James P. Swauger

JAMES P. SWAUGER, a resident of West Newton. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, proprietor of the Yough Hotel, and a man largely interested in community affairs, was born in Clarksburg, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1845, son of Samuel and Catherine (Pepple) Swauger, and grandson of William Swauger, who was a native of Germany, and by trade a miller. He died in 1821, and his widow married a Mr. Stuck, who was also a miller.

Samuel Swauger, son of William Swauger, and father of James P. Swauger, was born in Bedford county, April 9, 18n. He learned the trade of miller from his step-father, followed that occupation during his active working life, and was engaged at his trade in Bedford, Westmoreland and Indiana counties. In politics he was a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Catherine Pepple, born in Bedford county, April, 1814, and fourteen children were born to them, eight of whom survive: John, at Murrysville, Pennsylvania; William, at Derry Station; James P., of whom later; Samuel T., at Coldport, Pennsylvania; A. Wilson, at Murrysville; George, at Saltsburg; Margaret, wife of Porter J. Nesbit, Aledo, Illinois; and Catherine, wife of George Stark, Salem Cross Roads. The father of these children died at the age of eighty-two years.

James P. Swauger obtained his education in the common schools of his native place, and early in life learned the trade of miller under the instruction of his father. He was engaged in this occupation for about a quarter of a century, and was a skilled miller in both the old burr and later the roller system. In 1889 Mr. Swauger retired from the milling business and engaged in the hotel business in West Newton, where he has since been located. The Yough hotel, of which Mr. Swauger is the proprietor, is a first-class establishment, and is well patronized. He has won many friends among his guests, owing to his genial and hospitable disposition. Politically he is a strong Republican, and is a firm advocate of the principles of that organization. In 1871 he married Edith Fisher, daughter of Adam Fisher, of Confluence, Pennsylvania. This marriage ceremony was culminated in Maryland, where Mr. Swauger resided for about eleven years during young manhood. Their children are: Blanche, resides in Pittsburg, wife of John F. Cummings, who is with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; Ida, at home; and 1Mazie, who lives with Mrs. G. Al. Emig, of Pittsburg, by whom she was reared. Mrs. Swauger died in 1878, and in 1882 Mr. Swauger married Margaret Frye, of Indiana county, daughter of Joseph Frye, now of Blairsville, Pennsylvania. Their children are: Ethel, wife of E. G. Sheeler, Monessen; Grace, Nellie, Ruth and John, all of whom reside at home.  

Source: Page(s) 225-226, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed August 2008 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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