J. W. SWART is descended from one of the oldest families of Washington county, and dates the immigration of his ancestors into Washington county to about the year 1740, when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania conveyed the land to colonists by the old, original patent, which was printed on parchment. His father was born on Ruff’s creek, Greene county, Penn. He followed farming, and passed nearly all of his life neat Amity, Amwell township, this county. His children were: John, Jacob, J.W., Henry, Clay, Amos, Sarah Ann, Keziah, A. J. and Mary J. J. W. Swart was born September 1, 1823, near the present site of Amity, Amwell, township, Washington Co., Penn., and lived with his father’s family until he was twenty-one years of age. He then moved to Greene county, Penn, and there took up and cleared 200 acres of land, to which he afterward added forty acres. On January 1, 1844, he was united in marriage with Sarah Sermon, who bore him the following children: William M., Mary Adelaide, Asena Ann, George Warren (deceased), Amos Phillip, John Thomas, David, Hermon and Sarah Rebecca. In 1866 Mr. Swart returned from Greene county, and settling in Washington county engaged in agriculture, afterward operating a mill at Amity, known as the ‘Hallam Mill’. Mrs. Swart died March 18, 1865, and September 29, 1866, Mr. Swart was married to Rebecca Carter, who has borne him four sons: Ulysses Grant, Jesse Allfree, Samuel Jackson and Carter Blaine. Mr. Swart is highly esteemed in the community for his many good qualities and is a public-spirited man. In politics he was originally a Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party has been an ardent follower under its banner.

Text taken from page 543 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by LuShelle Fletcher of Grand Island, NE as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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