BIO: John Swartz, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
______________________________________________________________________ 

History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
______________________________________________________________________ 

                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LIX.

                         UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

572  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JOHN SWARTZ, tailor, Shepherdstown, was born in Silver Spring 
Township, this county, and from the age of fourteen years has been a 
resident of Shepherdstown.  His parents, John and Nancy (Mohler) 
Swartz, lived near the tan-yard in Silver Spring Township.  John 
Swartz, Sr., learned the carpenter's trade of John Snavely (who died in 
1849) early in life, and worked on the State House at Harrisburg.  John 
Swartz, Sr., was born in this county in May, 1791, and died in August, 
1866.  His wife, Nancy Mohler, was born in September, 1799, and died in 
December, 1846.  They had seven children, of whom John, Jr., is the 
fifth born.  At the age of fourteen our subject came to Shepherdstown 
and became an apprentice to his uncle, Michael Hoover, who carried on a 
tailor shop in that village.  When his trade was completed, in 1848, 
John Swartz, Jr., assumed control of the shop, and from that day to 
this has conducted business for himself.  February 8, 1855, our subject 
married Magdalena Hetrich, born in East Hanover Township, Lebanon Co., 
Penn., June 25, 1834, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Urich) Hetrich.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Swartz commenced house-keeping where they now reside and there 
their children were born, viz.; Sarah A., born September 14, 1856; 
Albert H., born June 17, 1859; William S., born April 8, 1864, died 
October 30, 1864; and Harry C., born September 9, 1867.  The children 
received liberal educations and Albert has chosen the profession of 
teaching.  Harry follows in the footsteps of his father and is a 
tailor; Sarah, is the wife of A. H. Mohler, doing business at 
Shepherdstown.  Mr. Swartz was drafted during the late war of the 
Rebellion, but furnished money to procure a substitute, as he was a man 
of peace and not in favor of war.  He has filled numerous township 
offices with credit; has been a member of No. 215, I. O. O. F., since 
1851.  During a residence of forty-three years Mr. Swartz has not been 
absent from Shepherdstown for two weeks at one time.  His business, his 
family and his home are located there, and no man in the valley is more 
contented.