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Note: N6565 Home in 1880: Mendocino, Sonoma, California
Richard Swift 49 OH NJ Maine; teamster
Mary J. Swift 34 MO MO IL
Frederick Swift 14 CA
Richard G. Swift 12 CA
Richard Swift
Santa Rosa Republican, Oct 27, 1905
Contributed by Steve Harrison
He Was With The Donners
Late Pioneer Swift Of Healdsburg By Mere Chance Escaped The Fate Of That Party
Richard Swift, a well known and greatly respected resident of Healdsburg, who died in that city Sunday October 22, 1905, was buried from his late residence Tuesday October 24. The name of this pioneer recalls the early history of California and the tragic Donner story passes in review. He was one of the 120 persons composing the band to which the ill-fated Donner party belonged. They started across the plains in 1846 piloted by William Fowler, long since over the "divide." When they reached what is now Salt Lake City, the company split [sic - they never really traveled together] and the Donners against Fowler's advice passed on, leaving the others to take the Weber Canyon Cut-off, a rough but shorter route over the mountain barrier. Mr. Swift remained with the Fowler contingent and landed safely at Sutter's Fort, while the Donners froze, starved and died in their miserable huts amid the unhospitable snowy wilds of the Sierras. He came near casting his lot with the luckless party whose pitiful fate that winter makes the beautiful mountain lake that bears their name a place of sorrowful memory. Mr. Swift afterwards enlisted and served in the war with Mexico. A widow and three children, residents of Healdsburg, survive him."
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