CHARLES R. SWITZER
Charles R. Switzer, son of John and Margaret Switzer, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1838. His parents were among the early settlers of Black Hawk county, Iowa, settling, about the year 1849, in Waterloo, which then consisted of about twenty log cabins. John Switzer died in that county, November 23, 1869, and his wife, Margaret Switzer, in 1857. Charles R. Switzer enlisted, October 3, 1861, in company E, of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry. He took part in the battle of Fort Donelson, where he was wounded. The brigade to which his regiment belonged, were taken prisoners at Pittsburg Landing, while he was still unable to be on duty. That portion of the brigade not captured, consisting of men off duty in the hospital, and in camp, were re-organized as the "Union Brigade," and participated in the battles of Corinth, campaign against Vicksburg, battles of Jackson, Brandon, Tupelo, Nashville and Spanish Fort. After being prisoners five or six months, the regiment was exchanged, and after the battle of Corinth, and previous to the battles following, Mr. Switzer rejoined his regiment and served with it nobly until the close of the war. He veteranized in 1863, and May 22, 1865 was commissioned first lieutenant, for meritorious services. He was honorably discharged January 20, 1866. He returned to Black Hawk county, and the same year attended Bryant & Stratton's business college, at Chicago. In 1867 and 1868, he was in the employ of a transfer company at Omaha, Nebraska. In the latter year he became identified with Cass county, purchasing then, the fine farm he now owns and occupies. It is located on section 17, of Bear Grove township and contains one hundred and sixty acres. He was married in Stephenson county, Illinois, May 30, 1872, to Joanna Rishel, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Rishel, who was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Switzer have three children--Fred R., born in September, 1873; Edwin, born in May 1878, and Sarah, born in January 1880.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 719-720.
