Notes from Stark Co., OH

JOHN SWIGERT, hardware dealer, Bloomville, was born in Franklin County, Penn., March 6, 1817. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Small) Swigert, afterward became citizens of this county, settling on their farm in Scipio Township in 1845, where they resided until George Swigert's death in 1856. His widow died in Bloom Township in 1873. Our subject was married, in 1839, to Miss Maria I. Smith, of Franklin County, Penn., and to this union were born seven children, of whom four are now living: William, Mrs. Hattie Ogden, Mrs. Florence Moore and Frederick G. The deceased are Mrs. Blanche Tabor, Ann Rebecca and Mrs. Jennie Koller. Mrs. Swigert departed this life August 18, 1884, she was a lady of estimable, Christian character, and her loss was mourned by a large circle of friends.

Mr. Swigert followed his trade as carpenter and joiner until 1843, when he came to Ohio, and after living a few months in Ashland, located on a farm in Scipio Township, this county; kept hotel at Republic, Ohio, from 1846 to 1850. In 1852 he took a trip to California, remaining there three years. He then resided on his farm until 1872; when he made a permanent location in Bloomville, where he has carried on his present business ever since. Mr. Swigert keeps a general line of hardware, stoves, tin ware, agricultural implements, watches, clocks, jewelry and silverware. He has built up an extensive establishment with a large trade in the surrounding community. Since coming here Mr. Swigert has added very materially to the improvement of the town. In 1873 he built the Swigert Block on the southeast corner of Marion and New Haven Streets, and in 1881

Generation One

Picture of George Swagart's tombstone in the Body Cemetery outside of Watseka, IL (click to enlarge).  Our line begins with one George Swagart, who was born in Akron, Ohio, on March 8, 1826. 

His obituary dated, February 21, 1906, Wednesday reads as follows:

 I believe that our Swigert's came from Pennsylvania too, probably from the same place that George Lyman came from, Union County, Pennsylvania or perhaps from Lancaster or Bucks Counties in PA.  This area is not far from where they ended up at in Ohio.

 

Obituary of George Lyman, the man that adopted our George Swaggert and brought him to Illinois.       Death of George Lyman - Watseka Republican, Feb 17, 1892 George Lyman died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. S. D. George, near Fairview, Kansas January 23, 1892, at the ripe old age of 94 years.  He was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1798.  He was married in 1828 to Elizabeth Snyder who died in 1859, leaving ten children, five of whom are still living.   Mr. Lyman emigrated to Iroquois county in 1837. (This is either inaccurate or George Swaggert's obituary is, as it says in George's obit that they came to the county in 1828, nine years before this date).  In 1866 he located in Brown county, Kansas, where he has since lived.  He had 28 grand children and 38 great grand children.  He was a kind and upright old man for whom many mourn.     George Lyman's Obit from Kansas:   Birth: Mar. 15, 1798 Union County Pennsylvania, USA Death: Jan. 28, 1892 Brown County Kansas, USA OBITUARY: FAIRVIEW ENTERPRISE - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1892 George Lyman, an old and respected citizen, died at his home near Fairview January 28, 1892, at the remarkable age of 94. Mr. Lyman was born in Union County, Pa., on March 15, 1798. In 1824 he located at Canton, Ohio, and was married to Elizabeth Snyder, of Lancaster, in 1828. In 1837 moved with his family to Iroquois County, ILL. Ten children were born to him, of whom five are now living. In 1866 he came to Kansas and settled in Brown County. At his death, he had 28 grandchildren living, and 28 great-grandchildren. He was a kind and indulgent father, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. His funeral was attended by a large number of friends and neighbors who assisted in performing the last sad duties to the departed. Death comes to us all, and sooner or later the grim reaper will call us to the life beyond. Family links: Parents: John Lyman (____ - 1844) Hannah Ott Lyman (1776 - 1859) Children: Henry Lyman (1831 - 1904)* Spouse: Elizabeth Lyman (____ - 1859) *Point here for explanation Burial: Old Fairview Cemetery Fairview Brown County Kansas, USA

 

George Swigart is listed in Belmont Township Iroquois County owning around 110 acres.  (click to enlarge township map, George Lyman's land is in sections 17, 20 and 30.  Nathan Page, whom I believe is a brother to his wife, Julia, also lives nearby.)

 

 

 

Note:  In the 1860 Iroquois County, Belmont Twp. census, George Lyman is listed in Household #685, three houses down from his adopted son George Swigart and his wife, Julia Page and their two children, Georgia and Henrietta Swaggert, Henrietta being my paternal great grandmother.

