JUDGE SULLIVAN DIES
BUSY LIFE IS ENDED

   Judge James C. Sullivan, aged 70 years, and for 33 years a resident of Butte, died at 5 o’clock Sunday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. H. Mueller, 803 West Park street.  Death was due to pneumonia which he contracted last Friday.  He is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.  The daughters are Mrs. A. H. Mueller, Mrs. C. S. Heizig and Mrs. James W. Higgins, and James Charles Sullivan is the son.  The funeral will be held at the home of Mrs. A. H. Mueller on Tuesday morning and at 10 o’clock requiem high mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s church.

   The life of James C. Sullivan, one of the best- known and liked men in Butte, depicts the rise of a self-made man, who lived true to his colors and friends, fighting his own battles from the age of 9 years, when he landed in New York city, an orphan.

   Getting an education and a living by his own efforts this man gained a keen insight into human nature and his friendliness, cheery disposition and ability to understand and aid many a young man who was fighting his battle over again, won for him many friends, who regret the loss.

   James C. Sullivan came to Butte in 1880 as master mechanic of the Alice mine, then being operated in Walkerville, and a year or more later, went to the Anaconda property in a like capacity.  The Blue Bird mine was his next step and from there to the Boston & Montana was an interval of many years.  In 1899 he retired as a mining man and was elected police judge during the administration of J. H. McCarthy.  His next attempt at politics was as the mayoralty candidate on the republican ticket in 1901, in which he was defeated.

   Since that time he had rested from a life of toil and contentedly lived in Butte, ever ready to help or advise his many friends who came to him as a brother or to a father.  He served with distinction in the federal navy during the civil war and was twice commended for valor.  He was also under Admiral Porter in the Red River expedition, and was a member of the Grand Army.

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
10/27/1913

SWAIN—John W Swain, aged 72 years, died night before last at his home, 722½ Maryland avenue.  The body is at White's undertaking parlors.  funeral will be held Sunday afternoon.  Mr. Swain was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, under whose auspices the funeral will be held.  Interment in Mount Moriah Cemetery.

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
4/20/1917

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
6/20/1901

NOT TO REPOSE IN PAUPER GRAVE

   The body of William Switzer, hero of a score of civil war battles and pioneer of Montana, whose chequered history ended last evening, will not be consigned to a pauper’s grave.  Two of Butte’s representative men stated this morning that they would pay all expenses of a respectable funeral.  Undertake Larry Duggan was sent to Warm Springs for the body. Arrangements have not yet been completed for the services.  Remote relatives have been communicated with, and they will be given an opportunity of caring for their own.  It is thought, however, that they will have no plans of their own. As soon as their decision is learned the final arrangements will be made.

   There are nephews and nieces of the deceased in Hamburg, Ia., and a niece in New York.  It is known that Mr. Switzer had been drawing $20 a month from the government as an ex-soldier of the civil war.  No one knows, however, whether he had been receiving this pension lately.  Attorney Canning, who was legally appointed guardian for the estate, said he had no information about the pension and had found no evidence of its being paid recently, although he was aware that Switzer was entitled to it.

The Butte Daily Post
Butte, Montana
2/28/1912

PIONEER DIES AFTER TRIP TO ASYLUM

WILLIAM SWITZER MAY LIE IN 
A PAUPER’S GRAVE

Was hero in the civil war

At battle of Antietam he was sole 
survivor of ten and who manned a 
battery—Was offered half million 
for mine—His litigation famous.

    Five hours after he reached the insane asylum at Warm Springs and 24 hours after he was adjudged insane, William Switzer, hero of a score of civil war battles, pioneer of Montana and the mining industry and at one time worth $500,000, died last evening.  It was a shell of the man, whose extensive holdings caused famous litigation in Silver Bow courts that was carried tenderly by deputy sheriffs, after the trip from Butte yesterday morning.  His mind gone, his strength exhausted, he laid down and welcomed the death that closed a life of ups and downs.  Switzer was supposed to be about 90 years of age.  He probably will be buried in a pauper’s grave.

Mind Began to Fail

   Switzer was penniless, but was able for a time to live on his pension money.  Then the failure preyed on his mind and he was committed to the county hospital.  During the last five months he sank rapidly.  He was under various delusions.  One was that he had been dead three times.  To friends he asserted that Theodore Roosevelt was going to see that he was given a fortune for injuries he received in the civil war.  He even wrote to Washington for funds.

   Switzer’s mental failings, it is said, can be traced to his civil war career.  When a young man he enlisted in an eastern regiment.  At the battle of Antietam he was manning a battery.  A flying projectile from a mortar burst over the heads of the 10 union men.  Every man was killed outright except Switzer, who lingered between life and death for days.  He confided to old soldiers that he feared the blow on his head would affect his reason.  He served until the end of the war and figured in many stirring engagements, which he delighted to recount.

   Switzer was a native of New York state.  He went to Nevada after the civil war, during the mining boom.  When in Pine county, where extensive copper interests later have been incorporated, he made a strike and had considerable money.  In the 70s he came to Meagher county.  In 1875 he came to Butte and was active in prospecting.  He was unsuccessful until he opened up the Butte Monitor Tunnel company.

   Switzer was examined on a sanity charge Monday morning.  During the proceedings he sat with eyes closed and appeared to be dying. When told to leave the room he was unable to rise.  His condition was pitiful and he was taken to the emergency hospital.  Yesterday morning it was thought he was able to make the journey.

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
2/28/1912