Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

SUNDAY,
ELIAS B.

p. 860-861

Surnames: SUNDAY, SONTAG, BACHARSIN, STRASSER, RAUBENHOLD, MILLER,
JACOBY, SIEGFRIED, HOCH, BIEBER, DUNKEL, MARTIN, TREXLER,
LEIBENSPERGER, MERKEL, DIETRICH, BAVER

Elias B. Sunday, a retired citizen of Windsor township, Berks
county, who resides on Fourth street, Hamburg, was born Aug. 24,
1841, on his father’s farm in Windsor township.

Tradition says that the ancestor of the Sunday
family in America was Hans, Adam Sontag, who emigrated on the ship
“Snow Molly,” which made port at Philadelphia, Oct. 26, 1741. The
district in Berks county in which he settled is not known, but he
had two sons: (1) Christopher, who was born April 9, 1753, died
Dec. 13, 1825. He married Anna Christina Bacharsin, born April 19,
1753, who died Sept. 7, 1825, and their sons, Jacob, Heinrich, John
and George were members of Dunkel’s Church in Greenwich township in
1808. (2) Nicholas Sontag was a taxable in Windsor township in
1768, and had sons John, George and Martin.

George Sontag, son of Nicholas and the
grandfather of Elias B., was a lifelong farmer in Windsor township,
where he was born Jan. 13, 1780, and died Jan. 19, 1869. He owned
over 400 acres of land, the farm now owned by Elias B. and the one
owned by John S. Sunday, being originally one farm and a part of
his property. He was a successful farmer and he made occasional
trips to Philadelphia (having from four to six horses on his large
Conestoga wagon) where he sold his farm produce. On one of his
return trips, when about eight miles from home, he fell from the
wagon while asleep, receiving serious injuries. On Sept. 3, 1803,
Mr. Sontag married Catharine Strasser, who was born Sept. 16, 1789,
and who died March 5, 1853, and to them were born these children:
Gideon, Hannah, born in 1807, m. Isaac Miller, and died in 1883;
Polly m. Peter Raubenhold; Elizabeth m. Johann George Jacoby; and
George m. (first) Mary Siegfried, and second, Catherine Hoch.

Gideon Sunday, father of Elias B., was born Nov.
24, 1810, in Windsor township, and died Jan. 20, 1876. He was
engaged in agricultural pursuits all of his life, owning the farm
now in the possession of Elias B. and considerable mountain land.
He was a man well known and of ability and enterprise, and he built
all the buildings on the farm which is now owned by his son. He
served as school director and was much interested in public
matters.

Mr. Sunday married Sarah Bieber, of Maxatawny
township, who at this date (1909) is still active and living with
her daughter in the city of Reading at the ripe age of ninety
years. To them were born a son and a daughter: Elias B. is
mentioned below; Fianna m. (first) Richard Dunkel, and after his
death Scott Martin, and they reside in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Elias B. Sunday was reared on his father’s farm,
which he operated until 1904, when he removed to his present
residence in Hamburg. He obtained a good education in the pay and
public schools of his locality, and his life has been devoted to
agricultural interests. This farm, which is a part of the original
Sunday property, consists of 185 acres of fertile land, situated on
the State road between Hamburg and Allentown, with excellent water
supply, fine large residence, large barn and numerous sheds, and
out-buildings. When reference is made to this place it is usually
spoken of as “the red roofed buildings to the west of the State
road beyond Hamburg.” This farm is now cultivated by Thomas A.
Sunday, son of Elias B. Mr. Sunday now lives retired in Hamburg in
his brick residence, No. 138 South Fourth street, South ward. He is
in very comfortable circumstances, owning besides the farm to which
reference has just been made, a valuable farm situated along the
State road, and tenanted by his son-in-law, Jerome G. Trexler, This
fine property, which consists of 133 acres of good, fertile land,
is improved with a Swiss barn and a large brick house, surrounded
by a spacious well-kept lawn. Mr.. Sunday is possessed of just
family pride, and the old “grandfather’s clock” which has graced
the family homestead for upward of a century, he has presented to
his son, who lives upon the homestead. In political matters Mr.
Sunday is a Democrat, and he has creditably served his township as
school director for a period of seven years. He and his family
worship at Zion’s Union Church, in Perry township, of which they
are Lutheran members.

On Nov. 28, 1868, Mr. Sunday was married to
Hannah M. Leibensperger, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Merkel)
Leibensperger, prosperous farming people of Richmond township, and
to this union there were born four children ?Annie; Sallie; Alvin,
who died in childhood; and Thomas A.

Annie Sunday was born Feb. 5, 1871, and on Nov.
30, 1890, was united in marriage with Jerome G. Trexler, born Oct.
9, 1865, in Perry township. Mr. Trexler attended the public schools
until nineteen years of age, and has been a farmer all his life. On
April 1, 1895, he began operations on his father-in-law’s farm in
Windsor township, where he has since resided. He is prominent in
the ranks of the Republican party, has been delegate to many county
conventions, and was honored by his party with the nomination for
county treasurer, receiving the highest vote ever given a
Republican nominee in Berks county for that office. He and his
family are Lutheran members of St. Paul’s Union Church. Mr. and
Mrs. Trexler are the parents of four children: Thomas R., born Nov.
12, 1891; Mamie H., Oct. 17, 1896; Jerome L., Dec. 15, 1899; and
Earl Sunday, June 29, 1905.

Sallie A. Sunday was born June 18, 1873. She was
married Dec. 22, 1900, to Ammon C. Dietrich. Mr. Dietrich was born
Nov. 22, 1875. He obtained a good education in the public schools
of Greenwich township, and was reared on his father’s farm. He and
his wife reside in Hamburg with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elias B.
Sunday. Mr. Dietrich and his wife are Lutheran members of Zion’s
Union Church, Perry township.

Alvin Richard Sunday, born Jan. 1, 1875, died
Aug. 24, 1875.

Thomas A. Sunday was born Dec. 21, 1876, and
obtained a good education in the public schools; he was reared upon
his father’s farm which he is now operating. He is a deacon in the
Lutheran denomination of Zion’s Union Church. On Nov. 28, 1903,
Thomas A. Sunday was united in marriage with Katie L. Baver,
daughter of E. Franklin Baver, of Windsor township, and to this
union have come three children: Florence Hannah, born July 29,
1905, who died March 19. 1906; Naomi Sarah Ann, born March 6, 1907;
and Laurance Franklin, born Nov. 13, 1908.

SUNDAY, JOHN ALBERT

p.
1620

Surnames: SUNDAY, NICE, SONTAG, BACHARSIN, SCHAEFFER, HEINLY,
SCHWOYER, KALLER, SEIDEL, KLINE, ALBERT, BRADFORD, BEAM, SHEEDER,
ZWEIZIG, UNGER, HOOVER, KEASEY, GANNON, COMMONS, WAGNER,
SHOLLENBERGER, LINDENMOUTH, NIES, MOLL, YEAGER, GENZEL, MAURER

John Albert Sunday, a well known and respected citizen of Hamburg,
Berks county, Pa., who is extensively engaged in dealing in horses
and cattle, was born May 12, 1845, in Windsor township, son of John
and Margaret (Nice) Sunday.

