Duval County FlArchives Biographies.....Swearingen, Van C. February 2, 1873 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 October 23, 2015, 1:50 am

Source: Vol. II  pg.111-112  The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923
Author: History of Florida, Past and Present          

        Hon. VAN C. SWEARINGEN. Instances are numerous among Florida’s 
professional men of individuals who have started their careers handicapped by 
lack of financial assistance and network their own way, unassisted, to success, 
and a worthy example of this class of self-made men is found in VAN C.
SWEARINGEN, now a prominent member of the Jacksonville bar. Not only is Mr.
Swearingen one of the most capable members of his profession, but during his
career he has rendered exceptionally able service to his city, county and state
and positions of public responsibility, in which his actions have served to
gain the unqualified approval and confidence of his fellow citizens.
	Judge Swearingen was born in Nassau County, Florida, February 2, 1873, 
and is a son of WILLIAM and MARY SWEARINGEN. A review of the careers of his 
parents and other members of the family will be found in this sketch of his 
brother, J. T. SWEARINGEN, which appears elsewhere in this volume. The seventh 
son and eleventh child in a family of twelve children, Judge Swearingen  has 
the distinction of belonging to a family represented in this state since 1800, 
in which year his grandfather, SAMUEL SWEARINGEN, a native of South Carolina 
and a soldier during the Indian wars, took up his residence here as a pioneer. 
The public schools of Nassau County furnished Judge Swearingen with his early 
education, and his intense desire for a professional career enabled him to 
overcome the obstacles represented by a lack of financial backing, for through 
his own efforts he earned the means with which to complete his education, and 
in 1899, after completing a law course, he graduated from Mercer University, 
Macon, Georgia, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. At that time he located at 
Jacksonville, Florida, where he engaged in the practice of his profession and 
made rapid strides therein. As his practice grew, so grew also his reputation 
as a learned, thorough and industrious lawyer, as well as a man of high 
principles and marked integrity, and in 1911 he was elected judge of the City 
Court. When his term on the bench expired he was elected mayor of Jacksonville, 
and acted in the chief executive capacity also for one term, during which he 
gave his city an excellent administration and inaugurated numerous much-needed 
civic reforms. Judge Swearingen was elected attorney general Florida, and 
served in that office during 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920. During his incumbency 
of that office numerous important cases came before the attorney general’s 
office for trial in the higher courts, and in all of these Judge Swearingen 
comported himself in a manner that entitled him to be numbered among the 
distinguished and eminent legists of the state. He is a member of the Duval 
County Bar Association, the Florida State Bar Association and the American Bar 
Association, and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme 
Court April 22, 1918. Since leaving the attorney general’s office, in 1920, 
Judge Swearingen has been engaged in private practice of a corporation and 
general character at Jacksonville, where his clientele is large and important. 
He is attorney for the American Motors Export Company and for other large 
concerns, and has numerous business connections. As a fraternalist he holds 
membership in Ionic Lodge No. 101, F. and A. M.; Florida Consistory, thirty-second 
degree, and Morocco Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., all of Jacksonville; the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of 
second  degree, and Morocco Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., all of Jacksonville; the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a 
a stanch democrat.
	On January 1, 1899, Judge Swearingen was united in marriage with Miss
ALICE PADGETT, who was born in Bradford County, Florida, and to this union
there have been born one son and five daughters: MARY, the wife of LOUIS
HALLAWAY; and HAZEL, IRENE, VELMA, ALICE and VAN C. Jr., residing with their
parents.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/duval/bios/swearing217bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/

File size: 4.7 Kb