J.W. (Jack) Swilling
History of Arizona,  Thomas Edwin Farish, Vol. 2 1915, pg. 251

J.W. Swilling, known as Jack was born in the state of Georgia 
in 1831.  He emigrated to Missouri in early life and there 
settled down.  After having resided in that state some four 
years, his wife died, leaving one child, a girl who afterwards 
married and lived in Missouri.

About the year 1857, Swilling migrated to Texas where he 
remained for two years when he came to Arizona, and was in 
the  employ of the Overland Mail Company for quite a length 
of time.

During the Rebellion, Swilling was a lieutenant in Captain 
Hunter's company of volunteers in Baylor's regiment and 
occupied himself with thirty of his men in protecting settlers 
and others from the Indians along the Rio Grande in Southern 
New Mexico and along the road to Tucson Arizona.  When the 
Confederates were driven out of New Mexico, Mr. Swilling 
remained in Arizona and a few months afterwards was carrying 
the express for the soldiers and acting as guide for them 
through the country.  The following winter he joined the 
Walker Party.

He was one of the party that accompanied Colonel Jack 
Sniveley, a veteran of the Texas War of Independence, 
and General Houston's private secretary in a prospecting 
trip when the mines of Pinos Altos were discovered and 
Swilling, it is said, was at the head of the party that 
discovered Rich Hill near Weaver Creek in the lower part 
of Yavapai County in 1863.

In 1867 Swilling organized a company and built the first 
canal from the Salt River, now known as the Town Ditch, 
which was intended to reclaim four thousand acres of land.  
This canal was completed in 1868, all the lands under it 
were located by settlers during the following years and 
quite a settlement was made in what is now the city of 
Phoenix.  This name was given to the new settlement by 
Swilling.

In 1871 Swilling organized a company which built the Tempe 
Canal.  Shortly after this, he moved to the Black Canyon 
and located a farm.  In the meantime he had married a second 
time (Trinidad Escalante) and moved his family to his new home.  
During his residence at this place, the Tip-Top, the Swilling and 
other mines were discovered and the town of Gillett 
started up three miles from Swilling's residence.

Swilling was known as a kind hearted, generous man, public 
spirited and always ready to assist any needy man.  He went 
on periodical sprees, however, in which he drank heavily 
and also used drugs.  The year preceding his death, he was 
drinking heavily and while on one of these jamborees, in 
April 1878 his wife formed a plan to get him out of town 
and sober him up.  She secured the services of George 
Munroe and Andrew Kirby to join Swilling and go the 
White Picacho Mountains and exhume the bones of his 
old friend, Colonel Sniveley from the place of their 
burial seven years previously, Sniveley having been 
murdered there by the Apaches while on a prospecting 
trip, and to bring the remains to Gillett for burial.  
The party went out, accomplished the object for which 
they went, and during this time the stage was held up 
near Wickenburg and plundered.  When the news reached 
Gillett that three men had stopped the mail coach, and 
that one large man and one small man had done the job, 
Swilling, in a jocular way, remarked to George Monroe: 
"George, that fits us, one big man and one little man," 
whereupon he and Munroe were arrested and taken to Prescott.  
Rush and Wells were their attorneys.  They had an examination 
before Judge Carter, and their discharge was ordered but 
before they were released the Marshall found that the 
robbery was committed in Maricopa County and took them 
from the Prescott jail to Yuma for safekeeping and to 
await their examination.  Evidence was secured for the 
prosecution of a kind intended to convict regardless of 
justice.  The examination was somewhat of a persecution; 
the depositions for the defense, taken by stipulation 
with the U.S. Attorney, were ruled out and the prisoners 
were held in $3,000 bail which was about to be furnished 
when the sad news reached his family and friends of 
Swilling's death, although innocent, within the walls of 
Yuma Prison.  He left a wife and five children, besides 
numerous friends to mourn his death.  He died on the 12th 
day of August, 1878 at the age of 47 years.  Munroe was 
discharged, no indictment ever having been found against 
him.

The Prescott Miner, September 13, 1878 contains Jack Swilling's 
statement written from Yuma Prison, 1878:
"To the Public:
Jack Swilling, whose doors have always been open to the poor 
alike with those of the rich and plenty, looks forth from the 
prison cell to the blue heavens where reigns the Supreme Being
who will judge my innocence of the crime which has been 
brought against me by adventurers and unprincipled reward 
hunters.  I have no remorse of conscience for anything, I 
have ever done while in my sane mind.  In 1854, I was struck 
on the head with a heavy revolver and my skull broken and 
was also shot in the left side and to the present time carry 
the bullet in my body.  No one knows what I have suffered 
from these wounds.  At times they render me almost crazy.  
Doctors prescribed, years ago, morphine which seemed to give 
relief but the use of which together with strong drink as at 
times--as I have been informed by my noble wife and good 
friends, made me mad and during  these spells I have been 
cruel to her at all other times I have been a kind husband.  
During these periods of debauch, caused by the mixture of 
morphine and liquor I have insulted my best friends, but 
never when I was Jack Swilling, free from these poisonous 
influences.  I have tried hard to cure myself of the growing 
appetite for morphine but the craving of it was stronger 
than my will could resist.  I have gone to the rescue of my 
fellow men when they were surrounded by Indians--I have 
given to those who needed--I have furnished shelter to the 
Sick.  From the Governor down to the lowest Mexican in the 
land have I extended my hospitality and oh, my God, how am 
I paid for it all.  Thrown into prison, accused of a crime 
that I would rather suffer crucifixion than commit.  Taken 
from my wife and little children who are left out in this 
cold world all alone.  Is this my reward for the kindness 
I have done to my fellow men and the pay I must receive for 
having done a Christian act, with Munroe and Kirby that of 
going after the bones of my poor old friend Sniveley and 
taking them to Gillett and buying them by the side of my 
dear child?  George Munroe, Andy Kirby and myself are as 
innocent of the charge brought against us of robbing the 
stage as an innocent babe.  We went out to do a Christian 
act.  Poor L.G. Taylor, whom I liked and tried to help, 
has been one of those who have wrought my ruin and for 
what I cannot conceive, unless it was for the reward money 
or to rob my family out of the old ranch.  The reason I 
write this is because I may be found dead any morning in 
my cell.  I may drop off the same as poor Tom McWilliams 
did at Fort Goodwin.  My persecutors will remember me.  
And may God help my poor family through this cold world, 
is my prayer.  John W. Swilling."


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