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John Hazen Swanton

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Birth	:	28 May 1902 Gladwin County, Michigan, USA
Death	:	20 Nov 1964 Beaverton, Gladwin County, Michigan, USA
Burial	:	Johnsontown Cemetery, Johnsontown, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.3404200, -77.8910700
Description	:	SAGINAW MAN IS HELD IN SHOTGUN SLAYING An ex-mental patient has been arraigned on a first degree murder charge in the shotgun slaying early Friday morning of 62-year-old John Hazen Swanton, of Tobacco Township. Joseph Chobod, 54, of Saginaw, was arraigned on the murder charge in justice court before Justice of the Peace Jean Eagleson Saturday. Prosecuting Attorney George C. Johnson at that time asked for an examination for Chobod. Johnson said today that he also plans to arraign Chobod during the December term of circuit court on a first degree murder warrant. A Saginaw... Read More	SAGINAW MAN IS HELD IN SHOTGUN SLAYING An ex-mental patient has been arraigned on a first degree murder charge in the shotgun slaying early Friday morning of 62-year-old John Hazen Swanton, of Tobacco Township. Joseph Chobod, 54, of Saginaw, was arraigned on the murder charge in justice court before Justice of the Peace Jean Eagleson Saturday. Prosecuting Attorney George C. Johnson at that time asked for an examination for Chobod. Johnson said today that he also plans to arraign Chobod during the December term of circuit court on a first degree murder warrant. A Saginaw attorney, who said he will defend Chobod, stated Chobod's wife had petitioned the Saginaw County Probate to have him recommitted to the Traverse City State Hospital as a mental patient. The attorney said Chobod, a Saginaw foundry worker, has been there three other times in recent years---twice for alcoholism and about a year ago as a mental patient. Chobod is accused of killing Swanton in the kitchen of his Guernsey Road home about 7:30 a.m. Friday morning with Swanton's 12-gauge shotgun. He also allegedly fired shots at two other persons, before driving to the Beaverton Dairy Bar where he was arrested by Beaverton City Marshal Paul Thorp about a half-hour after the shooting was said to have occurred. Upon questioning by Sheriff Victor Edick and Under Sheriff Walter Scott Chobod said he killed Swanton, a Dow retiree, because he had grown too big. "No matter what I said or talked about he was better," Chobod told them, Sheriff Edick said. After questioning Chobod was taken to the Clare County jail in Harrison for security reasons. Swanton's nephew, Lowell Brown Jr., of Rt. 2, Beaverton, who had slept that night on a couch in the living room, said he knew no reason for the shooting and there had been no arguing as far as he knew. There was evidence of drinking, Sheriff Edick said. No one seemed to know how Chobod came to be staying at the home. There apparently were no connections before between the two men that members of the family could remember. Brown said that the accused killer had hunted deer Sunday from the Swanton home. He apparently went home Monday and returned to the house Tuesday to stay and hunt. Swanton's wife, Edrie, was babysitting for a daughter in Loomis when the murder allegedly took place. Brown gave sheriff's officers this accout of what happened after he was awakened by shots around 7:30 a.m. After being awakened he went into the kitchen where he saw his uncle's body laying on the floor. Chobod, he said, was standing to his right holding the shotgune and said, "ok, you're next, outside." Brown said he ran outside and down the road to get Swanton's son, Richard, who lives about a quarter mile away. The two returned in Richard's car and Brown went around to the rear door and attempted to get into the kitchen: When he opened the door Chobod was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. As he raised the gun Brown said he ducked and backed out. A blast of buckshot splintered the door throwing pieces into the hair and back of Brown. A second shot struck the wall just to the left of the door. Richard sitting in the car on the road started blowing the horn. Apparently Chobod picked up his deer rifle and fired a shot in the general direction of the car through a front window. Officers believe the bullet struck a large tree in the front yard. Brown said he ran back to Richard's house and Richard drove. When they saw the alledged murderer drive by, Brown went to town for help. Chobod went to the Beaverton Dairy Bar where he entered and sat down with his rifle, a 300 savage. Marshal Thorp was called and went to the dairy bar with Robert Ostic, a city employee. Chobod offered no resistance as they took his rifle away and brought him to the county jail. From what Chobod told officers the shooting probably happened this way. Swanton had gone into the bathroom and as he came out Chobod fired at him. The shot was believed to have been a slug and narrowly missed Swanton, and left powder burns on his right ear. A second shot, which was buckshot, struck him in the groin. A third blast and believed to be the one that killed Swanton hit him in the chest. The body was taken to the Midland Hospital where a pathologist performed an autopsy. SERVICES HELD FOR HAZEN SWANTON Services were Sunday at 2 p.m. from the Hall Funeral Home for John Hazen Swanton, 62, of Tobacco Township, who died instantly of gunshot wounds at his home Friday morning. Born in Gladwin County on May 28, 1902, he was a retired Dow Chemical Company employee. Mr. Swanton had lived in the county for the past 21 years. He was married to the former Edrie Brown in Beaverton in 1922. Surviving besides his wife are four daughters, Mrs. Arthur Daniels, Coleman, Mrs. Robert Daily, rural Clare, Mrs. Martin Mason, Sanford, and Mrs. Loren Sersaw, Coleman; three sons, Richard of Loomis, of Beaverton, and Lowell, of Saginaw; one sister, Mrs. Shirley Brown, of Beaverton; a brother, Bradford, of Bay City; 28 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The Rev. H. A. Brannan, of Coleman, officiated and burial was in the Dale Cemetery. Gladwin County Record dated 11-25/1964 Column - 7 Page - 1

