H. T. SWART

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Mrs. J.H. Swart and Mr. J. H. Swart

Spending almost his entire life upon the farm which is yet his home, H. T. Swart has therefore become well known throughout this section of the county, where he is recognized as one of the successful and substantial business men. Born in Iowa township on the 30th of March, 1859, he is a son of J. H. and Harriett E. (Gifford) Swart, the former born in West Virginia, near Wheeling, on the 22d of June, 1832, and the latter in Athens county, Ohio, December 2, 1833. The mother came to Cedar county in 1855 with her parents while the father came in same year alone and they were married in this county, after which they took up their abode in Iowa township. With the exception of one year spent in California (1862), J. H. Swart continued to make this his home, engaging in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which occurred June 2, 1897. He was a stanch republican in politics and held various township offices. His widow, who still survives, makes her home in West Liberty, where she has resided for the past eleven years. In their family were five children, as follows: Charles B., who has passed away, leaving a widow and two children; H. T., of this review; Elsie M., the widow of A. S. Watson, who resides in Salt Lake City, Utah; Cora E., who wedded D. E. McCartney, of Griswold, Iowa; and Rebecca, residing with her mother.

Spending the period of his boyhood and youth upon the farm in Iowa township, H. T. Swart attended the country schools in the pursuit of his education and in the work of the farm, with which he early became familiar, learned lessons concerning the value of industry, energy and perseverance which served as a firm foundation upon which to erect the superstructure of later success. As his strength increased and his experience broadened with the passing of the years, he assumed more and more largely the responsibilities of the home farm and eventually, as the eldest son, was given full control of his father’s estate, to the operation and further development of which he has since given his entire attention. The farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres located on sections 17 and 18, Iowa township, and as he has prospered from year to year he has extended his property interests, being now the owner of eighty acres on section 19, one hundred and sixty acres in the state of Wyoming, and also twenty acres of valuable timber land on section 14, Iowa township. The care of his property occupies all of his time, and he has never cared to direct his attention into other channels, preferring rather to concentrate his energies upon his agricultural pursuits, to which fact, doubtless, is due the degree of prosperity which he has attained. Industry, energy and perseverance have ever been the guiding influences of his life and have constituted the salient elements in the success which is now his.

Mr. Swart was united in marriage in 1880 to Miss Annie E. Street, a native of New Jersey, where her birth occurred September 15, 1857. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Street, who were natives of England and came to the United States in 1854, the family home being established in Paterson, New Jersey, where she made her home until the time of her marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swart have been born four children, namely: Laura G., the wife of Charles Montgomery, of West Liberty, Iowa; Charles J., operating his father’s farm of eighty acres on section 19, Iowa township; Rena E., who married Earl Jackson, of West Liberty; and Jesse H., at home.

In politics Mr. Swart supports the men and measures of the republican party in the interests of which he is an active worker, and at various times he has been called to public office, serving as township trustee, as assessor for six years and as school officer, in all of which he manifested a public-spirited devotion to duty that won him the high commendation of his fellow citizens. Fraternally he holds membership in the Modern Brotherhood of America at West Liberty, and, having spent almost his entire life within its borders of Iowa township, is well known to a large circle of friends who honor and respect him for the many sterling qualities which are his.