BIOGRAPHY: William VAN SWERINGEN, Juniata Co., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mike Williamson Transcribed by Patty Frank Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/juniata/ _____________________________________________________________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume II, Page 867. _____________________________________________________________________ WILIAM VAN SWERINGEN, Honey Grove, Juniata county, Pa., was born near McCoysville, Tuscarora township, Juniata county, December 15, 1817, son of Evan and Margaret (Shafer) Van Sweringen. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Van Sweringen, who was born in Holland, came to America, and settled in Virginia, when he removed to Waterloo, in the Tuscarora valley, and there engaged in farming. Evan Van Sweringen, son of Samuel Van Sweringen, was born in 1779. He owned 200 acres of land near McCoysville, which he farmed and improved by planting orchards and building a stone house and barn. He was fond of horses and was a successful stock raiser. Mr. Van Sweringen was a Democrat. Evan Van Sweringen was married in the Tuscarora valley, to Margaret Shafer, who was born April 23, 1785. They had eight children; two survive: William; and Drusilla, widow of Abner Wharton, of Illinois, who was born May 11, 1826. Those deceased are: John, born February 24, 1809; Mary (Mrs. Alexander Murphy), born February 21, 1811; Thomas, born June 22, 1813; George, born August 5, 1815; William; Joseph, born May 22, 1820; and Margaret (Mrs. William Silverthorn), of Rushville, Ind., born November 24, 1822. Mr. Van Sweringen died May 28, 1848; his wife died in March, 1860. They were members of the United Presbyterian church near McCoysville. William Van Sweringen attended the "Rock School" in Beale township, at that time part of Milford, and assisted on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered upon a three years' clerkship in the store of Joseph S. Laird, of McCullochs Mills. He was then clerk during one year for A. Shorb & Co., of Centre county, and afterwards engaged in business at McCullochs Mills, buying the store of Samuel McCulloch; here he remained ten years; he was also postmaster, and there was a weekly mail from Mifflintown. In 1861, he removed to Bealetown, where for thirty years he conducted a successful business. Mr. Van Sweringen is a proprietor of a farm of 200 acres, and also of the Honey Grove Mills. The mill is fitted up with roller process machinery and is one of the finest in the county. Mr. Van Sweringen is one of the oldest residents of the township; he has won the confidence and respect of friends and neighbors, and is highly esteemed in the community. Mr. Van Sweringen is a Democrat; he is postmaster at Honey Grove, which position he has held for twelve years; he served as commissioner, and during his term, in 1874, many improvements were made; one of these was the first iron bridge in Juniata county, built over Tuscarora creek. He was tax collector and assessor of the township for several terms. Through Mr. Van Sweringen's influence the former name of the borough, Bealetown, gave place to Honey Grove. William Van Sweringen was married in Cumberland county, October 13, 1851, to Rachel, daughter of Thomas Sweringen, a farmer of Juniata county. Their children are: William, a farmer of Nebraska; Thomas, a farmer of Page county, Ia.; Mary (Mrs. James Stewart), of Page county, Ia. Priscilla (Mrs. James Thompson), who died; Jesse B., deceased; George, of Iowa; Clarence, at home; David, married Tessie Peck, has one child, David, operates the Honey Grove Mill; and Matilda (Mrs. James Junk), of Tuscarora township. Mrs. Van Sweringen died February 7, 1890. Mr. Van Sweringen is an elder in the United Presbyterian church, and has been a teacher in the Sabbath-school.