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Hazen Swanton's memorial?
John Hazen Swanton's memorial is located at: Johnsontown Cemetery, Johnsontown, Jefferson County, USA.
When did John Hazen Swanton death?
John Hazen Swanton death on 20 Nov 1964 in Beaverton, Gladwin County, Michigan, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Hazen Swanton's memorial?
Latitude: 39.3404200
Longitude: -77.8910700

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Edrie C. Brown Swanton

(1904 - 1985)

Siblings

Mildred Amelia Swanton Quillet

(1885 - 1954)

Bertha Helen Swanton Brown

(1892 - 1985)

Bradford Young Swanton

(1909 - 1991)

Children

Betty Jean Swanton Dailey

(1927 - 1996)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Johnsontown Cemetery
Johnsontown, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3404200, -77.8910700

2. New Hopewell Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3520000, -77.8990000

3. Poor Farm Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3345590, -77.9094350

4. Willow View Blackford Slave Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3607854, -77.8725668

5. Saint Bartholomews Episcopal Church Cemetery
Leetown, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3553800, -77.9269900

6. Kearneysville Methodist Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3768294, -77.8817933

7. Hart-Lucas Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3783640, -77.8875400

8. Saint Pauls Baptist Church Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3798904, -77.8862839

9. Washington Burial Ground
Charles Town, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3020379, -77.9163828

10. Kearneysville Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3885155, -77.8876572

11. Darke-Engle-Ronemous Cemetery
Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3544250, -77.8314400

12. Snyder-Hendricks Graveyard
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3764000, -77.8490000

13. Border Gibbons Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3908923, -77.8800182

14. Fox Middleway Cemetery Lot
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3225720, -77.9562790

15. Ridenour Cemetery
Duffields, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3644414, -77.8280193

16. White Rocks / Lemen Farm Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3940000, -77.8790000

17. White Rocks / Lemen Farm Cemetery
Kearneysville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3940000, -77.8790000

18. Elk Branch Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Duffields, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3647614, -77.8279190

19. Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3889000, -77.9237700

20. Asbury United Methodist Church Cemetery
Charles Town, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2905350, -77.8620834

21. Zion Episcopal Churchyard
Charles Town, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2890400, -77.8566600

22. Robert Rutherford Gravesite
Charles Town, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2938499, -77.8452835

23. VanMetre Cemetery
Baker Heights, Berkeley County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3962631, -77.9160690

24. Glenburnie - Lafferty Graveyard
Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3890610, -77.8461530