The progenitor of this well known Berks county
family is said to have been Hans Adam Sontag, who emigrated from
Switzerland, his native land, to America on the ship “Snow Molly,”
which arrived at the port of Philadelphia Oct. 26, 1741; soon
thereafter he settled in Philadelphia county in that section from
which Berks county was organized in 1752. From records we learn
that he had at least two sons: (1) Christopher, born April 9, 1753,
died Dec. 13, 1825. He married Anna Christina Bacharsin, born April
19, 1753, and died Sept. 7, 1825. They had sons, Jacob Heinrich,
John and George. They were members of Dunkel’s Church in Greenwich
in 1808. (2) Nicholas Sontag, the other son of the ancestor of whom
we; have record. was a taxable in Greenwich township in 1768. He
had three sons. John, Jurick (George) and Martin. The last was born
Feb. 19, 1784, and died Jan. 13, 1857. He married Christina
Schaeffer. (1787-1874), and they had one son, Heinrich, born in
1825, who died in 1874 and is buried at Hamburg. In early life he
lived in Greenwich township, and later returned to Windsor, where
he owned six hundred acres of land, in addition to ten residences
in Hamburg. John Sunday married Hannah Heinly, daughter of David
and Sabina Heinly, and to them were born children as follows:
Sallie m. John Schwoyer; Hannah m. Andrew Kaller; Mary m. Godfrey
Seidel; Elizabeth m. Daniel Kline; and John, the father of John
Albert.

John Sunday, the only son of John, was born Jan.
13, 1813, and died in Hamburg, Sept. 11, 1894. In early life he was
an extensive farmer in Windsor township, but in later life removed
to Hamburg, where he lived retired for a long period prior to his
death. In politics a Democrat, he was stanch in the support of the
principles of his party, serving the borough of Hamburg as school
director, councilman and as burgess in 1867-68 and 1874-75. He was
a prominent member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, in which for many
years he served as deacon. Mr. Sunday married Margaret Nice, who
was born in 1824 and died in 1894, daughter of Dr. Benjamin R. Nice
of Hamburg, and to this union there were born these children:
Cecelia, horn in 1844, died in 1852; John Albert; Clementine, born
in 1848, died in 1852; Benjamin Bradford, born in 1854, died in
1890; Brugler; and Nevada m. B. Frank Beam.

John Albert Sunday was about five years old when
his father removed to Hamburg, and there he attended school until
his seventeenth year, some of his teachers being Benjamin Sheeder,
Rev. Benjamin D. Zweizig and R. G. Unger. He obtained a good
education, and had learned the butcher trade, when in October 1861,
he enlisted as a member of the 96th Regt., Pa. Vol. Inf., his term
of enlistment being three years. During the first two years of his
service he participated in a number of battles, his first
engagement being West Point, Va., on the York river, where the
enemy was repulsed. Later he was a participant in the battles of
Gaines Hill; the Seven Days fight; Newport News; South Mountain,
where the Confederate forces were charged and forced to retreat up
the mountain; Antietam; Fredericksburg, where he was with the
forces that took the heights; Gettysburg, where he was in the
charge on Little Round Top; and Rappahannock Station, after which
latter engagement his command marched south to Brandy Station.
While out foraging in this vicinity, Mr. Sunday and two companions,
Jacob Hoover and James Keasey, were captured by Mosby’s Guerillas
and taken to Richmond. Mr. Sunday was confined for one night in
Libby Prison, two months at Pemberton and seven weeks on Belle
Isle. At the end of this time he was transferred to Andersonville,
where he was detailed as a butcher to kill cattle for the
prisoners. Here he was foreman of twenty butchers, and assisted in
killing from forty to 125 cattle daily. These men were granted
liberties under penalty of death, and Mr. Sunday was shown much
courtesy, especially by a farmer named Williams. After about two
months, Mr. Sunday with two companions, William Gannon and Robert
Commons, made his escape. Early in October these three men started
on their journey for liberty. They had very little food, but
managed to get enough to sustain them by begging from colored
people at night, and thus for eleven days and eleven nights they
journeyed through an unknown country, with nothing to guide them
but the stars and sun. Finally they reached the Union army
southwest of Atlanta. At Atlanta they reported personally to
General Sherman, who gave them transportation East to their command
and thence to their homes. Mr. Sunday was finally mustered out at
Philadelphia and received his honorable discharge. These three
comrades, after being separated for twenty-five years, met and had
a glad reunion at Chicago, during the World’s Fair, and have ever
since kept up a correspondence.

After the war Mr. Sunday worked for a season for
the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and then clerked in a store
at Freystown for two years, after which he returned to Hamburg and
worked at his trade for Jesse Wagner. In 1868 he went into business
for himself, having his shop and slaughtering house at Third and
Walnut streets, and continued in business there for three years. In
1871 he started in the horse and cattle business, which he has
followed ever since, also operating the Reading Railroad “Road
Farm” southwest of Hamburg and his own farm in Tilden township.

Mr. Sunday is a Democrat in politics and has
always been active in the ranks of his party, serving two terms as
burgess and two terms on the school board. He has frequently been
delegate to county conventions, and has ever been influential in
the councils of his party. He is a member of Vaux Lodge, No. 406,
F. & A. M., of his town. He and his family are members of the
Reformed faith, and attend the First Reformed Church, Hamburg. Mr.
Sunday serving as trustee thereof for two terms, as well as being a
member of the building committee which had in charge the erection
of the present beautiful and substantial church edifice.

On July 14. 1866, Mr. John Albert Sunday and
Miss Anna M. Shollenberger, daughter of Abraham and Louisa
(Lindenmouth) Shollenberger, were united in marriage. To Mr. and
Mrs. Sunday have been born these children: Margaret m. Reuben Nies,
of Hamburg; Curtis F., a well-known live stock dealer of Hamburg.
m. Sallie Noll; Laura, deceased, m. William Yeager, of Hamburg:
Clara. m. William Genzel; and Harry, deceased, m. Grace Maurer.

SUNDAY,
WILLIAM

p. 977

Surnames: SUNDAY, DUNKEL, BACHARUS*, SCHAEFFER, KUTZ, FISHER,
FEGLEY, HARSHBERGER, BALTHASER, RAHN, LUCKENBILL, LEVAN, HEINLY,
DINOUR, FOLK, RAUBENHOLD, WINK, DREIBELBIS, GERHARD, MENGEL,
YEAGER, DIETRICH, SEIDEL, RAMER

William Sunday, owner of an excellent farm of 137 acres in
Greenwich township, on which he is carrying on operations, was born
on the farm adjoining his present home in 1839, son of Jacob and
Leah (Dunkel) Sunday. All of Mr. Sunday’s ancestors were active
members of the New Jerusalem (Dunkel’s) Church, and are buried in
the cemetery connected therewith.

