Smith Cemetery ~ George E. Swearingen ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Swearingen, George E.
LAST: Swearingen FIRST: George MID: E.
GENDER: M MAIDEN NAME:  TITLE: 
BORN: 29 Sep 1914 DIED: 2 Apr 1940 BURIED: 4 Apr 1940 (Smith Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  Insurance Salesman
BIRTH PLACE:  Monmouth, Polk Co., Oregon
DEATH PLACE: Polk Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
1920 CENSUS - George Swearingen (5y, b Oregon) enumerated with parents George 46y, b Iowa) & Letitia (40y, b Iowa), 6 siblings Joe (20y, b Nebraska), Jennie (18y, b Nebraska), Merle (15y, b Oregon), Archie (11y, b Oregon), Ruth (8y, b Oregon) & Doris (2y, b Oregon), brother-in-law [of George] Joe Roth (76y, b Pennsylvania), sister-in-law [of George] Ruth Roth (45y, b Iowa) & nephew [of George] Joe Roth (18y, b Nebraska) DISCREPANCY - Middle name given as Earnest in dc and as Emil on tombstone; Emil may be correct as Earnest was the middle name of his older brother Archie
OBITUARY: 
George Swearingen, aged about 25, took his own life sometime Tuesday forenoon on a country road in the Spring Valley district, north of the Spring Valley school in the northeastern part of Polk county. He was found dead in his car about 11:00 am by persons who had observed the machine and then notified state police. Deputy Coroner Paul Bollman and Deputy Sheriff W.W. Williams investigated. From information obtained Swearingen had driven alone to the out of the way place between 8:00 and 11:00 am. He had fired a bullet from a 22 automatic rifle into the center of his forehead while sitting in the car. Despondency apparently was the motive, according to a note left for his mother, Mrs George R. Swearingen. George had been residing near West Salem with a brother Arch Swearingen. The family had previously resided in the Cooper Hollow district and George was well known around Dallas. Funeral services were held at the Henkle & Bollman chapel at 1:30 today (Thursday). George was born near Monmouth on September 29, 1914, the son of Mr and Mrs George R. Swearingen. The family resided for a number of years in the Fishback hill district west of Monmouth and George attended school in Monmout and Dallas. He had suffered for the past several years from mastoid trouble and it is thought reaction from this may have caused his despondency. He is survived by his parents, who now live near West Salem, three brothers, Merle and Arch of West Salem and Joe of Joseph, and two sisters, Mrs John Rose, Dallas and Mrs Joe Putnum, Corvallis. Itemizer Observer, Thursday, April 4, 1940, 6:3
INSCRIPTION: 
George Emil Swearingen 1914-1940
SOURCES: 
OSBH DC (Polk County 1940) #27 1920 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Monmouth, ED 369, page 204A) Itemizer Observer, 4 Apr 1940, 6:3
CONTACTS: 
ROW: 25-7