ALLISON D. SWART is a descendant of Philip Swart, who emigrated from Germany with his family in about 1786, and locating in Amwell township, Washington Co., Penn., settled on a farm of 315 acres, which has since been owned by his descendants. He died about 1811, leaving two children Jacob and Mrs. Susan Phillips Jacob Swart, son of Philip, was born near the old home in Amwell township, this county, and passed his early years at home, receiving his education at the subscription schools of the day. He was an excellent business man, and though he lived only to the prime of life, he became the owner of six farms, aggregating a total of 1,000 acres. His property was an enduring monument to the energy, good judgment and business capacity of a hardy and prospering pioneer. His wife was Miss Sarah Evans, of Amwell township, and ten children were born to them: Dorothy (Mrs. Mustard), Philip, David, John, Polly (Mrs. Huston), Henry, Abraham, George, Hiram and Charlotte. Jacob Swart died on the old farm in Amwell township in 1815. In politics he was a Whig, and he was esteemed by all. Hiram Swart, son of Jacob, and the father of the subject of this memoir, was born February 12, 1812, on Rees creek, Greene Co., Penn., where he lived for three or four years, at the end of which time his parents brought him to Washington county. When he was about twelve years of age, the family moved upon the old Swart farm in Amwell township, where he lived until about 1874. In 1845 he was united in marriage with Charlotte McGinnis, and she dying he married, for his second wife, Margaret Keys. He was again married, on this, the third occasion, to Mary Hastings, who bore him five children: Mary Emma, Allison D., David H., William H. and Maggie V. Allison D. Swart was born October 11, 1862, in Amwell township, on the old farm where Mr. Bailey now resides. Here he remained until he was fourteen years of age, when he came with his father to the "Squire Hughes place," where he remained until his marriage. He received his education at the Swart and Birch schoolhouses, afterward for three years attending the Pleasant Valley Academy, where he ranked among the first as a bright student. On November 6, 1886, Mr. Swart was united in marriage with Emma Iams, of Amwell township, and they have one son: Hiram Iams, born December 11, 1887. Mr. Swart passed the years 1884 and 1885 in the West, and since his return has resided continuously in Amwell, of which township he is one of the substantial young citizens. After marriage he began farming on the stock farm; then removed to his present home. He has a fertile, well-cultivated farm, where he carries on general agriculture, and he also does a good business in shipping hay. In the ranks of the Republican party he has proven himself to be a rising young politician. In church connection he is a Baptist.

Text taken from page 1450 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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