Edward William Swaby (1899 - 1980)

Born 20 Apr 1899 in Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Dillie (Snodgrass) Swaby — married 2 Aug 1926 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Died 3 Oct 1980 at age 81 in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bill Rice [send private message]

Biography

• Edward William Swaby was born in Helena, Montana in 1899 [1] [2] [3] to Edward James Swaby and Nina Alora Clothier (Swaby). He had 5 sisters, Emily Alice Swaby (Carter), Mary Clothier Swaby (Light), Edna Christina Swaby (Barnard, Albert, Eastep), Laura Nina Swaby (Draper, Gui), and Helen Bell Swaby (Rice). His parents and siblings are all now deceased.
• In the 1900 United States Federal Census [4] [5] [6] [7] we find Edward James and Nina at 1902 Chestnut Street in Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana with 2 children, Edna (6) and Edward W. (1). Edward J. is working as a fuel man for the railroad.
• The 1910 United States Federal Census [8] [9] [10] [11] for Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, shows Edward J. with Nina and 5 children Edna (17), Edward W. (11), Mary (9), Laura (7), and Emily "Alice" (5) renting a residence on Winnie Avenue and Edward J. is working as a bookkeeper. Unfortunately Edward J. began drinking with friends from work - too much and too often. Nina insisted they move to Great Falls where her sister Elva and Elva's husband John lived. They were there a few months and John became Edward's new drinking buddy and so Nina moved the family to Canada eventually settling in Calgary, Alberta in 1911. Edward J. had a good job with the railroad, the family was able to settle in a good home and Edward completely stopped his drinking.
• In the record "Canada Border Crossings from U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935" for August 1912 [12] we see Edward and Nina with Edna, Edward, Mary, Laura, and Alice crossing from Montana, USA to Alberta, Canada at Coutts, Alberta, Canada. Edward is shown as a bookkeeper with $115.00 cash on his person.
• Edward W. had moved with his family to Calgary, Alberta, Canada where he was in the first graduating class of the Victoria Prevocational School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on 21 June 1915 [13]. Ed can be seen in the graduation picture in the front row, third from the left.
• The 1916 Henderson Directories (1916, page 731) for Calgary, Alberta, Canada [14] shows Edward William Swaby works at the Allen Theater in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• The 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta [15] [16] [17] shows Edward and Nina together with children Edward W. (17), Mary (15), Laura (14) and Emiily "Alice" (11) living at 1312 - 5th Street East in Calgary West, Alberta, Canada. Edward J. is working as an accountant for the C.P.R. (Canadian Pacific Railway).
• A December 7th 1916 U.S., Counsular Application [18] for Edward W. applying to register as an American citizen says that he is unmarried and has a legal domicile at 1312 5th Street, East, Helena, Montana but was in Alberta, Canada to be employed by the Alberta Farmers Cooperative Company, Limited, Loughead Building, Calgary, Alberta, Canada [19].
• The Henderson Directories, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1917, page 565) [20] shows Edward working as a clerk at the Alberta Farmers Coop Elevator Company, and residing at 1514 11th Ave. W in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (the same residence address shown for his father, Edward J., a clerk at CPR - Canadian Pacific Railway).
• Henderson's Directories for Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 1918 [21] (page 638) shows Edward W. working as a clerk at United Grain Growers living at 1514 11th Ave., Calgary Alberta, Canada. Ed's dad, Edward J, and sister Mary are also shown living at that address.
• Consular Certificate of Registration No. 64, Department No. 94 dated March 16th 1918 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada states that Ed "has been registered in this office as an American Citizen by authority of the Department of State at Washington." He is described as 17 years old, 5' 7" tall, blue eyes, brown hair, and of clear complexion.
• Edward's World War I Draft Registration Card completed on September 27th 1918 in Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana [22] [23] shows him employed as a clerk at the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) Freight Office. He is described as being 5'10" tall, having a slender build and with blue eyes and brown hair.
• Henderson's Directories for Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 1919 [24] (page 655) shows Edward W. working as a clerk at Imperial Oil and residing at 1514 14th Ave. W, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ed's father Edward J., and sisters, Mary and Laura also were living at that address. Edward's father Edward James Swaby was also a clerk at Imperial Oil in 1919.
• The 1921 Census of Canada shows Edward J. (55) and Nina (44) with children Edward W. (22), Mary (20), Laura (19), Emily "Alice" (17) and Helen (5) renting at 818 4th Ave. W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada [25]. Edward J. and his son, Edward W. are bookkeepers and the older girls are stenographers, Mary for a jewelry company and Laura for a biscuit factory.
