John Schwalm

John Schwalm

The career of the subject of this sketch is a remarkably
good illustration of the success that can be attained in life, however humble
the beginning, through industry, enterprise and honesty.

John Schwalm was born in Hesse-Cassel, Prussia, February 27, 1835, and was
the son of John George and Catharine Elizabeth (Koehler) Schwalm. He came to
America with his father in 1852, landing August 14, and coming immediately to
Leechburg, in this county, by way of the old Pennsylvania canal, from
Philadelphia. The first labor that he performed was done soon after his
arrival, for he was determined to make his way to an independency in his
chosen country, and cared little how he began, provided it was in honorable
employment. He went out to that part of old Allegheny township which is now
Bethel, and began as a laborer upon the AIlegheny Valley Railroad. His father
bought a small farm in what is now Parks township, and his son subsequently
worked for him a few years. In 1863, however, he went into the mercantile
business in a country store, which he carried on with growing success until
1871. He then went into partnership with W. H. Carnahan (under the style of
Schwalm & Carnahan), and bought what was known as Cochran’s mill, in
Burrell township. He was there engaged in the milling and mercantile business
until the fall of 1876, when he went to Leechburg and bought the Hill mill
property. He built a new mill on the site of the old one, in which he did a
good business until 1881, when it was unfortunately carried away by ice. Mr.
Schwalm gave the people of Leechburg evidence that he intended to remain
there, when he came in 1876, by purchasing the homestead of David Leech, the
founder of the town. And a further indication of his intention was afforded in
1877, when he erected the large two-story store building in which he has since
carried on a heavy business. He bought also and rebuilt the Ulam Hotel, now
known as the Schwalm House. He is a one-half owner of the Elwood flouringmill
(the old Leech mill), and has an interest in three coal mines in Westmoreland
county, not far from Leechburg. Besides these investments and his store, he
owns three farms in Armstrong county. His property has all been accumulated by
his own exertion and enterprise, and his quite phenomenal prosperity,
extending and increasing through a period of more than thirty years, marks him
as a man of unusual ability, judgment and industry. He is in all respects
worthy of the success he has achieved. His business ability has been a
powerful factor in the improvement of Leechburg, for he has done a great deal
directly and indirectly to advance the interests of the town. He is liberal
and public spirited, and always one of the foremost in any enterprise for the
good of the community.

In politics Mr. Schwalm is a democrat. He has never been an office seeker,
but his popularity and strength being recognized in his party, he was
nominated for the assembly in 1882. There was a majority of 600 votes in the
county for the republicans and they made a strong canvass, yet Mr. Schwalm was
defeated by only sixteen ballots.

Mr. Schwalm was married in 1854, to Sarah Smail, daughter of Jacob Smail,
an early settler in that part of old Allegheny township now known as Bethel
township, The offspring of this union were nine children — Catharine
Elizabeth (Carson), Anna Mary (Taylor), John Matthew, Margaret, Matilda, Sarah
Amanda, Ida Louisa, Charles Bismark and Edward Walter. The oldest son is
engaged in the study of law in Attorney-Gen. Brewster’s office, in
Philadelphia.

Source: Page(s)
6

06-607,
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq.
Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 2000
by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project
(http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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