Christopher Sunday, great-grandfather of
William, was born April 9, 1753, and died Dec. 13, 1825. He married
Christina Bacharus*, born April 19, 1753, died Sept. 7, 1825.

Martin Sunday, son of Christopher, was born Feb.
19, 1784, and died Jan. 13, 1857, and his wife, Christina
Schaeffer, was born Oct. 15, 1787, and died June 3, 1852.

Jacob Sunday, son of Martin and father of
William, was born Sept. 8, 1813, and died March 11, 1886. He
married Leah Dunkel, who was born Sept. 14, 1814, and died July 12,
1888, and they became the parents of nine children, namely:
Christina, born in 1837, m. Jacob Kutz; William, born in 1839;
Henry, born in 1841, died at the age of sixteen years; Jacob, born
in 1843, m. Maria Fisher; Samuel, born in 1845, m. Hettie Ann
Fegley; John, born in 1847, m. Mary Harshberger; Esther, born in
1849, m. Joel Balthaser; Joel m. Ellen Rahn; and Amelia died at the
age of three years.

William Sunday received his education in the
schools of his native locality, and was reared to agricultural
pursuits which he has followed all his life. He now owns a fine
tract of 137 acres of land, on which are substantial out-buildings,
a large bank barn and a handsome stone house surrounded by a
well-kept lawn. He is well known in his locality for his kindness
and hospitality, and for his many other sterling traits of
character. With his wife he is a member and regular attendant of
the New Jerusalem Church.

In 1867 Mr. Sunday married Miss Annie J.
Luckenbill, who was born in 1845, and to them there have been born
children as follows: Elwood, born in 1869, m. Ellen Levan, and has
one son, Earl, born in August, 1900; Mary, born in 1879, m. George
Heinly, and has four children, Elda, Elma, George and Edward;
William was born Dec. 4, 1892; and Curtis Jacob, born July 24,
1895, died at the age of five years.

Mrs. Sunday’s maternal great-grandfather, David
Heinly, was born in 1765, and died in 1825. He m. Maria Magdalena
Dinour, born Oct. 25, 1770, died Jan. 29, 1863, and among their
children was Jacob Heinly, who died in 1876. Jacob Heinly m. Mary
Folk, and they had three children: Mrs. Angelina Luckenbill; Mrs.
Elizabeth Luckenbill (Mrs. Sunday’s mother); and Mrs. George
Raubenhold.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Sunday, Thomas
Luckenbill, m. Anna Wink, and among their children was James
Luckenbill, Mrs. Sunday’s father, who died Aug. 14, 1905. He m.
Elizabeth Heinly, who now lives with her daughter. Although long
past the three score and ten mark she is in good health and in full
possession of her faculties. Mr. and Mrs. Luckenbill had these
children: Elnora m. Rolandus Dreibelbis; James Wilson m. Alice
Gerhard; Thomas Jacob m. Ida Mengel; Annie J. became Mrs. Sunday;
Mary A. m. James Yeager; Oscar m. Katie Dietrich; Angelina m.
George Seidel; Laura m. George Ramer; Charles died at the age of
twelve years; and Elwood and Benjamin both died aged seven months.

NOTE:

from Barbara: Christopher
“Sontag” (later changed to “Sunday”) married Christina Bacher,
daughter of Jean Nicole (John Nicholas) and Christina Keilbach
Bacher. John Nicholas Bacher’s will, 1784, Albany, can be found at
the Berks County Archives site as can the wills of Christina Bacher
Sontag’s grandparents, Christophel Keylbach, 1760, and Christina
Keilbachin, 1766, Albany. Christopher and Christina Bacher Sontag
are buried in the cemetery at Dunkel’s Church.

SWAVELY, FRANK S.

p. 1558

Surnames: SWAVELY, SHOLLENBERGER, SHANE, SWABLE, SWEBELY,
FRITTERICH, KOCH, KEMMERER, SHIRER, HOFFMAN, HARTLINE, GIFT,
WEIDNER, WEISER, MENSCH, WOLFGANG, FLICKER, HAFER, SCHWEBELE,
HARTMAN, HOFFMAN, SCHWABLE

Frank S. Swavely, proprietor of the “Shanesville Hotel,” is a
native of Earl township, Berks county, born Oct. 7, 1863, son of
Jonathan K. and Emeline (Shollenberger) Swavely.

Adam Swavely, the founder of this family, was a
native of Hessen, Germany, and came to this country at the time of
the American Revolution, serving as one of the soldiers in King
George’s army. In 1782 he located in Earl township, and his name
appears that year among the taxables. He was a laborer and
woodchopper, and acquired a small tract of land in which is known
as Woodchoppertown, in Earl township. He is buried there in a
private cemetery, located in the timber southeast of William C.
Shane’s place-now a forlorn and neglected spot. On the tax list of
1782 his name is spelled Swable, and in the census of 1790 it
appears Adam Swebely. On the latter list also appear: Adam Swebely,
Jr., Leonard Swebely and Michael Swebely. Among the children of
Adam Swavely were: Adam, Jr.; Leonard, who had a son John; Jacob,
who had a son Peter; Michael; and Peter.

Michael Swavely, son of Adam, lived in
Woodchoppertown, in Earl township, and there owned a tract of sixty
acres which he cultivated. In religious principle he was a
Lutheran. He married Bevvy Fritterich, who died when past eighty
years of age. Their children Were: Abraham, who lived and died in
Earl township; John; Matthew, who lived first in Earl township, and
then in Upper Berks county where he died; Michael, who lived and
died in Earl township; Jacob, who died in Earl; and Susanna, m. to
Jacob Koch, of Earl.

John Swavely, son of Michael, was born in Earl
township, in November, 1794, and died in May, 1879. He always lived
in that township, where he owned a farm that he bequeathed to his
sons, Adam, Jonathan and Mahlon for $3,500. By trade he was a stone
mason. In his last will and testament he directed that he be buried
in the Oley graveyard. He and his wife were Lutheran members of
Oley Churches. He married Catharine Kemmerer, who died in February,
1891, aged seventy-seven years. They had ten children: Lovina,
Amos, Jonathan K., Simon, Adam, Anna, Harriett, Amelia, Mahlon and
Levi.

Jonathan K. Swavely, son of John, is one of the
old residents of Earl township. He was born there June 16, 1827,
and for some years followed the stone mason’s trade. In politics he
is a Democrat, and for six years served as supervisor, and for two
years as assessor. He is Lutheran member of Oley Churches. On Aug.
20, 1854, he married Emeline Shollenberger, daughter of Benjamin
Shollenberger, of Oley township. She was born in November, 1832.
They had twelve children, as follows: Nathaniel, of Earl township;
Lizzie, m. to Henry Shirer; Enoch, of Allentown; Benjamin,
deceased; Frank S., of Shanesville; Mahlon, of Oley township; Rosa,
m. to William S. Hoffman; Kate, m. to Nicholas Hartline; Sallie,
deceased; Emma, m. to William Gift; Daniel, of Seattle, Wash.; and
Annie, m. to David Weidner.

