and Mrs. Stella Johnson of Mt. Vernon, Mrs. Bertie Piercy of Little Falls, Minnesota and Mrs. Sarah C. Gallenough of Toronto, Canada; Four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Dr. Swift was a member of Elks, Woodmen and Red Men orders, having filled all the chairs in the latter order as a state officer. He was a Great Sachem for two years and served as Great Representative to the Great Council of the United States Improved Order of the Red Men.

He was also a past president of the Mt. Vernon Lions Club.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News - Death Notice
Date: February 16, 1942
Submitted by: Mary Jane Ohms - July 5, 2001