Santa Cruz-Calaveras County CA Archives Biographies.....Swank, J. S. 1835 - 
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Joy Fisher cagwarchives@gmail.com January 12, 2007, 10:04 pm

Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893)

J. S. SWANK, Justice of the Peace and a Notary Public, Watsonville, California,
was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 25, 1835. His father, Henry Swank, was
a schoolmate of President Buchanan, and for many years was a successful farmer
in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He went to Ohio in 1817, and built a log
cabin, going ten miles to get help. He died in 1876, at the advanced age of
eighty-six years. He had twelve children, eleven of whom lived to be grown. The
subject of this sketch was next to the youngest. He was educated at Marietta
College, and taught school when seventeen years old. At the age of twenty he
started out in life for himself, teaching school at Winchester, Van Buren
county, Iowa. In 1856 he cast his first vote, for James Buchanan for President.
While in Iowa he spent some time working at the carpenter's trade. In 1858 he
started for California. He left New York city on board the North Star, September
20, 1858, and from Panama he sailed on the John L. Stephens, landing in San
Francisco, October 17, 1858. Then, in company with J. C. Lee and his younger
brother, he went on foot to San Jose. He slept in a straw stack to save the
little money he had. From San Jose he continued his way on foot to the mines,
200 miles from San Jose. Mr. Swank followed mining and prospecting with varying
success, till 1863, when he started back east, via Nicaragua. He first paid a
visit to his old home in Ohio, and then went to Iowa, where he remained a year
with his wife and two children. In 1864 he brought them to California, coming
across the plains with mule teams. They left Omaha April 27, and and [sic]
reached Virginia City June 26, after fifty-nine days of travel, which was a
remarkably quick trip. Two months later they came across the mountains to
Railroad Flat, Calaveras county, where he mined till 1866. Then he and his
brother discovered the Petticoat quartz mine, and a year afterward they sold it
for $10,000. Then he invested in the sheep business, taught school for some
time, and for four years was boss carpenter. At Railroad Flat he was Justice of
the Peace two terms, and in Murphy's township three terms; was also Deputy
Assessor and a Notary Public. In 1888 he resigned, came to Watsonville, and went
to carpentering. In May, 1890, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, and in
November was elected for a term of two years, which office he now fills.

  Mr. Swank was married September 6, 1856, to Miss Mary Calhoun. They have seven
children, namely: Willard B; Elizabeth E., wife of Dr. C. L. Butterfield, of
Gilroy; John F; George E., deceased; Nellie and Henry.

  Socially, he is an I. O. O. F. and an A. O. U. W. He still is largely
interested in the mines. His residence is on Fourth and Rodriguez streets,
Watsonville.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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