Frank S. Swavely attended the public schools
until he was eighteen years old when he learned the carpenter’s
trade from William Weiser, of Boyertown, working for him for about
five years. He then came to Oley township with his family, and
followed painting and carpentering two years, but the paint caused
his health to fail, and he gave up the work. For three years then
he followed carpentering, after which he entered the hotel
business, conducting for three years the “Pleasantville Hotel.”
Coming to Earl township, he once more worked at his trade, and at
the same time conducted a small farm. On March 21, 1895, he became
proprietor of the “Shanesville Hotel,” and this place he has since
conducted with ever increasing popularity. Mr. Swavely is a member
of the Knights of the Mystic Chain, Boyertown; the Knights of the
Golden Eagle, Pleasantville; and the Red Men, of Oley. He was also
a member for some twenty years of the Boyertown Hook and Ladder
Company. He and his family are Lutheran members of Oley Churches,
and he served as deacon for three years. In 1908 when the present
Lutheran Church was erected, Mr. Swavely was liberal in his
contributions, and he also donated one of the stained glass
windows.

On Aug. 19, 1884, he married Emma L. Mensch,
daughter of Even Mensch, late of Hereford township. They have three
children: Stella, wife of Edwin Wolfgang, of Earl township;
Clarence and Elda. The family is very highly esteemed and they have
many warm friends.

A number of the Swavelys are buried in the cemeteries at Oley
Churches and at Amityville. Among those in the former are: Isaac
Swavely, born July 15, 1817, died Sept. 9, 1906; and wife Matilda,
nee Flicker, 1820-1877; Michael Swavely, born June 14, 1807, died
Aug. 20, 1887; Susan, his wife, born Oct. 20, 1814, died April 28,
1892. Sarah B. Swavely, nee Hafer, Oct. 13, 1841. John S. Swavely,
March 28, 1846. Elizabeth Schwebele, wife of Jacob Schwebele, born
Dec. 12, 1798, died Dec. 12, 1863. Johan Peter Schwable, born Jan.
6, 1787, died Nov. 15, 1865; wife Catharine, nee Hartman,
1798-1873. In the Amityville cemetery are: Ephraim D. Swavely (son
of John and Elnora), born Jan. 23, 1823, died Sept. 26, 1889; wife,
Mary Ann, nee Hoffman, born May 8, 1831, died Dec. 25, 1897. Horace
G. Swavely, 1840-1905. Sarah Ann, wife Nathan Swavely, 1840-1902.

SWAVELY, JOHN LEONARD

p.
1556

Surnames: SWAVELY, IMBODEY, STEINROCK, MATTHIAS, RHOADS, GOODMAN,
KITCHEN, WEAVER, BREIDENBACH, LEWIS

John Leonard Swavely, of Weaverstown, Amity township, was born in
Amity township, Dec. 18, 1846, a son of Frederick Swavely and
grandson of Leonard Swavely.

(I) Leonard Swavely lived in Earl township, where he was a farmer.
He is buried at the Oley Church. His wife bore the maiden name of
Swavely, and was a cousin of her husband. They had these children:
Sally, who died unmarried; Susanna, who married Nathan Imbodey;
Catherine; Samuel, of Earl township, whose son Hiram died at
Reading; Frederic; and John, who was born June 22, 1788, and died
Nov. 4, 1874, leaving a son, Nathan, of Amityville.

(II) Frederic Swavely was born in Earl township in 1799, died in
1878, and is buried at Amityville. He was a laborer and for seven
years worked in the Jacob Weaver distillery at Earlville. His wife
was Anna Steinrock, and she died about 1898, aged eighty-six years.
She is buried beside her husband. Their children were: Solomon
lived at Birdsboro, died at Philadelphia, but is buried at
Birdsboro; Susan never married; Frederick; Henry left Amity about
1858 or 1858 and has never been heard of since; Rachel m. Jacob
Matthias (deceased), and lives at Weaverstown; Rebecca m. Capt.
Samuel Rhoads, who commanded Durell’s Battery in the Civil war;
Matilda m. Lewis Goodman, a member of the 5th Ohio Reg., who lost
an arm during the Civil war; Annie and Lilia died young.

(III) John Leonard Swavely was reared upon the farm and when
fifteen years of age he was taken into the family of Dr. E. C.
Kitchen, at Weaverstown, where he was employed for three years. He
then enlisted with Dr. Kitchen in the 21st Penn. Cavalry, the
physician as a surgeon and Mr. Swavely as a private. The date of
Mr. Swavely’s enlistment was July 13, 1863, and he was enrolled at
Harrisburg for a period of six months. He received his honorable
discharge Feb. 20, 1864, at Chambersburg. After the war he was
employed by Col. Jeremiah Weaver, of Amity township, and remained
there from 1865 to 1902. In the meanwhile Mr. Weaver died, but Mr.
Swavely remained with the widow. While working on the Weaver farm
he was also engaged in the cattle business as well, and often drove
from five to six herds of cattle from the western reserve in Ohio
to Reading, a distance of more than 450 miles. He usually had from
130 to 135 head of cattle in each herd, so the managing of them was
no small feat. With him he had four or five men, but the
responsibility rested on him.

In 1871 Mr. Swavely married Emeline Breidenbach, a daughter of
David and Sarah (Lewis) Breidenbach. She was born Aug. 20, 1841,
and died May 28, 1908, aged sixty-five years, nine months and eight
days. She is buried at the Oley Churches. Mr. and Mrs. Swavely had
no issue.

SWAVELY, WELLINGTON G.

p. 1532

Surnames: SWAVELY, SHANE, SWABLE, SWEBELY, HARTMAN, KEMMERER,
DAVIS, ECK, HINKEL, MEST, HARING, RHOADS, WEAVER, KAUFFMAN, GULDIN,
LUDWIG, GRIESEMER, DE TURK, NAGEL

Wellington G. Swavely, who is engaged in farming in Amity
township, Berks county, Pa., near Yellow House, was born in Earl
township, the early home of the family, April 24, 1859, son of
Peter H. and Ann (Swavely) Swavely.

Adam Swavely, the founder of this family, was a
native of Hessen, Germany, and came to this country at the time of
the American Revolution, serving as one of the soldiers in King
George’s army. In 1782 he located in Earl township, and his name
appears that year among the taxables. He was a laborer and wood
chopper, and acquired a small tract of land in what is known as
Woodchoppertown, in Earl township, and is buried there in a private
cemetery, located in the timber southeast of William C. Shane’s
place-now a forlorn and neglected spot. On the tax list of 1782 his
name is spelled Swable, and in the census of 1790 it appears Adam
Swebely, Sr. On the latter list also appear: Adam Sweberly, Jr.,
Leonard Swebely and Michael Swebely. Among the children of Adam
Swavely were: Adam, Jr., Leonard, who had a son, John; Jacob, who
had a son, Peter; Michael; and Peter.

