WILLIAM C SWIGART, b 12 Dec 1824

SWIGART, GANTZ, DAY, GAGE, MAURER, GOEN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 1/8/2005 at 09:34:34

William C. Swigart, Postmaster of Maquoketa, is the senior member of the firm of Swigart & Sons, editors and proprietors of the Jackson Sentinel, one of the leading journals of Eastern Iowa. As an old resident of this county, Mr. Swigart is widely-known and respected, and to him and his brother Stephen belong the distinction of being the pioneer editors of Jackson County, and of having edited and published the first newspaper ever issued in Maquoketa, called the Maquoketa Sentinel. He stands high among the members of his profession in this State as one of its ablest representatives. In his position as Postmaster, to which he was appointed in 1887, he is very popular, and his business-like administration of the affairs of the office is eminently satisfactory to people in general. This is not Mr. Swigart's first experience in this position, as he was one of the early Postmasters of the city, appointed by Gen. Jones, in 1855, receiving his commission from President Pierce, and holding the office until June, 1861. Besides the publication of his paper, Mr. Swigart has been extensively engaged in real estate deals, and has acquired considerable property thereby.

Our subject was born in Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, Dec. 12, 1824, a son of George Swigart, a native of Frederick, Md. His grandfather, Adam Swigart, was born in Germany, and came to America in 1790, settling near Frederick, Md. He bought 320 acres of land near that city, and devoted his time to farming there until his death. The father of our subject was reared in his native State, and there learned the trade of a brickmason and plasterer. He removed to Ohio about 1815, the removal being made with two teams, one a four-horse team, and the other a three-horse team, and locating in Newark, Licking County, he became one of its pioneers. He there established himself in business as a contractor and builder, and was actively employed in that line for some years, and then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, buying a farm near St. Louisville. He managed that place until 1846, and then sold it and bought another near Tiffin, in Seneca County, that State, where his eyes closed to the scenes of earth in June, 1855. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Gantz. She was born in Gettysburg, Pa., and was a daughter of John and Adarkus (Day) Gantz, natives, respectively, of Germany and Ireland. She spent her last years at the home of her sister in Seneca County, dying there at a ripe old age. She was the mother of nine children, six sons and three daughters.

The subject of this sketch is the only son now living. He was reared in his native State, receiving his early education in the common schools, and later entering Granville College, now called Dennison University, where he pursued a fine course of study, and was graduated at the expiration of four years, with high honors for superior scholarship. After leaving college he taught a six-month's term of school, and then entered upon his long and honorable career as a journalist, becoming an assistant in the office of the Newark Advocate and Solicitor, remaining in that place until 1853. In the spring of 1854, he and his brother Stephen H. bought a complete printing outfit, and bringing it with them by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Davenport, Iowa, and thence by team to Maquoketa, opened a printing office here, and May 25, 1854, issued the first paper ever printed in this city. Our subject has ever since been connected with journalism.

Mr. Swigart was married, in 1849, at Findlay, Ohio, to Miss Martha P. Gage, a native of Vermont. Mrs. Swigart is a member of the Congregational Church and is active in every charitable and benevolent work that comes under her notice. To her and her husband have been born ten children, seven of whom are now living, of whom the following are recorded: Philemon D. is the editor of the Western Union News Company, of St. Louis; Josiah M. and Willard edit and manage the Jackson Sentinel; Lizzie, wife of William Maurer, cashier of the establishment of D.B. Fisk & Co., Chicago; B. Frank, foreman of the mechanical department of the Western Union News Company's establishment; Carrie, wife of Lewis W. Goen, Postmaster of Independence, and publisher of the Conservative; Raymond B., a naval cadet at Indianapolis.

Mr. Swigart is a gentleman of high repute, is liberal in his ideas and opinions, dignified and courteous in his bearing, and is one of the foremost members of the Democratic party in this part of Iowa, and his ability and energy have always been at the disposal of his party to a most generous extent.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)