Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/825

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��JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

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��became blind in the fall of 1866 — she gave us this sketch of her father's life, and dates, all from memory, without hesitation; Christian, born April 16, 1824, died April 29, 1850; Daniel, born Sept. 22, 1826 ; Hannah, born Dec. 20, 1828, died Sept. 13, 1858; Mary, born Oct. 27, 1830; Henry, Feb. 3, 1833; Jackson, March 21, 1835 ; Casper, Nov. 8, 1837. The father died April 11, 1876, and the mother April 17, 1859. He spent his iinal days with his daughter in Bellville.

SWANK, CASPER, farmer. Was born in Franklin Co., Penn., June, 1873, and was a son of Christley Swank. He was brought up on a farm, and in April, 1833, came to this county. On April 23, 1840, he united in matrimony with Catharine Leedy, daughter of Daniel Leedy, who was born Dec. 12, 1819 ; and, after living a short time at several places, in 1849, moved on the farm in the Leedy settlement, where they now reside. He commenced in the woods, and has borne the toil and privations .of a pioneer life, together with its romance and pleasure, and now numbers among those who, by prudence, perseverance and economy, have lifted themselves from a position of poverty to a comfortable place and surroundings in life. He never made a religious profession, although being possessed of a fine moral character ; his wife united with the German Baptist Church in the 25th year of her age. Their children in order are as follows : Daniel was born May 15, 1841, and died as a soldier of the rebell- ion, at New Albany, Ind., .Jan. 7, 1865. He and his brother Elias went out in the 102d 0. V. I., and were connected with the Cumberland Army. Elias L. was born Dec. 16, 1842; Jacob L., Nov. 30, 1844; John L., Oct. 14, 1846; Christian, June 16, 1851.

SWANK, ELIAS L., owns and resides on a part of Sec. 23. He was born in Knox Co., near Ankneytown, and brought up on a farm. He commenced to work at carpentering when about 19 years of age, which he has continued at, during intervals, to the present lime. He enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, and went to the front with the 102d 0. V. I. He was placed on detached duty, and assisted, in building a large block-house in one of the Southern States ; and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Mr. Swank was in the hospital about two weeks during his soldier life. He was discharged July 7, 1865. Daniel Swank, a brother of the subject of this sketch, enlisted at the same time, and filled the office of corporal, in Co. E, 102d 0. V. I. He was seized with flux at Decatur, Ala., and after being moved five or six times, he was placed in the hospital at New Albany, Ind., where he died. After returning, Mr. Swank gave his attention to carpentering for some time. After marriage, he lived at various places in this town- ship, till 1869, when he purchased the farm on which he now lives. He was born Dec. 16. 1842. His wife, Lovina Lett, was'born May 29, 1839 ; children — Catha- rine L. was born Sept. 28, 1867; Lyman, Oct. 12, 1868; Romilda, Feb. 28, 1870; Wilbert, Oct. 24, 1871; Elizabeth, July 8, 1873; Mary Ann, April 14, 1875.

SWANK, JACOB, farmer ; was born near Ankney- town, Nov. 26, 1844. He was married to Mary Yar- ger, Oct. 20, 1872; she was born July 31, 1853; chil- dren—Harry M., born Dec. 3, 1873 ; Viola E., July 28, 1875 ; Jessy Bloom, May 2, 1878. In 1867, Mr. Swank bought a partial interest in a threshing-machine.

��which he retained three years ; he then went to buying butter and eggs ; he continued this two years, and then began farming.

SWANK, JOHN L. Was born in Knox Co., near Ankneytown, and was brought up on a farm ; when he was yet a young man, he was accidentally shot with a pistol, in the hands of William Brown ; the ball en- tered his right hip, and came out on the inside of the leg ; the ball took a downward course ; Mr. Swank fol- lowed threshing a number of years in the employ of others, which he commenced when about 20 years of age ; in the winter of 1868-69, he taught school ; he also taught a term after that ; after marriage, he lived on rented farms, until April, 1877, when he moved in a house that he erected on a lot he bought in the Leedy settlement ; he bought an interest in a saw-mill in Feb- ruary, 1877, which is located near his residence. Mr. Swank was born Oct. 14, 1846 ; Leah C. Long was born May 14, 1852; she is Abraham and Catharine Long's daughter; they were married Dec. 31, 1871. Children — Edward N., was born Nov. 8, 1872 ; Charlie, Dec. 8, 1873 ; Sylvia C, Jan. 5, 1875 ; Samuel J. T., June 23, 1876; Myrta L., Jan. 22, 1878; Alonzo L., Aug. 31, 1879 ; Charlie died Nov. 27, 1875.

SWANK, CHRISTIAN L., was born and brought up on a farm, and has given his attention to farming most of the time since. After marriage, he lived with his father one year, then in a house belonging to Mrs. Old- field, and, in 1872, he commenced to farm for L. K. Leedy ; he lived with him two years, and then pur- chased twenty acres of Sec. 23 ; after farming this two years, he sold out and bought a few acres of A. B. Leedy; after remaining on it a short time, he sold, and since then has been renting farms. C. L. Swank was born Jan. 17, 1849. Adaline Stealts, his wife, is the oldest of Phillip Stealts' daughters, and w.as born Nov. 7, 1851; they were married Jan. 22, 1870 ; chil- dren — Mariah, born June 24, 1870 ; Elmer, Nov. 26, 1872 ; Verda, Sept. 29, 1873.

SWANK, CHRISTIAN GABRIEL, a son of Henry Swank ; he was born in Franklin Co., Penn., and came with his parents to Jeff'erson Township in 1868, where he has to this time lived ; he was born April 19, 1851, and married Rebecca Hartman, a daughter of Daniel Hartman, Feb. 1, 1876 ; children — Leutenny- son, born Sept, 3, 1876, and Tency, Aug. 27, 1878.

SWONGER, GEORGE (deceased) ; was born in Frank- lin Co., Penn., July 15, 1808. He came to Richland Co. with his parents in 1841, and located in that part of Richland that now constitutes a part of Morrow Co., where he resided eleven years, and then removed to Belleville, where he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 10, 1860. Mr. Swonger was married twice ; his first wife died June 8, 1848. He married for his second wife Mrs. Sarah Claudy ; they had a family of three children, one of whom is deceased. After Mr. Swonger's death, the family moved into the building they now occupy, and engaged in keeping grocery and boarders ; they continued in this business about one year, when they closed out the grocery and engaged in the hotel business, in which they still con- tinue with favorable success, with Thomas A. Swonger as proprietor.

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