BIO: Jacob SWIRES, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm
_____________________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

  J. SWIRES, one of Philipsburg's leading citizens and most successful 
business men, displays in his career the characteristic American 
versatility, energy, and clear-sighted judgment. As merchant and coal 
operator, he conducts his extensive interest with dispatch, while in 
the various other lines of work in which he previously gained knowledge 
of the world and developed his business tact, he was equally efficient. 
  Mr. Swires is a native of Cambria county, Penn., born March 26, 1854, 
and of German parentage. His father, Anthony Swires, was born in the 
Fatherland, and came to Pennsylvania as a young man, engaging in the 
lumber business, and conducting a sawmill on his own account. During 
the greater part of his brief business career he lived in Cambria 
county, but at the time of his death (in 1864 or '65) his residence was 
in Blair county. He was married in 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  483

Pennsylvania to Miss Mary Dunmyer, a native of Germany, who survived 
him, her death occurring in 1893. She married a second husband, John 
Beck. By her first marriage she had four children, of whom our subject 
was the eldest; (2) Mary (Mrs. Anthony Beck) resides in Altoona; (3) 
John is a railway conductor, and resides at Bellwood. There were two 
children by the second union: Annie, now Mrs. Boehm, and Amanda, who 
lives at Altoona.
  Until the age of seventeen Mr. Swires made his home in Cambria and 
Blair counties, with three years in Clearfield county, but, on 
attaining that stage of life when ambition prompts a youth to prepare 
for the serious tasks of gaining a livelihood, he went to Philipsburg, 
and learned the blacksmith's trade with Joseph Jones. He followed this 
trade until 1885, when he became interested in the livery business, 
which he sold three years later to engage in a mercantile partnership 
under the firm name of Swires & Baker. After a year he began operating 
in the coal fields, and is now conducting the work at the Montana mines 
in addition to his general mercantile business with the Swires Store 
Company.
  Mr. Swires has a pleasant home in Philipsburg, where he was married 
in 1888 to Miss Bertha Hunter, a native of Clearfield county, born in 
1858. They have four children; Eva, Joseph, Jesse, and Ralph. 
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Swires has won his success by his 
devotion to business, he has always been able to find time to forward 
public interests as opportunity has arisen. He is chairman of the 
Second Ward Democratic Committee, and is an active member of the 
Altoona Fire Company, having been its president since its organization.

1880 Philipsburg, Centre County census -
Jacob Swires, 26 
Bertha Swires, 22 
Mary E. Swires, 10/12