Johnstown Tribune; Oct 10, 1918
Morrell Swank Has Passed Away--Officer of Long Established Hardware Firm Expires at Memorial Hospital. Morrell Swank, notice of whose serious illness was mentioned in yesterday's Tribune, died last night at the Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient for some weeks. His death was due to intestinal trouble. Mr Swank's condition became alarming three or four weeks ago, when he was taken to the hospital, where a minor operation was performed.
The funeral will take place at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon from the Swank residence, 132 Walnut Street, the services to be conducted by the deceased's pastor, the Rev. Henry W. Snyder of the First Lutheran Church. Burial will be made in the Swank plot in Grandview Cemetery. Friends are requested to omit flowers.
Morrell was the son of Jacob and Catherine (Border) Swank and was born in Johnstown on August 6, 1857. He was reared here and received an education in the public schools. On leaving school, he entered his father's hardware store as a clerk. He continued in this capacity until the Johnstown Flood of May 1889 when his father lost his life. After the flood, Morrell Swank and his brothers Harry and George W. Swank, engaged in business under the name of the Swank Hardware Company. When the company was incorporated some years ago Morrell was elected Secretary, which position he has since held in the firm.
The deceased was married twice, both times to daughters of the late Dr. and Mrs. John Fry. His first marriage was in 1884 to Miss Ella Fry, who perished in the flood of May 1889 with a son Roy Swank. In 1893 Mr Swank was married to Miss Arminta Fry, who survives him with a daughter, Mrs. Alexander Borland Caldwell, of Bellevue, Pittsburg. Morrell Swank was a brother of Newton B. of Westmont; William of Walnut Grove; Harry of 114 Main Street; and George W. of 331 Vine Street and the surviving sister is Etta E., wife of Charles Glock of 616 Somerset Street.
Mr Swank lost his wife, son, father, mother, sister Jennie, brother Frederick and about 20 other relatives in the flood of 1889. Morrell Swank then lived on Main Street a short distance above the store and was carried from there to the Swank residence in the First Ward. He was carrying his wife and son with him until a timber struck him and he was compelled to give them up. His little daughter was caught upon some debris and was carried to a place of safety, where she was found a few days later by her father. This daughter is now Mrs. Zora Caldwell. Since his second marriage, Mr Swank has made his home on what was part of the Judge James Potts homestead in the Second Ward. Morrell Swank united with the First Lutheran Church during the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. R. A. Fink. |
