OBIT: Jacob SWANGER, 1898, McKees Gap, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_______________________________________________ 

OBITUARY.

  Jacob Swanger, the subject of this sketch, and one of the oldest residents 
of McGee's Gap, was stricken with paralysis about 12 o'clock on the 12th 
inst., and gradually sinking, died on Friday morning, 14th inst., aged 73 
years, 2 months and 12 days.  Mr. Swanger was born near Carlisle, Cumberland 
county, November 2, 1824.  From childhood Mr. Swanger seemed to imbibe those 
characteristics which enter into the composition of a thoroughly honest man, 
which, joined to an amiable disposition, gained and held the friendship of 
all who became acquainted with him.  In early life, and before the days of 
railroads, when goods were conveyed from Baltimore westward over the 
Baltimore and Pittsburg turnpike, Mr. Swanger was one of the men who held, 
not the throttle, but the reins that guided the four and six horse powers 
over that famous line of travel, and like most of the teamsters of those 
days, he knew his horses.
  Mr. Swanger was married by the Rev. H. H. Cremer, of the Presbyterian 
church, to Miss Rebecca Donahoo, March 5, 1845, and from this marriage there 
were born two sons and six daughters.  Of this family only three daughters 
remain - Jane, wife of Joseph Kertz, of Altoona; Martha, wife of John 
Shiffler, of Pitcairn, and Alice, widow of William Butler, of McKee's Gap.  
In the year 1848 Mr. Swanger moved with his family from Cumberland county to 
Rock Hill Furnace, Huntingdon county; from thence, in the spring of 1857, he 
came to Etna Furnace, Blair county; from thence to Franklin Forge, same 
county, and from thence, about thirty-one years ago, he came to McKee's Gap.  
At this last place he again engaged in his old avocation of teamster, at 
which he remained until the closing up of the furnace at this place.
  Two sisters survive Mr. Swanger - Mrs. Furst, of Hagerstown, Md.; and Miss 
Jane, who was a member of his family at the time of his death.
  Funeral services were conducted in the McKee Methodist church last Sunday 
morning, by the pastor, Rev. J. R. Shipe, after which the remains were 
interred at Roaring Spring.
                          J. R. SHIPE,
                    Pastor of the Methodist Church.
              McKee, Pa., January 18, 1898

Altoona Mirror, Wednesday Evening, January 19, 1898