Swigart, John bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 495-497; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
John Swigart is the owner of one of the valuable farms in Young Hickory Township, located four miles from London Mills and six from Fairview. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres on section 14, which have been placed under the best of improvement, supplied with substantial buildings and thoroughly stocked with fine animals. Mr. Swigart is one of the most prominent farmers in the township and all who know him rejoice in the success which has attended his labors. In addition to the home farm he owns a fine property in Fairview Township and a tract of timber land on section 27, Young Hickory Township.
Mr. Swigart is of German ancestry, being a son of John and Susan (Snyder) Swigart. The former was born in the Fatherland and brought to American when a babe by his father, George Swigart. The father served in the Revolutionary War after which he settled in Franklin County, Pa., following farming so successfully that he became the owner of more than two hundred acres of land. He lived to the ripe age of eighty-two years. He belonged to the Presbyterian Church. John Swigart, Sr., farmed on the homestead in Pennsylvania and teamed to Baltimore and from that city to Pittsburgh. In 1845, he sold his property, came west and located in Fairview Township, this county. He bought one hundred and twenty acres of improved land, adding to it until he possessed over two hundred acres. He lived on the farm until 1872 when he entered into rest at the age of eighty-four years. He was an active worker in the Lutheran Church, highly respected as a citizen and considerate in his family relations. He belonged to the Democratic party.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was Henry Snyder who was born in Germany and settled in Franklin County, Pa., where his daughter was born, reared and married. Mrs. Swigart died some time before her husband. She was the mother of six sons and two daughters, of whom the following may be noted: Emanuel lives in Livingston County and is a retired farmer; George died in Fairview Township, this county; Mrs. Catherine Umpsted lives in Ellisville Township; Mrs. Susan Robb lives in Farmington Township; John is the subject of this notice; Henry lives on the old homestead; William lives at Rapatee, Knox County; Jerry died when quite young.
The subject of this notice was born near Greencastle, Pa., January 21, 1827, and reared on a farm. He attended subscription schools in the old log school house of "ye olden time" and was early set to work at home duties. In the fall of 1845 he accompanied his parents to the Prairie State and can give an interesting account of the journey. The traveling outfit consisted of three wagons drawn by six two-horse teams. The Allegheny River was crossed at Pittsburg, the Wabash at Terre Haute and Illinois at Havana Ferry. The farm produce which was raised in the new home, was hauled to Copperas Creek and sent to a market down the river. Our subject found some recreation in hunting, killing deer, wolves, etc., which were still quite numerous in the uncultivated portions of the county.
When twenty-two years old Mr. Swigart left the parental roof and rented a farm in Fairview Township. In 1857 he bought that which he now occupies, paying $14 an acre for the land whereon the only improvements were thirty acres of plowed ground and a log house. For a few years he had a hard struggle but gradually placed about him the improvements he wished and secured greater remuneration for his industrious efforts. In 1869 he bought one hundred and sixty-five acres on section 4, Fairview Township, paying $50 an acre for this improved farm. He operated it several years, but now rents it, occupying the homestead around which the memories of his struggles and successes cluster. The home farm is neatly fenced, tiled, and supplied with adequate machinery, as well as a complete line of buildings. The owner raises full-blooded Poland China hogs, graded cattle and Shropshire sheep. Of the latter he has the largest flock in the vicinity, and is the heaviest seller of wool and mutton.
The fine qualities of Miss Mary Tipton won the lasting regard of our subject and they were married February 22, 1849. The ceremony took place in Fairview Township at the home of the bride. That lady was born in Ohio near Columbus, October 15, 1825, and was in her teens when her parents came to this State. She had only a common-school education, but learned many useful ways and has the best of all knowledge--that of the Christian. She is the first-born in the parental family, her brothers and sisters being Mrs. Hannah Combs of Kansas; Isabella, who died in Fairview Township; Samuel, of New York; Thompson, a commission merchant in Chicago; Mrs. Lydia Ramsey, of Farmington; Mrs. Sarah Swigart, of Fairview Township; John, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Mrs. Nettie Meeker, of Nebraska. Samuel was a lieutenant in the one hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, having enlisted in 1862.
The father of Mrs. Swigart was John Tipton, a native of Maryland, who accompanied his father, Sylvester Tipton, to Ohio when quite young. He operated a farm in that State until 1840 when he removed to Illinois and settled in this county. He journeyed hither with three wagons, driving his cattle, and bringing a wife and nine children. He bought the land in Fairview Township now owned by our subject, improved it and lived thereon until death. His demise took place in March, 1869, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, Eliza, daughter of John Crawford, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, and died in Pottawatamie County, Iowa, while on a visit to a daughter. After the death of her husband she had made her home with Mrs. Swigart, wife of our subject. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Our subject and his good wife have nine children, of whom we note the following: Jerry P. is in the grocery business in Aurora, Mo.; William H. farms in Farmington Township; Samuel T., formerly a teacher, is now a salesman in the school supply establishment of Andrews & Co., at Chicago; Lydia L. is the wife of F. M. Fisher, a merchant in Clair; Sarah C., Mrs. Gardner, is with her parents; John Frank is farming in Fairview Township; George M. lives in Sioux City, Iowa; Annie E. married G. A. Taylor and lives in Knox County; Susan B. is the wife of F. Voorhees, a farmer in Fairview Township.
Mr. Swigart was Township Supervisor one year, Collector an equal length of time, and has been Commissioner of Highways and School Director for years. In former days he was a Greenbacker but is now a member of the Union Labor party. Mrs. Swigart is a consistent and valued member of the Lutheran Church. The worthy couple take great delight in the exercise of hospitality and few there are who spend any time in their vicinage without enjoying the good cheer for body and mind that abounds under their roof. They have many friends by whom their genuine worth is highly valued.