Orlando P. Swartz Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1049-1050 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ORLANDO P. SWARTZ, one of the prominent and highly honored business 
men of Hutchinson county, is a native of the state of Illinois, having been 
born in Jo Daviess county, on the 21st of April, 1864, and being a son 
of Elias M. and Susan (Rudy) Swartz, of whose eight children we 
incorporate the following brief record: Martius H. is a resident of 
Gillette, Wyoming; Edith is the wife of James Brown, of Menno, South 
Dakota; Sarah is the wife of Schuyler C. Freeburg, of Sunnyside, 
California; George is engaged in the drug business in Parkston, South 
Dakota; Maud is the wife of Nelson C. Davis, of Crook county, Wyoming; 
Frederick is likewise a resident of that county, as is also Grover; and 
Orlando P. is the immediate subject of this sketch.  Elias M. Swartz was 
born in Center county, Pennsylvania, being a representative of one of 
the sterling pioneer families of the old Keystone state and coming of 
staunch German lineage.  As a young man he removed to Illinois, settling 
in Stephenson county, engaging in agricultural pursuits being the 
vocation to which he had been reared.  He later removed to Jo Daviess 
county, where he continued to reside until 1882, when he came to South 
Dakota remaining for a short interval in the village of Scotland and 
then entering claim to land in Charles Mix county, where he engaged in 
the breeding and raising of cattle and horses, becoming one of the 
prominent and influential citizens, of that section and commanding the 
most unqualified esteem of those who knew him and had cognizance of his 
sterling qualities of mind and heart.  He died in 1901, having been a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his political allegiance 
was given to the Democratic party.  His widow now makes her home with 
her children in Wyoming, she likewise being a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church.

	The subject of this sketch remained at the parental home until he had 
attained the age of twelve years, having in the meanwhile attended the 
public schools and assisted in the work of the farm, and he then went to 
the city of Freeport, Illinois, where he resided in the home of his 
uncle about five years, during which period he continued his educational 
work in the schools of that place.  In 1879 he returned home, remaining 
one year, at the expiration of which he went to Iowa Falls, Iowa, where 
he was employed in the drug establishment of his uncle, John L. Swartz, 
for the ensuing three years.  In July, i883, he came to Scotland, Bon 
Homme county, South Dakota, where he secured a clerical position in the 
drug store of another uncle, William P. Swartz, and in 1884 he went to 
Springfield, Bon Homme county, where he was employed for two years in 
the drug store of Bonesteel & Turner, having in the meanwhile become an 
expert pharmacist.  In September, 1886, in which year the town of 
Parkston was founded, he took up his residence here and engaged in the 
drug business on his own responsibility.  In 1888 he entered into 
partnership with Frank Wiedman, who was here engaged in the hardware 
business at the time, and thereafter until 1898 the firm of Wiedman & 
Swartz here conducted a most prosperous business in the handling of 
hardware, implements and drugs.  In the year mentioned they disposed of 
the drug department of their enterprise and added a general line of 
merchandise, building up one of the most important and extensive trades 
of the sort in this section of the state.  In 1901 they also purchased a 
general stove business at Milltown, and they now conduct the same as a 
branch of their Parkston establishment.  In 1901 Mr. Swartz was 
appointed postmaster of Milltown, and he is still incumbent of this 
office, in which he is serving by proxy.  In politics he is found 
arrayed as a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, 
while fraternally he has attained the thirty-second degree in Scottish 
Rite Masonry, being identified with Oriental Consistory, No. 1, at 
Yankton.  His ancient-craft membership is in Resurgam Lodge, No. 31, 
Free and Accepted Masons, at Mitchell, and he belongs to El Riad Temple, 
Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls, while he is also a member of Milltown 
Camp, No. 6153, Modern Woodmen of America.

	On the 25th of September, 1885, Mr. Swartz was united in marriage to 
Miss Margie W. Robinson, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, she having been born in 
Concord county, New Hampshire, daughter of Horace Robinson, deceased.  
Of this union have been born two children, Mabel C., who is attending 
All Saints' Academy in Sioux Falls, and William R., who remains at the 
parental home.  Mrs. Swartz is a member of the Congregational church of 
Iowa Falls, Iowa.