In George Lyman's household, four children are also listed with him:  Alfred, 20 yrs; Jacob, 17 yrs; Joseph, 15 yrs; and Rebecca, 21 yrs.

 

Also note:  In household 687 next door to George Swigart and Julia Page is another Page (Paige) family, I am almost certain that this family is Julia's parents or another relation; but based on the ages, I believe these are Julia's parents or I suppose they could be grandparents.

 

Listed are:  Paige, Nathan 73, born in New Jersey (b. 1787)
                Paige, Joann, 73, born in Pennsylvania (b. 1787)
                Paige, Nathan G., 30, born in Ohio (b. 1830)
                (in Ohio by 1830 by this birth date)
                Catherine, 27, born in Ohio (b. 1833)
                Josephine, 5, born in IL (b. 1855)
                Elizabeth, 10 months, born in IL (b. 1860)
                James, 15, born in IL (b. 1845)

 

George Swaggert was born in Akron, Ohio in 1828 and when two years old, came to Watseka, IL

George H. SWAGGERT/Swigart Born on 8 Mar 1826 in Akron, Ohio. George H. died in West Watseka, Illinois on 16 Feb 1906, he was 79. Buried in Body Cemetery, Watseka, Illinois.  George H. Swaggert married Julia Ann Page. She was born on 22 Feb 1828 in Ohio. Julia Ann died in Illinois in 1880, she was 51.

George Swaggert and Julia Ann Page/Paige had the following children:

i	Theodore Swaggert.  Born 1851?  His obituary reads:  Swigard, Theodore, Iroquois Journal, March 13, 1853:  On the 14th day of Feb 1853, Theodore son of George H. and Julia Ann Paige Swigard aged one year 4 months and 14 days.
ii	Mary Etna Swaggert, buried in the Body cemetery, born 1854, and died 1855.  This is she and her brother's (Theodore below) tombstones.  the tombstones are very close together.
iii	Georgia Ann Swaggert (1856-1923).  See more on this line here.
iv	Henrietta Swaggert (1859-1898) (our line), my paternal great grandmother, buried in the Body Cemetery in Iroquois County, IL.
v	Fanny Swaggert, lived with her father most of her life.

Second Generation

Henrietta SWAGGERT was born in Iroquois County, IL in 1859. Henrietta died in 1898, when she was 39 yrs old. She is buried in Body Cemetery, Watseka, IL.  Before she was born two younger siblings died, Mary Etna and Theodore, each were about a year and a half old when they died.

Henrietta's Obit:  The community was greatly shocked Monday morning to learn of the sudden death of Mrs. Daniel Houser.  Rev Jones conducting the funeral services at the M. E. Church Monday at 2 p.m.  May the good Lord comfort the broken-hearted family. 

Another Obituary: Died at her home seven miles south west of this city on Sunday, Mrs. Daniel Houser.  The funeral was held on Monday.  The deceased was a daughter of Mr. George Swagard of this city. On 8 Nov 1877 when Henrietta was 18, she married Daniel HOUSER, in Iroquois County, IL. Born on 2 Jan 1855 in Ohio. Daniel died in Illinois on 1 May 1929, he was 74 (he outlived his wife by 31 years).

Henrietta Swaggert and Daniel Houser  had the following children: (note that these children were all very young when their mother died, (my paternal great grandmother, Henrietta Swaggert Houser) her daughter Lottie is my paternal grandmother).