Peter Swavely, grandfather of Wellington S., was
born in Earl township, and died in 1863, aged seventy-eight years,
and is buried at Oley Churches, as is also his wife, whose maiden
name was Kate Hartman. He was a laborer and woodchopper in
Woodchoppertown. They were the parents of seven children, namely:
Isaac; Betzy; Kitty; Polly; infant daughter; Peter H. and Daniel.

Peter H. Swavely, son of Peter and Kate
(Hartman), was born in Earl township, in 1833, and died in the same
township May 3, 1906, aged seventy-two years. He was a shoemaker by
trade, and completed his apprenticeship when only eighteen years of
age. His tract of seven acres of good land was located about
three-quarters of a mile west of Shanesville. He was a school
director in the township. For three years he was an elder at Oley
Churches, of which he was a Lutheran member, and he is buried on
the Swavely plot at that place. In 1858 he married Ann Swavely,
daughter of John and Catharine (Kemmerer) Swavely, and the had ten
children: Wellington S.; Amelia m. (first) Chester Davis, and
(second) a Mr. Eck, of Reading; Emma m. Daniel Hartman; Ellen m.
Isaac Hinkel; Andora; Elvina m. Samuel Mest; Clara m. William
Hartman; Mandilla m. Charles Haring; Mary m. Rudolph Rhoads; and
Adda m. Frank Rhoads.

Wellington S. Swavely attended the district
schools in Earl and Oley townships until he was eighteen years of
age, the school term at that time being from four to five months.
He was hired out among the farmers of Oley township between the
ages of twelve and thirty years. In the spring of 1890 he began
farming in Oley township, on the farm of Mrs. Solomon De Turk. This
consisted of 100 acres, and he gave it his close attention for four
years. In the early months of 1895 he located in Amity township, on
the Col. Jeremiah Weaver farm of 234 acres, and there he has since
made his home. In 1901 the farm became the property of Reuben
Nagel, but is now owned by Mr. Swavely. He has been very
successful, and has nine head of good horses, and thirty-two head
of cattle, and a full line of modern machinery. Mr. Swavely is
strictly a self-made man, beginning life for himself with nothing
but an honest name. In addition to the property above mentioned he
owns the homestead of his father in Earl township, near
Shanesville, consisting of seven acres of land and good buildings,
and he also owns eighty acres of woodland in Earl township.

In politics Mr. Swavely is a Democrat, and for
three years he served as school director in Amity township, and he
was also a delegate to the county convention under the old system.
He is a member of the creamery board at Yellow House. He and his
family all belong to Christ Lutheran Church in Oley. He was a
member of the building committee when the present beautiful church
edifice was built in 1908. Since 1898 he has officiated as deacon,
and he has given liberally toward the support of all its worthy
endeavors. Fraternally Mr. Swavely is a member of Amity Castle, K.
G. E., of Amityville; and also of the I. O. R. M., of Yellow House.
On March 9, 1889, Mr. Swavely married Katie Kauffman, daughter of
Daniel and Annie (Guldin) Kauffman, and granddaughter of Simon
Guldin (whose wife was a Ludwig). Six children have blessed this
union, as follows: Annie A. m. Edwin Griesemer; Nathan W.; William
M.; Irene; Ethel A.; and Edith S.

SWEITZER, EDWARD E.

p. 988

Surnames: SWEITZER, SCHAEFFER, MENGEL, WERTZ, MATZ, BECKER, GAUBY

Edward E. Sweitzer, a well known resident and substantial business
man of Reading, Berks Co., Pa., who is engaged in quarrying, was
born in Oley township, Berks county, March 26, 1869, son of Abraham
and Elizabeth (Schaeffer) Sweitzer.

Abraham Sweitzer received his education in the
schools of his township, and his early manhood was spent in work on
his father’s and their neighbors’ farms. Later he went into the ore
business in which he was very successful, and after being
superintendent of the Wheatfield and Berns mines and of the Clymer
Iron Company at Oley and Mount Laurel, he purchased the Bowers
quarry, which he operated until his death, June 10, 1905. He was
buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. His political sentiments made
him a Republican, and fraternally he belonged to the I. O. O. F.
and the K. of P. He married Elizabeth Schaeffer, daughter of
Benjamin and Catherine (Mengel) Schaeffer, and to this union the
following children were born: Katie A. m. Frank Wertz, resides at
No. 1125 Marion street, and has children, Bessie, Claude and
Esther; William is deceased; Mary m. William Wertz, of Hyde Park,
and has children, Edward, William, Grace, Charles, Lottie, George,
Earle and Wayne; Edward E.; Ella is single; and Velina m. John Y.
Matz, of Shillington, Berks county. Mrs. Sweitzer survives her
husband, and lives with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Wertz.

Edward E. Sweitzer received his preliminary
education in the public schools and later attended the Keystone
State Normal School for two terms, after leaving which he taught
school for five terms. He then took a business course, attending
Stoner College, and graduating therefrom in 1889. He was first
employed with his father, but later engaged in business with him,
the partnership continuing until the elder Sweitzer’s death, when
Edward E. took full charge of the Bowers quarries, still operating
them. He sells his product to the Reading Iron Company, and employs
about twenty-five hands throughout the year. In political matters
Mr. Sweitzer is a Republican, and he is fraternally connected with
the Maccabees. He and his wife reside at No. 915 Windsor street,
and attend St. Thomas Reformed Church, of which he is a deacon.

In 1892 Mr. Sweitzer married Katie E. Becker,
daughter of John A. and Mary (Gauby) Becker, of Muhlenberg
township, Berks county, and to this union there have been born
children as follows: Abraham, a member of the class of 1910,
Reading high school; Oscar; Emily; John; Edward and Katie. Mr. and
Mrs. Sweitzer are very popular in their community, and have many
friends.

SWENEY,
THOMAS W.

p. 695

Surnames: SWENEY, HINEMAN, WELLS, WEIDA, WHITNER, COLLER, WANNER,
BOYER, TUKE, MATTHEWS

Thomas W. Sweney (deceased), a prominent jeweler of Reading, whose
skill in his line won him a reputation all over the State, was born
in West Chester, Chester county, April 24, 1834, son of James
Sweney. He died Oct. 14, 1905, and is buried in the Charles Evans
cemetery.

Thomas Sweney, grandfather of Thomas W., was
born in Bucks county, Pa., March 4, 1777. For many years he lived
in West Chester, Chester county, where he died. He married
Elizabeth Hineman, who was born in Montgomery county, Pa., May 7,
1785, daughter of John and Barbara Hineman, and to them came James
and John.

James Sweney, born March 29, 1810, married
Lovina Wells. He died Oct. 1, 1883, aged seventy-three years, six
months and two days, and she died May 8, 1893, aged eighty-three
years, four months and seventeen days. Both were natives of
Pennsylvania, the father of Irish descent and the mother of Welsh.
James Sweney was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation
for some years, but in time went into a general mercantile
business. During the war he became the government collector of
internal revenue and retained the position for a long period,
winning universal respect by his ability and character. He and his
wife became the parents of five children, Thomas, Elizabeth,
Carrie, Isaac and Catharine, the last named living only a few
years. The family were Methodist in religious belief although the
Wells family, to which the mother belonged were Quakers. James
Sweney was a strong Republican.

