HIRAM SWART, the wealthiest land-owner in Amwell township, and one of the most prominent retired agriculturists of Washington county is a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, born February 12, 1812. He is a grandson of the noble old pioneer, Philip Swart, who emigrated from Germany to America, locating finally, during the early part of the present century, in Amwell township, this county, where, he took up what is known by the family as the "old home farm" of 315 acres. He had two children, Jacob and Susie (Mrs. Phillips), and died about the year 1811. His wife survived him many years, passing away at a ripe old age. Jacob Swart, son of Philip, was born near the old home in Amwell township, and was educated at the local schools of his early day. He was married to Sarah Evans, of Amwell township, and the children born to this union were Dorothy (Mrs. Mustard) Philip, David, John, Polly (Mrs. Huston), Henry, Abraham, George, Hiram and Charlotte. Jacob Swart died in 1815, on the old home farm; his wife on June 11, 1846. He was an excellent business man, during his comparatively short life accumulating much property and left a fortune; an unimpeachable witness to his characteristic energy and sound judgment, owning at the time of his death six farms aggregating one thousand acres of land. Politically, he was a Whig, and he was respected and esteemed by all who knew him.
Hiram Swart, of whom this sketch more particularly relates, was brought by his parents to Ten-mile creek, Washington county, Penn., and was here reared after the manner of most farmer boys of his early day; his educational training being received in the primitive schools of his locality. The first property owned by him consisted of 160 acres of land in Amwell township, representing his share of 315 acres deeded by his mother to him and his brother Philip; and he afterward purchased the latter's portion. To this nucleus of 315 acres he, from time to time, by industry, hard work, indefatigable energy and careful thrift, added, until now he is the possessor of over one thousand acres of prime farm land.
Mr. Swart has been thrice married. His first wife was Miss Charlotte McGinnis, to whom he was married December 6, 1845, and of this union one child, Henry Clay, was born September 9, 1846. At the close of the war of the Rebellion he left his home, since which time he has not been heard from. Mr. Swart's wife dying October 25, 1846, his second marriage was in 1851, to Margaret Keys, and two children were born to them: Sarah Ann, born October 12, 1853, died June 8, 1891, and Jacob, born February 3, 1856, died at the age of six weeks. The mother of these children died March 16, 1856, and December 1, 1859, Mr. Swart was married to his present life companion Mary, daughter of Enoch and Mary (Goulden) Hastings, who were natives of Virginia, coming to Pennsylvania and locating at Washington about 1815; they were the parents of nine children, Mary being born June 13, 1832. Five children have come to gladden the home of Mr. and Mrs. Swart, as follows: Mary Emma, born September 14, 1860; Allison Dupont, born October 11, 1862; David Henderson, born October 7, 1864; William Hiram, born January 21, 1869, and Margaret Vance, born November 28, 1871.
Mr. Swart has ever been in sympathy with the principles of the Whig and Republican parties. He and his amiable wife have long been members of the Presbyterian Church. During a continuous residence of three-quarters of a century in the beautiful region where he has had his home, Mr. Swart has necessarily seen many important changes, improvements and developments around him, and now, near the close of a useful, industrious and honored life, he has left the farm and removed to Washington, Penn., where he expects to peacefully end his days. It may be truthfully said of him that he stands as one of the few remaining links between the pioneer days of hardships and trials and the mighty present, looming with wonderful achievements, and foreshadowed by the possibilities of still greater triumphs in the future.
Text taken from page 482 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]