HENRY ADONIRAM SWIFT

Third Governor of the State of Minnesota, was born in Ravenna, Ohio, March 23, 1823, and died in St. Peter, Minnesota, February 25, 1869. He was a state senator in 1862-3 and in 1864-5, and later was register of the United States Land Office at St. Peter, until his death. He served as governor from July 10, 1863, to January 11, 1864.

HENRY ADONIRAM SWIFT

THIRD GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA July 10, 1863, to January 11, 1864

N Maple Grove Cemetery, at Ravenna, Ohio, there

IN

sleeps, in his last long sleep, the third governor of Minnesota, Henry Adoniram Swift. He was a remarkable and uncommon man in the distinguishing features of his personal character. He was of a rare and delicate mould, and really devoid of political ambition. What came to him in the way of official position was conferred by his fellow citizens because of their belief in his special fitness and endowment for the place they wished him to occupy. He never personally sought an office nor solicited a recommendation for one. He is the only one of our governors of whom this could be truthfully said. And of how many men in this nation, who have enjoyed political preferment, can this be affirmed?

Henry Adoniram Swift was born in Ravenna, Ohio, March 23, 1823. He was the second son and the third child of Isaac and Eliza Swift. He was of Revolutionary stock; but, as Voltaire was wont to say, "He who serves his country well has no need of ancestors." Yet we record the genealogical fact that the Swifts could trace their lineage back to the Pilgrim Fathers. His