• Ed left Imperial Oil and traveled to San Francisco, California where he joined the U. S. Army spending time in the Phillipine Islands in the Army Medical Corps. On April 24th 1924 Ed was appointed sergeant, Medical Department, U.S. Army. He was formerly a PFC. He was honorably discharged at the William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas with a rank of sergeant on 16 February 1926.
• While in the Army, on July 30th 1925, Ed became engaged to a young Texas girl named Margaret Dillie Snodgrass who was known as Dillie.
• A letter of recommendation for employment was written for Ed on February 16th 1926 by is Sergeant Major which said in part, "Mr. Edward Swaby has been employed in Headquarters Office, at this station, for the past twelve months, in charge of the sick and wounded records section." The letter went on to make a glowing recommendation. Ed received his honorable discharge as a sergeant in the Medical Department from the Army of the United States on 16 February 1926 at El Paso, Texas.
• Ed married Margaret Dillie Snodgrass in Los Angeles, California on 2 August 1926 [26] [27] [28] [29], divorced her then married Constance Elizabeth Jaffray on 1 May 1965, then divorced Constance in June 1967 and remarried Dillie on 28 Dec 1967 and Ed & Dillie then remained together until he died in 1980.
• By 1928 Ed and Dillie were living in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California as reflected in California, Voter Registrations [30] showing Ed and Dillie at 3019 1/2 Budlong Avenue. Ed is shown working as a motorman and Dillie as a housewife and both registered as Republicans.
• In California, County Birth and Death Records, an August 27th 1928 death record [31] [32] for (------) Swaby shows that Ed and Dillie's baby was stillborn on that date. Under "Number of children of this mother including present birth" is shown "3" and "Number of children of this mother now living" is shown "0." They never talked about this.
• Ed's career developed into the auto dealer field - sales, managing, service advising, etc.
• The 1930 United States Federal Census [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] shows Ed (30) and (Margaret) Dillie (27) living in a rented residence at $40.00 per month on South Dewey Street in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Ed is shown employed as a railway motorman and Dillie shows "none" for occupation.
• The 1930 California Voter Registrations shows Republican Edward at 7622 S. Hobart Blvd, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California working as a motorman [38]. Republican Dillie is shown as a housewife at 1226 S. Dewey Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California [39].
• The 1932 California, U.S., Voter Registrations [40] Ed and Dillie (both Democrats in this list) living at 190 W. 43rd Place, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
• The 1934 California, Voter Registrations [41] show (Democrats) Ed and Dillie residing at 903 W. 48th Street, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Edward's mother had moved from Canada to California and is shown living at 901 W. 48th Street, next door to Ed and Dillie.
• The 1935 Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California City Directory [42] shows Ed and Dillie at 903 W. 48th Street and Ed works as a motorman. They are living next door to Ed's parents Edward J. and Nina Swaby.
• The 1938 California, Voter Registrations [43] shows (Democrats) Ed and Dillie living at 3129 Atwater Ave., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
• The 1940 California, Voter Registrations [44] shows Republicans Edward and Dillie living at 1946 1/2 Lovelace, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California with Edward working as a bookkeeper and Dillie shown as "housewife."
• The 1940 United States Federal Census [45] [46] [47] shows Ed and Dillie had lived in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California in 1935.
• The 1940 United States Federal Census [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] shows they continued to live in that same place -- 1946 1/2 Lovelace Avenue in Los Angeles. The census showed that Dillie had completed grade 11 and was not working. Dillie's sister, Viola Wanda Snodgrass (known as "Wanda") was living with Ed and Dillie in 1940 and not working.
• Ed completed his World War II Draft Registration Card [53] [54] [55] on February 14th 1942 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. He was described as white, 5'9", 150 pounds, gray eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion, scar on right shin, address (with wife Dillie) 1946 1/2 Lovelace Ave, Los Angeles, California (phone RI 8383), native born citizen, and employed by Marshall & Clampett, 1800 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles, California.
• Ed enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in World War II as an "airplane mechanic" on 11 July 1942. On the 17th of November 1942 Ed received his diploma from the United States Army, Army Air Forces Technical School in Airplane Mechanics at Sheppard Field, Texas. On December 28th 1942 Ed completed 216 hours of instruction in aircraft maintenance in the Glenn L. Martin Company Training School. Ed's service ended on 10 June 1943 [56] at which time he was transferred from active duty to the Enlisted Reserve Corps.
