Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy --- Go to Genealogy Page for Luther Michael Swigart --- Go to Genealogy Page for Jane Balliet

Notes for Luther Michael Swigart and Jane Balliet

Swigart, L.M., farmer; P.O. Mansfield; his father John Swigart, was born near Chambersburg, PA. in 1793; he came to Ohio with his father, who settled on a farm near Canton, Stark Co, now used as the country infirmary. He served as a soldier during the war of 1812, and fought under Perry at the battle of Mackinaw; when the war was ended, he came to Richland Co, and located in Orange Township, now in Ashland County, where he taught school for some time. Among his pupils at that time was the lady he afterward married. In 1821, he removed to Monroe Township, where he built a cabin; in 1826, he built a two-story, hewed-log house, that yet stands, the timber of which is in good condition. The farm is now owned by Mr. Cailor. In 1831, he sold his place, and bought 320 acres south of Lucas, on Switzer's Run, now called Pleasant Valley. While clearing his land, he and his family occupied a schoolhouse as residence; he soon after built a house, which then stood where the present residence of George Swigart now is; in 1835, he built a saw-mill; in 1860, he moved to Lucas, where he died at the age of 76 years. He was married, in 1816, to Miss Barbara Young, who survives him, and is now a resident of Lucas; she was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania., in 1796, and came with her parents to Ohio in 1804, who first settled on a farm near New Lisbon, Ohio, and, in 1814, removed to Orange Township, Richland Co, now in Ashland Co. Mrs. Swigart remembers meeting Fulton, the inventor, and seeing the first steamboat on the Ohio River.

Mr. L.M. Swigart was born Dec. 31, 1827, in Monroe Township; when of sufficient age, he assisted in clearing land, farming, and hauling lumber to Mansfield, mostly with an ox team; when 27 years of age, having accumulated $500, he bought a farm one mile north of Lucas, which he soon after, with some assistance, paid for in full. He lived on this farm ten years, when he sold it, and bought the Young farm of 240 acres, five miles east of Mansfield, and afterward bought the Leiter farm; he erected the beautiful business house on Main street, Mansfield, known as the L.M. Swigart Block, in 1879. He was married to Miss Jane Balliet Feb. 12, 1854, by whom he has had five children--Martha A., born Jan. 19, 1855; Clora E., Dec 2, 1856; Sarah J., April 13, 1859; John B., April 7, 1864; Mary E., Nov. 21, 1871.

Mr. Swigart remembers seeing the first train of cars that came in Mansfield, and recalls many of the early incidents in the county's history. [1]


Footnotes:

[1] A. A. Graham, History of Richland County, Ohio (1880), 851, [GoogleBooks].