Thomas W. Sweney was educated in the public
schools of West Chester, where his parents resided. In 1853 he
moved to Reading, and began to learn the jeweler’s trade with
Solomon Weida, remaining with him until he had mastered the
business in all its details. He early displayed his marked aptitude
for the work and had no difficulty in finding employment when he
left Mr. Weida. Some years later he went to Philadelphia, and
followed his trade there until 1858, when he was offered a very
promising opportunity for advancing in the world by going into the
coal business with his uncle. He tried this for some time, but did
not find it a congenial occupation and so he returned to Reading
and took up the jewelry business again.

Mr. Sweney established a store of his own at No.
424 Penn street, but after several years there he moved to another
location on Penn street, the present site of the C. K. Whitner
concern. He remained there quite a while, but moving again, went to
North Fifth street, in the vicinity of the Gas Company. This did
not prove to be a satisfactory location and before long Mr. Sweney
went back to his first location, where he carried on his business
for many years. During his later years, however, he gave up his
retail trade and moving to the rear of his property confined
himself to a manufacturing establishment. He was thus engaged up to
one week prior to his death, when he was suddenly stricken about
four o’clock one morning with a stroke of apoplexy, from which he
never recovered.

Thomas W. Sweney married, April 9, 1848, Miss
Pamelia Catherine Coller, daughter of John and Harriet (Wanner)
Coller, both natives of Pennsylvania, of Dutch stock. Four children
were born to this union, but only two lived to maturity: William
P., a machinist, m. Miss Annie Boyer, and they have one child,
Ruth. Katie B. m. Charles D. Tuke, of Rochester, N. Y., and has two
children, Charles H. and Catherine E. Mr. Sweney was a member of
the Methodist Church and for some time sang in the Fifth Street
Methodist Episcopal Church choir.

In his younger days Mr. Sweney was much
interested in secret orders, and was one of the founders of the
Knights of the Mystic Chain. The honor of organizing the order was
accorded to John O. Matthews, but it was Mr. Sweney who formulated
the degrees. Of a very genial kindly nature, he had many warm
friends, and his death has been very deeply felt and regretted.

SWOPE,
JACOB

p. 1250

Surnames: SWOPE, PEIFER, WILHELM, WINTER

Jacob Swope, a leading citizen of Bethel township, Berks county,
who is the popular proprietor of the well-known Bordner House,
Millersburg, was born March 24, 1866, in Bethel township, son of
Daniel and Catherine (Peifer) Swope.

Mr. Swope attended the public schools of his
township until twenty years of age, and until twenty-one lived with
his parents and worked on the farm near Millersburg. He then
engaged in farming on his own account on the old homestead, where
he continued for eight years, and then received the contract to
carry the daily mails through between Bethel P. O. (Millersburg)
and Myerstown, Lebanon county, for four years. At this time Mr.
Swope engaged in the hotel business, in what is known as the
Bordner House, Millersburg, which he has improved greatly and
successfully conducted ever since. Meantime Mr. Swope has purchased
two small farms, which he turned into one, and after bringing this
to a high state of cultivation he sold the tract and purchased a
piece of land close to the hotel, on which fine property he now
resides. In politics he is and always has been a Democrat, is
active in his party, and has been elected for seven years a member
of the standing committee, also serving as State delegate in 1903,
when Robert E. Pattison was nominated governor of Pennsylvania. He
is a member of the P. O. S. of A., Jr. O. U. A. M., and the I. O.
O. F. In religious belief he is Reformed.

In 1887 Mr. Swope was married to Maria L.
Wilhelm, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Winter) Wilhelm, and to
this union there have been born three children: Lloyd Ezra, Lee
Jacob and Margaret Catherine, all deceased.

SWOPE,
JONATHAN

p. 1250

Surnames: SWOPE, PEIFER, GLONINGER, SHIRK, MILLER, LENGEL,
BENSING, FRANTZ, BOMBERGER, BEHNEY, LOOSE, DECK, DUBBS

Jonathan Swope, a highly esteemed citizen and substantial business
man of Bethel township, Berks Co., Pa., who is engaged in a general
store and agricultural implement business at Cross-kill Mills, was
born in Tulpehocken township, Dec. 2, 1849, son of Daniel and
Catherine (Peifer) Swope.

Christian Swope, the grandfather of Jonathan,
was a native of Lebanon county, where he was married to a Miss
Gloninger, who bore him these children: Philip, who lived and died
in Dauphin county; Elizabeth, m. Michael Shirk, a merchant of
Dauphin county; Henry, who followed farming for some time and
afterwards contracting and building, and who died in Lebanon, aged
about sixty years; Daniel; and Mary, m. Henry Shirk, a farmer of
Grantville, Dauphin county, who after retirement removed to
Harrisburg, and died, aged eighty-two years, his wife having
preceded him to the grave at the age of seventy-two. Christian
Swope was married (second) to a Miss Miller, who bore him two
children, Kate, the elder, married Jared Lengel, a miller by trade,
and constable for about twenty-five years. They resided in
Millersburg, where he died about thirty years ago, while she is
still living and resides with her daughter, Jennie, near Lebanon.
John, the only son, who learned the coopering trade with his
father, afterwards followed coach making, and still later building
and contracting, and subsequently removed to Lebanon county, where
he is engaged in the real estate business. Christian Swope was a
cooper by trade, but later engaged in farming at Millersburg, where
he died in 1877. He was a member of Salem Reformed Church, at
Millersburg, where he was buried.

Daniel Swope, father of Jonathan, was born and
reared in Bethel township, where he married Miss Catherine Peifer.
Her father, born in Tulpehocken township, later was a resident of
Bethel. He married there and settled on a farm which he conducted
so successfully that for his last twenty years he was able to
retire. He died at the age of sixty-seven and was a member of Salem
Reformed Church. After marriage Daniel Swope removed to Tulpehocken
township, where he engaged in farming for about fifteen years, and
then returned to Bethel township for two years, after which he
again located in Tulpehocken township. There his death occurred
Sept. 14, 1866, at the age of forty-two years, eight months,
twenty-nine days. He was an active member of the Reformed Church,
holding various offices therein. In politics he was a Democrat, but
he never aspired to public office. Mr. Swope’s burial took place at
the Salem Reformed Church, Millersburg. He was twice drafted for
service during the Civil war, but was never accepted.

To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Swope were born the
following children: Jonathan; Davilla, who is residing on a large
farm in Myerstown, is married and has three children living and one
deceased; Amanda, who married Henry Bensing, resides on a farm in
Bethel township, and has one child; Elmira, who married John W.
Frantz, resides on a large farm near Myerstown, Lebanon county, and
has six children; Kate, unmarried, resides with her brother
Jonathan; Daniel, who married Mary Bomberger, by whom he has had
six children, resided for five years in Sunnyside, Wash., and then
returned to Bethel township; and Jacob, of Millersburg.

