William C. Swigart

SWIGART, GAGE

Posted By: LuAnn Goeke (email)
Date: 1/29/2009 at 23:24:47

WILLIAM C. SWIGART, publisher of the Sentinel, Maquoketa. The oldest journalist in Jackson Co., Iowa, is William C. Swigart; he was born at Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, Dec. 12, 1824; he attended the common schools, and afterward graduated from the Academic Department of Granville College, now Denison University, in 1844. He entered the office of the Newark Advocate, and spent several years; about 1852, he went to Bucyrus. Ohio, and assisted in editing the Forum, until April, 1854, when he removed to Maquoketa, Iowa. He and his younger brother, Stephen, started the Sentinel; after the death of his brother, in 1856, Mr. Swigart continued the publication of the paper until 1872, when James T. Sargent became his partner; at first it was a seven-column folio, assuming its present form in 1872. Mr. Swigart held the office of Postmaster of Maquoketa six years, during the administrations of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. On the 6th of November, 1849, he was married to Miss Martha P. Gage, of Findlay, Ohio, and they have had nine children, two of whom they have lost. The eldest sons, Philemon D. and Josiah, are associated with their father in publishing the paper, which is the official paper of the city and county, and the organ of the Democratic party. - 1879 History of Jackson County Iowa, pg 639