• In August and September 1943, ads in the Los Angeles Times show Ed as the contact man for emplyment as an auto mechanic, auto metal man, etc. at Marshall and Clampett DeSoto and Plymouth Dealer, 1800 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California [57] [58].
• Ed's father, Edward J., died on April 8th 1944 [59] [60] in Arcadia, Los Angeles, California and was laid to rest in Live Oak Cemetery, Monrovia, Los Angeles, California where his wife would be buried as well as many relatives.
• Ed received an honorable discharge on 16 March 1945 from the US Army Reserves, ASF, HQ, Ninth Service Command, Fort Douglas, Utah as a corporal in the enlisted reserves. After returning to his home in Los Angeles Ed made a career of working in the auto industry.
• An advertisement in the Metropolitan Star-News, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California on Friday, June 21st 1946, page 18 (and a number of days to follow), is offering a body-fender man position and shows Ed Swaby as the contact at Willard Karl Motors [61].
• The 1946 California, Voter Registrations [62] shows (Republican) Ed, (Democrat) Dillie, and (Democrat) Wanda (Dillie's sister) living at 1946 1/2 Lovelace Ave., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
• The 1947 U. S., California City Directories for the Pasadena (area) City Directory [63] [64] shows Ed as a foreman at Willard Karl Motors in Pasadena, California residing in Los Angeles, California. While Ed worked as an auto service manager and estimator at Willard Karl Motors in Pasadena, California his brother in law Willard James Rice also worked there. Later he worked at Parkway Ford in Pasadena, Clifford T. Nutt Packard Dealer in Monrovia, California, Colliau Chevrolet Dealer in South Pasadena, California, Bob Longpre Pontiac in Monrovia, California, Ernie Porter Chevrolet in Pasadena, California and perhaps others.
• The 1948 California Registrations for Ed (Dillie not shown with him) [65] has Ed residing at 4110 Del Rio Ave, El Monte, California (later changed to 4110 Daines Drive, Arcadia, California).
• In 1949 the Pasadena, California City Directory [66] shows Ed and Dillie living in Arcadia, Los Angeles, California with Ed a sales manager for a Ford Automobile dealership.
• Ed's mother, Nina, died on November 27th 1949 in Arcadia, Los Angeles, California and was laid to rest in Live Oak Cemetery, Monrovia, Los Angeles, California where her husband was buried as well as many relatives [67] [68].
• The 1950 California, Voter Registrations [69] shows (Republican) Edward, (Democrat) Dillie, and (Democrat) Wanda residing at 4110 Del Rio Ave., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
• In the 1950 United States Federal Census [70] [71] we find Edward, Dillie and Wanda (Dillie's sister) living at 4110 Del Rio in El Monte (later Arcadia), Los Angeles, California and Ed is a retail automotive salesman and the ladies are at home. The Swabys own their home.
• The 1952 California, Voter Registrations [72] shows Republican Ed and Democrat Dillie at 4110 Del Rio Ave.
• An article in the Daily News Post and Monrovia News Post, Monrovia, Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, August 5th 1953 [73] shows Ed joining the sales staff of Clifford T. Nutt Packard Dealer at 245 W. Foothill Blvd in Monrovia, Los Angeles, California. The article goes on to say, "Swaby has had many years experience in both sales and service."
• The 1954 California Voter Registrations [74] shows Republican Ed and Democrat Dillie at 4110 Del Rio Ave.
• In June and July 1957 there are a number of ads in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California for an auto metal man at Bob Longpre Pontiac in Monrovia, Los Angeles, California and Ed Swaby is the contact person [75].
• The 1958 Pasadena, Los Angeles, California City Directory [76] shows Ed and Dillie living in Arcadia, Los Angeles, California. Ed is shown working as a department manager for Ernie Porter Chevrolet.
• Dillie's sister, Viola "Wanda," died on June 25th 1964 [77] [78].
• Ed and Dillie divorced in about 1965 .
• Edward William Swaby married Constance Elizabeth Jaffray on May 1st 1965 [79].
• Edward William Swaby and Constance divorced in Jun 1967 [80]. (Constance would live many years and die on April 28th 2010 in Costa Mesa, Orange, California [81].
• Edward William Swaby remarried Margaret Dillie Snodgrass in 1967 [82] [83] [84] [85] and they remained married until his death on October 3rd 1980 [86].
• The 1969 Arcadia, California City Directory [87] shows Ed and Dillie together at 4110 Daines Drive, Arcadia, California.
• Ed died on October 3, 1980 [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] [95] [96] in the Community Hospital of San Gabriel of cancer. During his last days in the hospital Ed was in a room across the hall from his sister Emily Alice Swaby (Carter) who died 10 days after Ed died.
• Edward is buried in Live Oak Cemetery [97] [98] [99] in Monrovia, California near many family members.
• Dillie continued to live in the house she and Ed had owned and shared on Daines Drive in Arcadia, California. She had help from her sisters-in-law (Ed's sisters, Helen Bell Swaby Rice, Laura Nina Swaby Draper Gui, and Emily Alice Swaby Carter) and eventually live in assistance from members of her church.
• Dillie died at age 88 on July 2nd 1991 [100] [101] [102] [103] [104] [105] [106] in Los Angeles, California and was laid to rest in Monrovia, Los Angeles, California at the Live Oak Cemetery [107] [108] [109] [110] with her husband and many family members.

Sources

• CENSUS RECORDS
• 1900 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com, Web:[111]
• 1900 US Census in familysearch.org, Web:[112]
• 1900 United States Federal Census in myheritage.com, Web:[113]
• 1900 United States Federal Census in genealogybank.com, Web:[114]
• 1910 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com, Web:[115]
• 1910 US Census in familysearch.org, Web:[116]
• 1910 United States Federal Census in myheritage.com, Web:[117]
• 1910 United States Federal Census in genealogybank.com, Web:[118]
• 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta in Ancestry.com, Web:[119]
• 1916 Canada Prairie Provinces Census 1916 in familysearch.org, Web:[120]
• 1916 Canada Census of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in myheritage.com, Web:[121]
• 1921 Census of Canada in Ancestry.com, Web:[122]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com, Web:[123]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in familysearch.org, Web:[124]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in myheritage.com, Web:[125]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in fold3.com, Web [126]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in genealogybank.com, Web:[127]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com, Web:[128]
• 1940 US Census in familysearch.org, Web:[129]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in myheritage.com, Web:[130]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in findmypast.com, Web:[131]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in genealogybank.com, Web:[132]
• 1950 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com, Web:[133]
• 1950 United States Federal Census in myheritage.com, Web:[134]

• EDUCATION
• Victoria Prevocational School 1915 graduation picture in Calgary Public Library, at calgarylibrary.ca, Web:[135]

• COUNSULAR REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS
• U.S., Consular Registration Applications, 1916-1925 for 7 Dec 1916 in Ancestry.com, Web:[136]

• BORDER CROSSINGS
• Border Crossings: From U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935, Swaby family Aug 1912 in Ancestry.com, Web:[137]

• CALIFORNIA VOTER REGISTRATIONS
• 1928 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[138]
• 1930 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[139]
• 1932 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[140]
• 1934 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[141]
• 1938 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[142]
• 1940 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[143]
• 1946 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[144]
• 1948 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[145]
• 1950 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[146]
• 1952 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[147]
• 1954 California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 in Ancestry.com, Web:[148]