Jonathan Swope attended the public schools of
Tulpehocken township, at the same time largely assisting his father
on the farm. When he was sixteen his father died, and being the
oldest of the family, the father’s duties fell upon his young
shoulders, and from that time until his twentieth year he was
obliged to give up his studies. The mother with her children
continued to conduct the farm, and here she passed away, April 10,
1898, aged seventy-four years. At the age of twenty years Jonathan
Swope went to the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, attending
for several spring terms and passing a creditable examination,
after which he taught school for seventeen terms, at the same time
conducting a farm. He then returned to the Normal for a term and
was ready for the graduating class, but did not finish the course.
Deciding to give more attention to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Swope
rented two large farms, and later he purchased one of these, still,
however, continuing in teaching. In 1884 he located in Cross-kill
Mills, Bethel township, where in the spring of 1885 he was elected
justice of the peace, an office which he is still holding. In 1888
he gave up teaching, and in 1890 he purchased the general store of
the town, since that time having erected a new building for his
large business. This is one of the largest and handsomest general
stores in Berks county and is largely patronized. He has built up a
fine trade, and in addition to the stock carried by a general store
he has put in a complete line of agricultural implements, this
being a great convenience to the people of his community.

On Dec. 4, 1875, Mr. Swope was married to
Rebecca C. Behney, daughter of Augustus and Mary Anna (Loose)
Behney, and to this union there have been born two children: Mary
Luella, who died when about two years of age; and Augustus, who
resides at home and is married to Miss Ida Deck, daughter of Hiram
and Susanna (Dubbs) Deck. They have one child -Jonathan Hiram.

Mr. Swope and his family are members of the
Reformed Church, Myerstown, Lebanon county, where he has held the
offices of deacon and elder at various times. He is a Democrat in
politics, but outside of the office of justice of the peace has
never cared to secure public preferment. He has been connected with
various business enterprises, and is at present president of the
First National Bank of Fredericksburg, Lebanon county, in which he
is also a director. 343-1377 Swoyer, Albert M.

SWOYER,
ALBERT M.

p. 1377

Surnames: SWOYER, HUYETT, ZACHARIAS, HARTMANLEINBACH, SCHWEYER,
DUMN,

Albert M. Swoyer, retired farmer, living at Sinking Spring, was
born in Maxatawny township, Berks County, Sept. 17, 1845, and was
brought up on a farm. He attended the township school until he was
thirteen years old, when he was hired out on a farm in the
neighborhood of his home, where he continued four years. He then
secured employment with Eckert & Co. (who were then operating
the Henry Clay Furnace at Reading and iron ore mines in the
vicinity of Topton), promoted to be manager of a mine, and he
filled this position successfully for thirteen years. The business
of mining was then suspended on account of the prevailing panic,
and being thrown out of employment, he directed his attention to
farming, he carried on its cultivation for eight years. Renting a
100-acre farm of Daniel Huyett, in Lower Heidelberg town-eight
years. During this time he served as a school director of the
township, He then removed to Ruscombmanor township, near Pricetown,
where he had become the owner of a large farm comprising 250 acres,
and this farm he cultivated for nearly thirty years, until April,
1908, when he rented the place and moved to Sinking Spring, where
he is now living in retirement. While farming in Ruscombmanor
township he also served as a school director for six years, filling
the offices of president and treasurer of the school board for part
of the time.

In 1873, Mr. Swoyer married Caroline Zacharias,
daughter of Daniel Zacharias, of Muhlenberg township. , and Sarah
Huyett, his wife (who was a daughter of John Huyett, of Spring
township, and Sarah Hartman, his wife). By this union there were
three children: Ambrose died when six years old; Charles, educated
at the Keystone State Normal School and now occupied as a clerk in
the recorder’s office in Berks county, married Mary Leinbach; Nora,
a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, is now engaged as a
teacher in the public schools.

In politics, Mr. Swoyer has been a Democrat from
the time he began to vote, and he has frequently attended the
county conventions as a delegate. He and his family are connected
with the Lutheran Church at Sinking Spring.

Mr. Swoyer’s father was Peter Schweyer, farmer
of Maxatawny township, and Elizabeth Dumn, his wife, was a daughter
of Michael Dumn, of Richmond township.

SWOYER, ELI
H.

p. 876

Surnames: SWOYER, SCHWEYER, DUMN, DRESHER, STRUNK, ZACHARIAS,
BELLEMAN, MERKEL, WALTER, KRICK, STITZEL, KEISER, SCHMOYER, SMITH,
FOLK, BOGER, KEMP

Eli H. Swoyer, public school teacher for thirty-six years, was
born in Maxatawny township, Berks county, April 3, 1848. During his
youth he worked on his father’s farm, attending public school in
the winter months, and by assiduity and perseverance he became so
proficient in his studies as to secure a teacher’s certificate in
1867; and afterward he prosecuted his studies in the higher
branches in the Keystone State Normal School, from which he was
graduated in 1873. He then engaged regularly as a school teacher,
and continued to serve as such for thirty-six terms, one term in
Lehigh county, seven terms in Lancaster county, and twenty-eight in
Berks county, twenty consecutive terms of the latter period having
been spent in the same schoolhouse in Lower Heidelberg township,
near Vinemont. It is evident that as a teacher he gave entire
satisfaction in his methods of instruction and in the treatment of
his pupils. At the close of each school term, he assisted in
farming operations, and also kept up his studies to render him more
proficient as a teacher. His thoroughness and exactness are shown
in his superior hand-writing, which he perfected by great
perseverance, being obliged to write with his left hand on account
of the partial disability of his right hand.

In politics Mr. Swoyer is a Democrat, and for
many years he has exerted much influence in behalf of the party
tickets in the vicinity where he has taught school. Upon the
decease of his father, in 1904, he purchased the farm near
Fritztown, and since then has carried on the farming operations in
a successful manner, putting up a new brick dwelling-house and
remodeling the other buildings. He has been a member of the
Lutheran Church at Sinking Spring for nearly thirty years, and for
upward of twenty-five years he was a teacher and superintendent of
Sunday-schools.

His father was Peter Schweyer, of Maxatawny
township, where he was brought up to farming, and he carried on
that vocation in the township until 1847, when he engaged in
conducting the hotel at Rothrocksville for twenty-one years and at
Fritztown for four years, when he purchased a farm near Fritztown
and resumed farming operations. He was married to Elizabeth Dumn,
daughter of Michael Dumn of Richmond township, and by her he had
fourteen children: Levi A. (married Angeline Dresher), Peter
(married Mary Strunk), Albert M. (married Caroline Zacharias),
Willooghby A. (married Ella Belleman), Eli H., Sallie A. (married
David Merkel), Hattie (married Daniel Walter and after his decease
Elijah Krick who also died), Rebecca (married William Stitzel),
Elizabeth, and five who died young. He died in 1904, aged
eighty-nine years; and his wife died in 1900, aged eighty-two
years.

The grandfather of Mr. Swoyer was Christian
Schweyer, of Maxatawny township, born Feb. 7, 1776, died Sept. 22,
1858. He was also a farmer by occupation. He was married to
Elizabeth Keiser of Longswamp township, born Sept. 7, 1779, died
Dec. 20, 1860, daughter of John Keiser, and they had eight
children: Peter; Christian, who married Rebecca Schmoyer; Jonathan,
who married Susan Smith; Jacob, who died young; John, who married
Elizabeth Folk; Matilda, who married Charles Boger; Elizabeth, who
married Isaac Kemp; and Hettie.

SWOYER,
WALTER D.

p.1069

Surnames: SWOYER, SCHWEYER, SCHWOYER, NICKS, SCHAEFFER, BAER,
DEISHER, KOHLER, TREXLER

Walter D. Swoyer, who is extensively engaged in squab culture at
Bowers Station, Maxatawny township, was born on the old Swoyer
homestead, March 18, 1874, son of Jacob S. Swoyer.

The Swoyers are an old family in Berks county,
and the name is found variously spelled—Schweyer, Swoyer,
Schwoyer, etc. Jacob S. Swoyer was born in Maxatawny township, Jan.
20, 1847, son of Jacob and grandson of Samuel. He was educated in
the public schools, Maxatawny Seminary, then under the guidance of
Prof. H. R. Nicks, and now known as the Keystone State Normal
School. The change in the control of the school took place during
the time Mr. Swoyer was there, and he thus became one of the first
students of that now famous institution, among his fellow students
being Rev. Dr. N. C. Schaeffer, now Superintendent of Public
Instruction for the State; Rev. Dr. William Schaeffer, instructor
of theology at Lancaster; and D. Nicholas Schaeffer, an attorney at
Reading; and Prof. S. A. Baer, Ph. D. Mr. Swoyer is a man of
intelligence, and he has been a very enterprising farmer. He has a
fertile farm of 105 acres on which he resides, another of fifteen
acres, forty perches, and a third of 115 acres, all of which
adjoin, and are located in the central part of Maxatawny township.
This is a great wheat producing region, and the land is very
valuable. Mr. Swoyer cultivated this all himself until the spring
of 1908 when he rented the 115-acre tract to his son Oscar. Since
1899 he has been in the dairy business, conducting the White House
Dairy. He daily runs a wagon to Kutztown where he sells an average
of 265 quarts per day. He keeps from twenty-five to forty cows and
about fifteen horses.

Mr. Swoyer has always been a stalwart
Republican, and in a district where there are 125 Republicans and
600 Democrats he was elected school director. He was also
supervisor of the township for two years. He has been delegate to
many county conventions and is a very popular man.

In 1873, Mr. Swoyer married Louisa Deisher, a
daughter of John D. and Hannah (Kohler) Deisher, of Maxatawny
township, and thirteen children have been born to them: Walter D.,
Mary, Ida, Elwood (who died from an accident in 1893 when fifteen
years old), Oscar, Cora, Jacob, Carrie, Howard, Minnie, Edna, Elton
and Irvin. Mr. and Mrs. Swoyer are members of St. John’s Lutheran
Church at Kutztown. He was a deacon and trustee for many years,
serving in the former office when the present church edifice was
built.

Walter D. Swoyer obtained his education in the
district school known as Schwoyer’s school, and later attended the
Keystone State Normal School, where he graduated in 1893. For four
terms he taught in the public schools of Marion township, and he
holds a master’s diploma from the State. He then assisted his
father upon the farm for a few years, and then prepared himself for
the railway mail service, taking the civil service examination at
Harrisburg in 1899. In July, 1900, he received his appointment, and
served between New York and Pittsburg until he resigned Oct. 11,
1905. He located in Bowers, where he has since made his home. In
1906 he erected a handsome residence and he has since been
extensively engaged in the squab industry, raising thousands of
birds. He has up-to-date buildings, and his premises are kept in
strictly sanitary condition. His product is shipped to New York and
other large cities. His plant is known as the “Golden Rule Squab
Lofts” and this motto is always kept in mind when any birds are
sold as breeders—a choice lot of well mated birds being always
for sale.

In 1903 Mr. Swoyer married Miss Sarah G.
Trexler, daughter of the late Charles L. Trexler, of Lyons (See
Trexler Family sketch elsewhere in this publication). Both Mr. and
Mrs. Swoyer are members of the Lutheran church. They are very
highly esteemed in the community, and occupy a prominent position
in the society of the town.

SYMONS, WILLIAM S.

p. 1557

Surnames: SYMONS, HANDWORK, SMITH, UBIL, HOFFMAN, SLICHTER

William Smith Symons, one of the successful young men of Reading,
was born in New Holland, Lancaster county, Pa., June 29, 1883, son
of Daniel U. and Ida K. (Handwork) Symons, and was named for
William D. Smith, of Reading.

Nicholas Symons, his grandfather, was born in
Cornwall, England, and by occupation was a boss miner. After
reaching New York, on his emigration to America, he came direct to
Reading, Pa., from which place he went to work in the mines of
Joanna. He then went to Pottsville, where he had charge of sinking
the shafts, and there he died in 1853. He married Jane Ubil, who
was born in Chester county.

Daniel U. Symons was born July 21, 1847, at Bull
Tavern, in the Conestoga Valley. He took charge of the old Ubil
farm which comprised 180 acres, and this he farmed up to the time
he moved to the Custer farm. He died June 1, 1899, aged fifty-one
years, ten months, ten days. He married Ida K. Handwork, daughter
of Samuel P. Handwork, of Conestoga Valley, Chester county, and
their children were: Samuel Ludwig; Harry C., unmarried; Jennie M.,
m. to Harry L. Hoffman, of the firm of Hoffman & McKinney,
furniture dealers, Reading; William S., at home; and Charles W.

William S. Symons was born on the Custer farm,
and received his early training in the schools in that locality.
After he finished his schooling he drifted to Reading, and in 1899
he began to learn the commission business with E. B. Slichter, who
at that time was one of the leading merchants in the business. He
started out as an errand boy, and finally became head clerk, and
buyer and manager for the house between New York and Baltimore.
After serving several years in the business failing health
compelled him to change, and for three years he served as a
conductor for the United Traction Company. At the end of that time
he decided to take up the commission business for himself, locating
at No. 812 Buttonwood street. After doing business in this location
for several months he was obliged by the increase of his trade, to
take larger quarters, and he moved to the place known as the Little
Print Shop around the corner at No. 806 Walnut street, where he has
leased enough ground space and erected an additional building to
supply his rapidly increasing needs.

Mr. Symons is a member of Trinity Lutheran
Church and Sunday-school, and a member of the Luther League,
serving as its vice-president for one term. For three years he was
an usher at the church, and in many ways has taken a prominent part
in religious work. He is a member of Reading Lodge, No. 540, F.
& A. M., and Reading Consistory; Progressive Lodge, No. 470, I.
O. O. F., of which he is past grand. Mr. Symons is unmarried.