i.	Phelda Houser (1888-1963); was one year old when mother died - married Bertha Carley - Phelda HOUSER. Born on 26 Apr 1888. Phelda died on 15 Nov 1963, he was 75.  Phelda was the brother to my grandmother Lottie Houser, so he would have been my paternal great uncle.  My Grandmother died in 1960 three years before this brother's death.   Obituary:  Phelda Houser, 75, Sheldon, Dies; Funeral Monday An Iroquois County farmer, Phelda G. Houser, 75, RR1, Sheldon, died Friday at 11:10 p.m. at Iroquois Hospital after being a patient there for the last 17 weeks.  Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday at the Segur Funeral Home, Watseka, with the Rev C.O. Boebel, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church.  Mr. Houser was born near Watseka on April 26, 1888, a son of the late Daniel and Henrietta Houser.  He had farmed southwest of Sheldon for the last 24 years.  Mr. Houser was married in Crescent City February 19, 1913, to the former Bertha Carley, who survives.  He was a member of the Lutheran Church and the Iroquois County Farmers Union.  Besides the widow, Mr. Houser is survived by a son, Eugene, at home; a daughter, Mrs. Mayme Ewerks of Milford; a brother, Roy of Watseka; a sister, Mrs. Maude Vliet of Miami Springs, Fla; a grandson, and a great grandson.  11-20-63   Phelda married Bertha Carley.  They had the following children:                    i.   Eugene Houser                      ii.   Mayme Houser, Mayme married Ewerks   Bertha Carley, (wife of Phelda Houser above) Obituary:  Bertha Houser, 83, Sheldon; dies July 14th, 1976 Mrs. Bertha Houser, 83 of Sheldon, died at 4 am Wednesday, July 14 at the Sheldon Residents Home.  She had spent her entire lifetime in the county.  She was born April 2, 1893 at Crescent City, the daughter of Allen and Bertha Schmidt Carley.  She married Phelda Houser at Crescent City on February 19, 1913.  He preceded her in death November 15, 1963.  Surviving are one son, Eugen of Crescent City; a daughter, Mrs. Elmer (Mayme) Ewerks of Sheldon; one grandchild, Gordon of Sheldon, and two great grand children, Kevin and Keith of Sheldon.  She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and five sisters.  Services will be held at 2 pm Friday, July 16, at Faith Lutheran Church in Watseka of which she was a member, with Rev Jerry Moe officiating.  Burial will be in the Iroquois Memorial Park.
ii.	Maude Houser.  Ended up in Miami Springs, Florida, Maude married A. H. VLIET.
iii.	Lydia Houser. Born in Kankakee.  Lydia married George ST. JOHN.
iv.	Roy Z. Houser (1884-1982); was 14 years old when mother died.   Roy Z. HOUSER. Born in 1884. Roy Z. died in Watseka, IL on 23 Sep 1982, he was 98. Buried in Body Cemetery, Watseka, IL.  Roy Z. married Nora Martin. Born in 1885. Nora died on 17 Feb 1959, she was 74.  Roy was my paternal grandmother's (Lottie Houser) older brother by 8 years and would have been my great uncle. He outlived his sister Lottie by 22 years.  Roy's obituary reads as follows:   Roy Houser - September 24, 1882 Roy Z. Houser, 98, Watseka, died at 1:53 p.m. Thursday, Sept 23, 1982 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital.  He was born May 24, 1884 at Woodland, the son of Daniel and Henrietta Houser.  He married Nora Martin in 1904 at Woodland and she died in 1959.   Survivors include one son, Earl Houser of Watseka; five grandchildren, Mrs. Robert E. (pat) McMahon Harper and John A. Smith, Muncie, Ind., Barbara Jean Lasonder, Tucson, Ariz., Kim Houser, Seattle, Washington and Mrs. Robert (Kandy) Christy, Watseka; five great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.   One son, two daughters, one brother and two sisters are deceased.  Mr. Houser had resided in this area all his life and was a retired farmer.  Funeral services will be held at 2 p Sunday at DeValk Funeral Home, Watseka.  The Rev Hubert Lytle will officiate, with burial in Body Cemetery, Woodland.  Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Saturday at the funeral home.   Roy Houser and Nora Martin had the following children:   i Earl Daniel Houser (1919-1985); died 3 yrs after father, buried Body cemetery.  Earls Obituary Reads: Earl D. Houser, 66, Watseka, died at 2:30 pm Sunday, October 27, 1985 at Iroquois memorial Hospital.  He was born April 23, 1919 at Woodland to Roy Z. and Nora Houser.    Survivors include one daughter, Kandace Christy, Watseka; two grandchildren, James and Jessica Christy; two nieces, Patsy Harper of Muncie, Ind., and Barbara Lasonda, Tucson, Ariz; and one nephew, Jack Smith, Muncie, Indiana.  Two brothers and two sisters are deceased.  Mr. Houser was employed by the State Highway Department and Middleport Township Highway Department, retiring in 1978.  He was a World War II Veteran.  Services will be conducted at 2 pm Wednesday at the DeValk Funeral Home, Watseka.  Burial will be in Body Cemetery.    Child:                  i.   Kandace Christy   ii Melvin L. Houser (1916-1970); died 12 yrs before father.   