George P. Swartz
George P. Swartz, one of the substantial and well known citizens of Stockholm township, Crawford county, was born May 24, 1859, in Clinton county. Iowa, a son of Henry P. and Eliza (Koch) Swartz, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they moved in 1855 to a farm in Clinton county, Iowa.
They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: Ella, the wife of E. P. Keith, of Ida Grove, Iowa; George P.; William L., of Tipton, Iowa; Arthur L., of Westbrook, Minnesota; and Burdette V., of South Dakota. The mother died in Cedar county when about fifty years old, the father's demise occurring in Ida Grove at the age of seventy-five.
George P. Swartz attended the public schools and remained on the home farm until twenty-three years old, when he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Cedar county, Iowa, which he cultivated for about one year. He then went to Jones county, located on one hundred and sixty acres and remained there two years. At the end of that time he returned to Cedar county for one year, after which he moved to Ida county and there engaged in farming and various other industries until 1894, when he went to Minnesota and rented one-half section of land near what is now known as Westbrook. There he resided until 1900 and then removed to Pine county, the same state, where he bought forty acres and remained there until 1905, in which year he came to Crawford county, Iowa, and purchased what is now his home in Boyer, Stockholm township.
Mr. Swartz has been twice married, his first wife being Anna Nash, a daughter of William and Mary (Gates) Nash, of Cedar county, Iowa, whom he wedded in the fall of 1883 at Tipton, Iowa. Of the three children born to them, two are living, namely: Catherine E., the wife of Cliff Lawrence, of Houston, Texas; and Angie Irene, who married George Maynard and lives in Crawford county. Mrs. Swartz departed this life in 1887 at Clarence, Cedar county, Iowa.
On January 30, 1901, Mr. Swartz was married to Lydia Erickson, a daughter of John A. and Martha Erickson.
Mr. Swartz in his political relations is a stalwart republican and has always given his support to the men and principles of that party. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood Association. His life has been one of industry, bringing to his work an intelligent appreciation of all that goes to make success, and that he has attained this goal is manifested by the prosperity which he at present enjoys.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.