(History of the Minnesota Valley, 1882, p.790)

"Waterbury is in the southern part of [Redwood] County, and includes all of congressional township 110, range 37. The name was derived from a town of the same name in Vermont. The first settlers were W.J. and Alfred Swoffer, and M.M. Madigan; they came in the spring of 1872, and all located in section 3... The first town meeting was held April 9, 1878, at Alfred Swoffer's house in section 28. Officers elected: R. Clausen, chairman, Hans Hanson and John Belfamy, supervisors; W.J. Swoffer, clerk...... The first marriage in the town was that of Alfred Swoffer and Miss W.M. Knight, December 1, 1879.......Alfred Swoffer, native of England, was born in Kent county, in 1845, and there learned the harness maker's trade. He came to Minnesota in 1871, and located in Waterbury township; he was one of the organizers of the township, has been assessor and is now clerk. Married in December, 1879, Mrs. Mary Knight, who was born in Michigan. Mrs. Knight had one child by her first husband, and has borne Mr. Swoffer one."

(Walnut Grove Tribune, Walnut Grove, MN, Thursday, Mar 22, 1917)

ALFRED SWOFFER - As briefly mentioned in the last issue of this paper, business associates here received a telegram Thursday morning from Mrs. Swoffer that Alfred Swoffer had passed away Wednesday evening, March 14th, at Los Angeles, California. The Swoffers have at different times spent the winters in California, and last fall they went there especially on account of Mr. Swoffer's health. After coming to California, he underwent an operation and has been confined to a hospital at Los Angeles since then, his condition at times appearing much improved, and hopes were entertained for his recovery, but it proved in vain. The remains were taken for interment to Lincoln, Illinois, the former home of Mrs. Swoffer. W.A. Swoffer, W.B. Harwood, W.J. McDonald, and Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Hesnault left yesterday afternoon for Lincoln, Ill., to attend the funeral. Alfred Swoffer was born in Kent County, England, on October 20, 1845, and was thus in his 72nd year. He remained in his native country until he was 26 years of age, and was engaged in the trade of harness maker. He emigrated from England in 1871, but has since then found the opportunity to visit the old home on different occasions. When he first came to this country, he worked for the Northern Pacific Railway at St. Paul for a short time, but soon was attracted by the homesteads and the farming possibilities of the state and located in Waterbury Township in this county. Mr. Swoffer was one of the early settlers in the township, in fact he and his brother W.J. were among the first three to settle in the township in the spring of 1872, and the first town meeting in 1878 was held at his home. While living there he served the township as assessor and clerk. Since 1882 he has been closely connected with the growth of this village. In that year, together with his brother, W.J. he came to Walnut Grove, opening a general merchandise business under the name of Swoffer & Swoffer. He also engaged in other undertakings, and later on he entered the business of buying and selling grain in partnership with W.J. McDonald, and continued in the business in partnership with his son until a few years ago, when he retired from active work to enjoy a well earned rest in old age. Mr. Swoffer was married three times, his first wife being Miss Mary Knight, whom he married in 1879. One child was born to this union, Mrs. Fannie Boulden of Kempton, No. Dak. After the death of his first wife, he was married to Miss Augusta J. Walsh, who passed away about 30 years ago, leaving a son, Walter A. Swoffer, of this place. Mr. Swoffer was married again, in 1891, to Miss Lucy Beers, who survives him. Alfred Swoffer was the last of the three Swoffer brothers, the other two being Walter J. and Fred C., who were among the older and most active and progressive residents of this village, all three of them having passed away within the past eleven years. Mr. Swoffer was a substantial and successful business man, being interested in various enterprises, among them being president of the Walnut Grove State Bank. He has played an important part in developing this community, being a positive nature, and his methods of business application were direct and practical. As a neighbor and citizen he was valued and esteemed as dependable and his word was as good as his bond. His friends were many, and included the young as well as the older, for his temperament was genial and kindly with a keen but good-natured vein of humor running through his make-up, which was pre eminently free from envy and malice.. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, and popular with all in the community who had come to know him during long hours of business and social intercourse as a truly good man, and the sympathy extended to the children and surviving widow is both sincere and deep.