| Name |
SWENK, Thomas |
| Birth |
3 Feb 1812 |
Trappe, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Biography |
- Thomas Swenk, son of Jacob Swenk and ElizabethTyson, his wife, was born at the village of Trappe, February 3, 1812. In the year 1824, his father removed with his family to Milton, Pa. Upon reaching manhood, Thomas Swenk entered in the business of general merchandising, in connection with which he did a heavy grain business. Since 1877 he has not been engaged in active trade. He has held various public trusts. He was County Auditor from 1883 to 1889. He has filled most of the borough offices of Milton; was director of the Milton Bridge company nearly twenty years, most of the time its president; was one of the founders of the two cemeteries of the town; an incorporator of the Milton Gas company; and an incorporator of the Milton Safety bank, which was afterwards converted into a National bank. James Pollock, a citizen of Milton, when elected governor of Pennsylvania, honored Mr. Swenk with appointment on his military staff, with the rank of Colonel. Although in his eighty-eighth year, Colonel Swenk enjoys reasonably good health, and he writes a clear, firm, legible hand.
|
| Census (desc) |
1850 |
Milton, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States [2] |
| working as a merchant |
- His store and home were on a large lot at the SW corner of Front and Lower Market Streets, and can be seen on the map of 1858.
|
| Census (desc) |
1860 |
Milton, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States [3] |
| working as a merchant |
| Census (desc) |
1870 |
Milton, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States [4] |
| working as a dry goods merchant |
| Census (desc) |
1880 |
Milton, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States [5] |
| living on S Front St |
| Census (desc) |
1900 |
Milton, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States [6] |
| living at 306 S Front St |
| Obituary |
- THOMAS SWENK, SR.
Milton’s Oldest Resident Passed Away on Saturday Afternoon.
IN HIS NINETY-SECOND YEAR
Forty Years Ago Was the Town’s Leading Business Man – Enjoyed an Extensive Acquaintanceship With Prominent Men – Was a Close Observer and a Fine Conversationalist – Funeral on Tuesday Afternoon.
Col. Thomas Swenk, Sr., the oldest resident of Milton, died at his home on South Front Street, on Saturday afternoon shortly after three o’clock, in the ninety-second year of his age. He has been in declining health for the past year or two, but previous to that time was possessed of a wonderfully clear and vigorous mind and constitution. He is survived by his wife, who has shared his joys and sorrows for over fifty-seven years, and two sons, Thomas, Jr., and Henry C., both of whom reside in Philadelphia. His funeral will take place on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock. Interment in Harmony cemetery.
Thomas Swenk, Sr., was born at Trappe, Montgomery county, on February 3, 1812 and was next to the oldest in a family of nine children. In 1824 the family moved to Milton, the trip being made overland in an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon, which carried the family and their household belongings. This was before the days of railroads and there were no canals in this part of the country. His father was a hatter and rope maker and carried on the latter business for many years after coming to Milton, which at that time was a very small village.
The subject of this sketch attended the public schools and secured a practical education, after which he was taken into the family and employ of the late Charles Comly, a prominent Quaker-Merchant and grain dealer. He rapidly developed keen business qualifications and perception and was soon able to take the general management and control of Mr. Comly’s extensive operations.
Early in the thirties he formed a partnership with the late Paul Mausteller, and embarked in the mercantile business, conducting a general store and dealing extensively in coal and grain, practically controlling the latter market along the West Branch Valley up to the time of his retirement from active business.
Grain during the early period of his business career was brought to Milton in the famous old Conestoga wagons from points as far distant as Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and scores of teamsters and hands were employed in handling it. Much of the product was exchanged for merchandise at the store, and he enjoyed a large and profitable trade until the advent of the canal and railroad, when changed transportation conditions caused much of the trade that had come to Milton to drift elsewhere.
Mr. Swenk was married in 1846 to Miss Catherine G. Sticker, who, as we noted above, is still living.
He was identified with most of the business institutions of Milton for almost a half century. He was one of the promoters of the old Milton Bank, a charter member of the Milton National Bank and for over twenty years a Director. He was one ofthe organizers of the Harmony cemetery company and the Milton gas company, and was for twenty-seven years president of the Milton Bridge Company, the rebuilding of which after the flood of 1865 was largely due to his personal efforts. While he was not connected by membership with any church, he was closely identified with the Baptist congregation. He was a trustee and contributed liberally to the erection and support of the church. He filled many positions of trust in Milton such as school director, auditor, etc., and served a term as county auditor. These were the limit of his political ambition, although he took an active part in politics and voted for every Whig and Republican candidate for president from General Harrison to McKinley. He received the title of Colonel as a member of the staff of Governor Pollock, of whom he was an ardent supporter and life-long friend. He was a strong supporter of the Union during the Rebellion, and made generous contributions in money and clothing to those who went to the front.
There is perhaps not living to-day in Pennsylvania a man who had personally met as many of the distinguished public men of antebellum days. He was a frequent visitor in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington and often in the latter city was in close companionship withThaddeus Stevens, Sam Houston and John W. Forney. He often met Thomas H. Benton, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. He had a brother-in-law closely connected with Buchanan and through him enjoyed many pleasant chats with the sage of Wheatland. He was present and listened to many of the historic debates in the house and senate when the old gladiators were arrayed against each other on the slavery question. He was a very observant man and his wide acquaintanceship and close touch with public men and measures gave him a vast fund of reminiscences, that made him one of the most delightful and entertaining gentlemen to be found.
After an active business career of forty years he met with reverses which occasioned his retirement from commercial life. His losses during a period of three or four years previous to the centennial year were his severe misfortune and the one sad reminder in his declining days of the uncertainty that often attends homes, careful and conscientious effort.
Courtesy of Mark A. Swank
|
| _UID |
335567FC07351A4EA6547FC7D31B357062C6 |
| Death |
7 Nov 1903 |
| Person ID |
I1004 |
Milton Families |
| Last Modified |
20 Dec 2011 |
1812 - 1903 (91 years)
