George Swan
SWAN, FIFE, BOHN, COLD
Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/18/2011 at 14:05:13
GEORGE SWAN. In following the agricultural pursuit, a large number of the progressive citizens of Grundy County have accumulated wealth, and among this class we mention the name of George Swan, the owner and occupant of a fine estate on section 16, Black Hawk Township. His property has been accumulated through his unaided exertions, and at the present time his landed possessions aggregate eight hundred and thirty-seven acres, which he has embellished with first-class improvements and buildings of a substantial character.
Our subject was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 1845, and is the son of James and Margaret (Fife) Swan. His paternal grandfather, who bore the name of George, was a native of Scotland, where also the parents of our subject were born and married. His mother was the daughter of Hay and Agnes Fife, and soon after her marriage, she emigrated with Mr. Swan to Canada, where they began life at the bottom of the ladder. The father supported his family by working out by the month, and later, purchasing a tract of one hundred acres of timber land, cleared and improved it. His four children were Isabella, Agnes, George and Sarah. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. The mother died in 1854, in Canada, and was followed to the better land by her husband three years later.
George Swan of this sketch remained under the parental roof until the death of his parents, and then, going to the home of an uncle, resided with him for two years, when he began to paddle his own canoe. His education was very limited, he being permitted to attend school only during the winter seasons, and when beginning life on his own account worked out on farms, receiving as payment $30 per year. He was thus employed for seven years, and when reaching his majority began farming the old homestead, and was very successful there until 1873, when he decided to come to Iowa.
When taking up his residence in the Hawkeye State, young Swan located in Tama County, where he purchased property. Soon afterward he was married, and with his wife came to Grundy County and located on his present farm in Black Hawk Township, where he has resided for sixteen years. This tract comprised two hundred and forty acres of partially improved land. He entered with zeal upon the work of cultivating his broad acreage, and has witnessed the wonderful development of this section from a comparative wilderness to the abode of a contented and prosperous people.
Mr. Swan is now the possessor of eight hundred and thirty-seven acres of land, which, supplied with all modern improvements and conveniences, constitutes one of the finest farms in the state of Iowa. On it he has erected a beautiful residence, and the passer-by can tell at a glance that it is under the careful supervision of the owner. In addition to raising the various grains, Mr. Swan gives considerable attention to sock-breeding, and buys, feeds and ships many animals each year.
The lady to whom Mr. Swan was married in 1878 was Miss Antoinette, the daughter of Frederick T. and Henrietta (Bohn) Cold. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children: Henrietta M., James G., Edith C., Victoria J., Estella A. and Theodore R. They are all being given good educations, and the two eldest are students in the Reinbeck High School. Politically, Mr. Swan affiliates with the Republican party, and both himself and wife are held in the highest regard by all who know them, their many excellencies of character having gained them numerous friends.
Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894
Grundy Biographies maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
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