• U.S. CITY DIRECTORIES
• 1916 Henderson's Directory for Calgary, Alberta, Canada in ualberta.ca, Web:[149]
• 1917 Henderson's Directory for Calgary, Alberta, Canada in ualberta.ca, Web:[150]
• 1918 Henderson's Directory for Calgary, Alberta, Canada in ualberta.ca, Web:[151]
• 1919 Henderson's Directory for Calgary, Alberta, Canada in ualberta.ca, Web:[152]
• 1935 U.S. City Directory, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California in myheritage.com, Web:[153]
• 1947 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 in Ancestry.com, Web:[154]
• 1947 U.S. City Directories, Pasadena, etc., California City Directory in myheritage.com, Web:[155]
• 1949 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta) in Ancestry.com, Web:[156]
• 1958 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Polk's Monrovia Arcadia City Directory in Ancestry.com, Web:[157]
• 1958 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta) Polk's Pasadena City Directory in Ancestry.com, Web:[158]
• 1969 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 in Ancestry.com, Web:[159]

• EMPLOYMENT RELATED NEWS ARTICLES
• Wed., 25 Aug 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[160]
• Sat., 28 Aug 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[161]
• Sun., 29 Aug 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[162]
• Fri., 3 Sep 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[163]
• Thur., 9 Sep 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[164]
• Fri., 10 Sep 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[165]
• Mon., 13 Sep 1943 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[166]
• Fri., 21 Jun 1946 - Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[167]
• Wed., 26 Jun 1946 - Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[168]
• Thurs, 27 Jun 1946 - Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[169]
• Fri., 28 Jun 1946 - Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[170]
• Sat., 29 Jun 1946 - Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[171]
• 1953 Daily News Post and Monrovia News Post in newspapers.com, Web:[172]
• Wed., 26 Jun 1957 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[173]
• Fri., 28 Jun 1957 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[174]
• Sat., 29 Jun 1957 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[175]
• Sun., 30 Jun 1957 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[176]
• Mon., 1 Jul 1957 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[177]
• Tues., 2 Jul 1957 - Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California in newspapers.com, Web:[178]

• MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES
• California Divorce Index, Constance Jaffray in Ancestry.com, Web:[179]
• California Marriage Index, Constance Jaffray in Ancestry.com, Web:[180]
• California County Marriages, Marriages in familysearch.org for Ed and Dillie's original marriage, Web:[181]
• California County Birth Marriage and Death Records, original 1926 marriage to Margaret Snodgrass in Ancestry.com, Web:[182]
• California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, marriage of Ed and Dillie in 1926 in myheritage.com, Web:[183]
• California County Marriages, Marriages in familysearch.org for Ed and Dillie's original marriage, Web:[184]
• California Marriage Index, remarriage with Margaret Dillie Snodgrass in familysearch.rg, Web:[185]
• California Marriage Index, Margaret Snodgrass, remarriage in Ancestry.com, Web:[186]
• Newspapers.com Daily News Post Marriage License Edward and Margaret Dillie remarry in Newspapers.com, Web:[187]

• MILITARY DRAFT REGISTRATIONS
• World War I Draft Registration Cards in Ancestry.com, Web:[188]
• World War I Draft Registration Cards in familysearch.org, Web:[189]
• US WWII Draft Cards Young Men in Ancestry.com, Web:[190]
• Page 1 - Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Multiple Registrations 14 Feb 1942 in fold3.com, Web:[191]
• Page 2 - Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Multiple Registrations 14 Feb 1942 in fold3.com, Web:[192]

• DEATH RELATED RECORDS
• U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 in Ancestry.com, Web:[193]
• California Death Index in Ancestry.com, Web:[194]
• California Death Index in familysearch.org, Web:[195]
• California Deaths, 1940 - 1997 in myheritage.com:[196]
• United States Social Security Death Index in Ancestry.com, Web:[197]
• United States Social Security Death Index in familysearch.org, Web:[198]
• U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) in myheritage.com, Web:[199]
• United States Social Security Death Index in fold3.com, Web:[200]
• United States Social Security Death Index in genealogybank.com, Web:[201]
• US Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File in Ancestry.com, Web:[202]
• California Find a Grave in Ancestry.com, Web:[203]
• Find a Grave Index in familysearch.org. Web:[204]
• Find a Grave Memorial in findagrave.com, Web:[205]
• Newspapers.com obituary for Edward's father Edward James Swaby in Newspapers.com, Web:[206]

• IMAGES

EW Swaby - Death Certificate