Melvin L. HOUSER. Born on 12 May 1916 in Woodland, Iroquois County, Illinois. Melvin L. died in Bellingham, Washington in 1970, he was 53. Born on 12 May 1916.   Obituary:  M. L. Houser, formerly of Watseka, IL   A former Watseka resident, Melvin L. Houser, 54 of Belingham, Washington, died Wednesday from an apparent heart attack.   A son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Z. Houser of Watseka, he was born May 12, 1916 in Woodland.  The family moved to Watseka in 1924.  Mr. Houser was a World War II Veteran, serving in the European Theatre of Operations.  On his return from the armed services, he and his wife, Dorothy (Finch) moved to Bellingham where they have resided for 23 years.  In addition to his wife, Mr. Houser is survived by a daughter, Kandace; his father, Roy Z. Houser; and brother, Earl D. Houser of Watseka; three nieces, Miss Susan Houser of Watseka, Miss Patsy L. McMahan of Muncie, Ind., and Mrs. Barbara Lasonder of Tucson, Ariz.; and a nephew, Jack Smith of Muncie, Ind.  Mr. Houser was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Nora Houser; and two sisters, Mrs. Vera McMahan and Mrs. Bennie Smith.  Funeral services were conducted at 4 p.m. today at the Jones Funeral Home in Bellingham.  Melvin L. married Dorothy Finch.    They had one child: i.   Kem iii Vera Houser, born 1910, married a McMahon, died in 1952.  She died 30 yrs before father. iv Mrs. Bonnie Houser Smith nothing is currently known about her.
v.	Lottie Josephine Houser  (1892-1960); was six yrs old when mother died - married Thomas Smith (our line) my paternal grandmother who died the year before I was born in 1960, May 5th.
vi.	Grace Bernice Houser (1895-1936); was four yrs old when mother died.  She died when she was 40 yrs old, married John Pierce.  Buried in Hoopston, see pictures below.   Grace Bernice HOUSER. Born on 28 Sep 1895 in Watseka, Illinois, Hoopston. Grace Bernice died in 1936, she was 40.  Grace was my paternal grandmother's younger sister.  She died 24 years before my grandmother Lottie died.   Her Obituary:  Hoopeston - Following two weeks illness with pneumonia, Mrs. Grace Bernice Peirce, 40, wife of Street Commissioner John Peirce, died at her home at 1:15 a.m. Monday, April 20, 1936.  Mrs. Peirce was born in Watseka Sept 28, 1895, daughter of Daniel and Henrietta Swagart Houser.  Following her marriage to John Peirce she lived for a time in Rossville and 22 years ago moved to Hoopston.  Surviving in addition to her husband are two daughters, Shirley Ann, 9 and Ellretta; 6, two brothers, Roy Houser, Watseka and Phelda Houser Gilman; and three sisters, Mrs. A.H. Vliet, Miami, Fla; Mrs. George St. John, Kankakee and Mrs. Tom Smith, Rossville.  Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Hoopeston Christian Church.  The Rev H.G. Elsom officiating.  Burial in Floral Hill Cemetery, Harry Hamilton in charge.   Grace Bernice married John PIERCE.  They had the following children:   i.  Shirley Ann Pierce ii.  Ellretta Pierce                  I recently visited the cemetery in Hoopeston, IL (Vermillion County) where Grace, husband and children are buried, the photos are below.   Entrance to Cemetery in Hoopeston Daddy Gurdon L. (Tude) Peirce 1914-1945 Catherine, author of this site John L. Peirce Grace B. Swaggert Back of Tombstone General View of Cemetery Grace Bernice Swaggert Peirce Maude unknown, Grace had a sister named Maude, could this be her? Gail unknown, one of Grace's children? Grace Swaggert and family Peirce Burying Area General View of Cemetery
vii.	George Houser (possibly George Presley Houser who married Della Easter.  This couple had a daughter, Shirley Ann who died at 3 months, but his sister Grace also had a daughter named Shirley
viii.	Leroy Houser, and George above and Leroy were mentioned in George Swaggert's will, their grandfather, but no other records can be found, unless George Houser is the George Presley Houser I found.

 

 

Third Generation

Lottie Josephine HOUSER, daughter of Daniel Houser and Henrietta Swaggert was born on 26 Jan 1892 in Watseka, Illinois. Lottie Josephine died in Rossville, Illinois on 5 May 1960, she was 68.  On 25 Feb 1930 when Lottie Josephine was 38, she married Thomas Patrick SMITH, son of Charles SMITH & Susan PENDERGRAST, in Joliet, IL. Born on 30 Jul 1888 in Ross Township. Thomas Patrick died in Illinois on 22 May 1961, he was 72. Lottie and Thomas were my paternal grandparents.

Lottie Josephine Houser and Thomas Patrick Smith had one child:

i	Wendall Houser Smith (1932-1999) (my father)

Fourth Generation

Wendall Houser SMITH. Born on 28 Dec 1932 in Danville, Illinois. Wendall Houser died in Alabama on 15 Oct 1999, he was 66. Buried in Rossville, IL.  Wendall Houser married Barbara Lucile RATCLIFFE, daughter of William Lynn RATCLIFFE & Vivian Lucile MONTAGUE. Born on 28 Aug 1934 in Sullivan, Indiana. Barbara Lucile died in Lyons, Indiana on 12 Aug 1997, she was 62.

 They had the following children: