Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/584

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

time down to the present the Swinertons have made Massachusetts their home, the Mr. Swinerton of this sketch being the only- exception, so that a large proportion even of his associations are with that more north- ern clime. The immediate branch of the family to which Mr. Swinerton belongs did indeed move still farther north in the time of his grandfather. John Swinerton, a shoe- maker by trade, who took up his abode in Newfield, Maine. He was a diligent, God- fearing man who took care of his family and made the interests of everyone his own. He married Lydia Dwinell, January 19, 1781, and was the father of several children, among whom was John Langdon Swiner- ton, the father of Mr. Swinerton, of New- port News.

John Langdon Swinerton's birth occurred in Newfield, Maine, June 28, 1805, and it was in that little town that he spent his childish years. He was the recipient of an excellent education, the preparatory portion being obtained in the public schools of his native place, after which he took a course in Bowdoin College, from which he gradu- ated with the class of 1829. He then entered the profession of teaching, going at diiYerent times to Uanvers, Peabody and Salem, Mas- sachusetts, and to Milton, New Hampshire. He was a member of the Congregational church, and a man of strong domestic in- stincts, as was his father before him. He married, April 25, 1832. Anna A. Robinson, born June 15, 1803, a daughter of Ebenezer and Anna (Avery) Robinson, of Wakefield, New Hampshire, where he died November 17, 1849. To Mr. and Mrs. John Langdon Swinerton, whose deaths both occurred in 1882, there were born three children, as fol- lows: Charles E., born August 12, 1834, died August 3, 1903, resided in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and married Abbie C. Went- worth, who bore him one son, Charles A. Swinerton; Ann Frances, born January 12, 1838, married .\lbert F. Wentworth. and be- came the mother of two children, Millie R. and Flora R. ; John Robinson, of whom fur- ther.

John Robinson Swinerton was born De- cember 16. 1840. during the time that his parents were living in Milton, New Hamp- shire. He attended the public schools of his native town and later went to the Exeter Academy, where he completed his studies, graduating therefrom with the class of i860.

He early displayed a strong bent for a stu- dent's life, which never has waned and which to-day he is able to indulge freely. He was, however, gifted with a clear prac- tical sense, not always the possession of stu- dents, and turned to a business career with the best prospects for success, prospects which were amply fulfilled. His first ven- ture was a commercial one, when in 1865 he formed with hishrother a partnership under the firm name of Charles E. Swinerton & Company to deal in grain. The enterprise was successful, but in 1870, with a strong desire for a more extended field for his activities, John R. Swinerton went to New York City and there engaged in the hotel business. It was in 1883 that Mr. Swiner- ton first came to Newport News, Virginia, and he at once opened the Warwick Hotel. It was entirely virgin soil so far as the hotel business was concerned, the place having been discovered, as it were, by Col- lis P. Huntingdon, there being not even the most primitive accommodations for trav- elers to spend the night there. These con- ditions were altered by the appearance of Mr. Swinerton upon the scene and the open- ing of the Warwick Hotel. The business proved very successful and Mr. Swinerton continued it until the year 1900. when he retired with a very substantial fortune. Though no longer under his management "The Warwick" still does a large business and is one of the old standbys among trav- elers, being noted for its excellent service. Mr. Swinerton became a prominent figure in the business and financial world of that region and was more or less directly inter- ested in many important institutions. He is to-day the vice-president and a director of the First National Bank of Newport News, and a prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is also connected with many other organizations quite without the realm of business, having identified himself closely, during his residence there, with the general life of the place. He is a lifelong member of the Democratic party, and while never seeking public office of any sort, has always done his share in the arena of local politics. His religious reliefs are extremely sincere and play an important part in the conduct of his life and he has been an earnest worker for the advancement of the Presliyterian church, of which he has always been a mem- ber. He is also associated with the Young