Isaac Swift

  General Notes:

Dr. Isaac Swift, is one of the early settlers of this city {Ravenna}, and for many years
prominently identified with the medical profession.

Copyright Betty Ralph bralph@HiWAAY.net November 1999

DR. ISAAC SWIFT (deceased) was born in Cornwall, Litchfield Co., Conn.,
January 30, 1790, the youngest son and fourth child in a line of five
children of Dr. Isaac Swift. His father was a Revolutionary patriot. When
the British opened the war at Lexington, Dr. Swift, with a company ofhis
neighbors, at once proceeded to Boston and entered the ranks of the patriot
army. Dr. Swift was assigned the position of surgeon, in which capacity he
served during the war. He died in 1802, when his son, the subject ofthis
biography, was twelve years of age. Mrs. Swift, a most estimable woman,
followed her husband to the gave in about six years, her son Isaac then
being in his eighteenth year. Young Swift entered upon a course of study,
attending medical lectures in New York City, and after completing his
studies, was admitted or licensed to practice in New Jersey. In the spring
of 1815 he set out westward, with a view to select a desirable point at
which to establish himself in the practice of medicine. Mounted upon
horseback, with all his worldly effects in a portmanteau attached to the
saddle, he commenced his pilgrimage, and after rough riding, reached
Cleveland City, as the natives called it, though its population was the mere
handful of a hundred or two. After halting here for a short time, the young
doctor resumed his journey, and in the month of June, 1815, drew reinupon
his steed in the village of Ravenna, having then ridden over 1,000 miles.
He horse, in swimming Grand River, at Painesville, took cold, and upon
arriving at Ravenna was too sick to proceed farther. This obliged the
Doctor to remain in Ravenna, nolens volens; thus the trifling matter of the
sickness of a horse located him for life; his search after "a home inthe
West" ceased, and for over half a century he was a prominent residentof
Ravenna. In 1816 Dr, Swift formed a partnership with the late Seth Day, for
a term of five years. The firm bought out a store kept by a man named
Hazlipp, adding to it a stock of medicines, Day carrying on the storeand
Swift continuing his practice. In 1817 Mr. Day was appointed Clerk of the
Court and Recorder of the county. In 1820 the partnership was dissolved,
and the store eventually passed back to Hazlipp, the Doctor retainingthe
stock of medicines. January 15, 1818, he was married to Eliza Thompson, and
immediately after marriage the newly married couple commenced housekeeping
in a dwelling then standing upon the ground now occupied by the Etna Block.
In 1823 the erection of the Swift homestead, on Chestnut Street, was
commenced, the building being completed in 1824, since which time it has
been the residence of the family. After the dissolution of Day & Swift in
1820, the drug store was continued by the Doctor for a time in the Hazlipp
store, and afterward, from 1822 to 1825, in the store of Cyrus Prentiss
(that place of business being upon the corner now occupied by the First
National Bank), in connection with which his medical practice was retained.
In 1824 Dr. Swift was elected Treasurer of the county, and held the office
until 1831. In 1825 he built a drug store upon the east corner of his lot
on Chestnut Street, and established his business there. In 1828, after a
practice of thirteen years, he retired permanently from the practice of
medicine, devoting his time exclusively to the Treasurership and drugstore.
In 1842 the drug store was moved to the brick building on Main Street, known
as Swift's Block or building. A brief partnership with the late Curtiss
Hatch ensued, and the drug business was continued until 1859, when Dr. Swift
disposed of it to his son, Dr. Charles E. Swift, and retired from active
business. In 1846 the State Legislature conferred the appointment of
Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of this county, upon Dr.
Swift. He occupied the position with usefulness and dignity for fiveyears,
at which time the office was abolished by the adoption of the new State
Constitution. Mrs. Swift was united with the church in 1826, but her
husband was not led to such a step until September 11, 1831, a conviction
then coming upon him from attending a protracted meeting held by Rev.
Charles B. Storrs, at Hudson. At this time Rev. Alvan Nash was pastor of
the Ravenna Church. Dr. Swift took an active interest in the church,and
became a leader in its affairs and counsels, and so remained up to the day
of his death. For over forty years he was the church Treasurer, and he
filled various positions within the scope of the church organization. Dr.
Swift died at his residence on Chestnut Street, Ravenna, on Tuesday evening,
July 14, 1874, in the eighty-fifth year of his age.

Isaac married Eliza Thompson on 15 Jan 1818.