Clark County WA Archives Biographies.....Swank, Wilmer 1884 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wa/wafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 27, 2008, 1:51 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company WILMER SWANK. Great credit is given to Wilmer Swank of Camas for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he entered upon his career here twenty- three years ago with an extremely limited capital, his chief assets being industry, ambition and that sound judgment which is ordinarily called common sense. However, these combined elements have served him well and he has prospered through the years until today he is regarded as one of the community's most successful and influential citizens. Mr. Swank was born in Fruit Valley, near Vancouver, Clark county, Washington, in 1884, and is a son of A. and Mary (Firestone) Swank, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Virginia. In about 1880 they started from Missouri with ox teams and covered wagons, and crossed the plains with a company of about three hundred wagons. On their arrival in Clark county Mr. Swank bought a tract of land in Fruit Valley, which he developed into a good ranch, continuing to operate it until about four years prior to his death, which occurred in 1915. His wife died in 1910. Wilmer Swank attended the public schools of Vancouver, after which he took a two years' course in the Portland Business College. He then entered the Northern Pacific Dental College but six months later was, for financial reasons, compelled to give up that line of study. He then came to Camas in 1905 and, under the name of W. Swank & Company, established a small store in the Camas Hotel building, his principal stock being furniture and hardware. By close and careful attention to business he met with success and in a year or two had to seek larger quarters, at which time he moved into an old frame building at his present location. As he prospered he increased his stock and, having established a reputation for square dealing, business grew rapidly until in 1924 he moved into temporary quarters while the building which he now occupies was erected. It is known as the I. O. O. F. building, of which Mr. Swank occupies three floors, fifty by one hundred feet in size. He carries a full line of house furnishings, shelf hardware, paints, varnish, glass and other lines and has his stock well arranged and nicely displayed. In 1923 the business was incorporated, but this is practically a close corporation, Mr. Swank owning practically all of the stock, a few shares being held by some of his old employes. In 1912 he also entered the undertaking business, which he runs as an entirely separate organization, though under his name. He has a well equipped funeral parlor and is the only undertaker between Vancouver and Goldendale. Mr. Swank married Miss Hannah Laver, who was born in the Mill Plain district of Clark county, a daughter of C. W. and Kisia (Gillahan) Laver, the former of whom was born in England, and both of whom now live in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Laver came to Oregon in about 1862, making the voyage around Cape Horn, and first lived on Government island. To Mr. and Mrs. Swank have been born two children, Evaline, who died in infancy; and Roy, who is a student in the medical school of the University of Washington. Mr. Swank has been active in public affairs of Camas, having served two terms as a member of the city council, two terms as mayor, and also as city clerk, city treasurer and a member of the school board. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the York Rite; is also a member of the Mystic Shrine; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the encampment; the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed through the chairs; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; and the Kiwanis Club. Open hearted and candid in manner, he enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout this section of Clark county and all who know him entertain for him the highest respect and good will, for he has shown himself a man among men and well worthy of public regard. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 553-554 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/clark/bios/swank8gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wafiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb