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Facts and Events
About Conrad Swinger
Conrad Swinger was born 18 December 1819 in Pennsylvania, son of George Schwinger and Elizabeth Stout, immigrants from Wurtemberg, Germany who came to Pennsylvania in abt. 1813. Conrad married Mary Ann Emerich on 21 March 1843 [needs source documentation].
Prior to 1850, Conrad had migrated to Monroe Township, Darke County, Ohio, where he was listed in the Federal Census Non-Population Schedule owning a farm with 100 acres of improved land, 60 acres of unimproved land and 4 Horses, 3 Milch Cows, 12 Other Cattle, 25 Sheep and 19 Swine. The total valuation of his farm was listed as $3,000 with Farm Implements and Machinery of $70. Conrad's family is also listed in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census [also listed in Monrow Township, Darke County, Ohio] as follows: Conrad Swinger (age 30), Maryan Swinger (age 25), John E. Swinger (age 7), Jesse Swinger (age 5) and William Swinger (age 1). It should be noted that Conrad's brother Jacob Swinger (1805-1867) had also migrated from Pennsylvania to Darke County, Ohio prior to 1850. Graves of several members of the Swinger family can be found in Darke County, Ohio on Find-A-Grave.
Prior to 1860, Conrad Swinger's family had migrated to Taylor Township, Howard County, Indiana where his family was listed in the 1860 U.S. Census as follows: Conrad Sinnger (age 40), Mary Sinnger (age 36), John Sinnger (age 16), Jesse Sinnger (age 14), Sarah Sinnger (age 5), Alvin Sinnger (age 3) and Harvey Sinnger (age 10). Missing from the 1860 Census was son William, who was in the prior census, whom likely died young prior to the 1860 Census.
Conrad Swinger died on 4 June 1863 in Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana during the height of the Civil War at the age of 43. After the death of Conrad, his widow Mary Ann married Solomon McReynolds on 23 June 1865 in Howard County, Indiana [Source: Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941, Ancestry.com]
References
- New York, United States. U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880.
Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880
Name: Conrad Swinger
Location: Monroe, Darke, Ohio, USA
Enumeration Date: 27 Nov 1850
Schedule Type: Agriculture
Line Number: 10
Acres Improved: 100
Acres Unimproved: 60
Cash Value of Farm: $3000
Value of Farming Implements and Machinery: $70
Horses: 4
Milch Cows: 3
Other Cattle: 12
Sheep: 25
Swine: 19
Value of Livestock: $190
Wheat, bushels of: 140
Indian Corn, bushels of: 100
- United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Conrad Swinger
Age in 1850: 30
Birth Year: abt 1820
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1860: Monroe, Darke, Ohio
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Conrad Swinger 40
Maryan Swinger 25
John Swinger 7
Jesse Swinger 5
William Swinger 1
- United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653).
1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Conrad Sinnger
Age in 1860: 40
Birth Year: abt 1820
Birthplace: Tennessee [Note: error, s/b Pennsylvania]
Home in 1860: Taylor, Howard, Indiana
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Oakford
Household Members: Name Age
Conrad Sinnger 40
Mary Sinnger 36
John Sinnger 16
Jesse Sinnger 14
Sarah Sinnger 5
Alvin Sinnger 3
Harvey Sinnger 1
- A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography. (Chicago [Illinois]: Lewis Pub. Co., 1900)
pg. 733.
Our subject's paternal grandfather was George Schwinger, as he spelled the name, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. There he owned a little land and engaged in farming to some extent, but principally worked as a day laborer. He married Elizabeth Stout, and to them were born four children, namely: Jacob, the father of our subject; Rosanna, who first married a Mr. Hughey and located in Indiana, and secondly, Franz Metz; Conrad, who married Mary Ann Emerch and died near Kokomo, Indiana; and an infant, who died at sea. About 1812 the grandfather, with his family sailed for the United States and met with terrible suffering and distress on the voyage. Terrific storms drove the vessel out .of its course along the. coast of Greenland. The masts and sails were swept overboard, and while the passengers were all below and the hatches closed the masts were broken off and became entangled with the main ropes. This turned the vessel on her side and she gradually sank under the water and was held there. The air in the vessel became so foul that life could not be maintained an hour longer, the poor unfortunates being nearly suffocated, when the captain, who knew where to come in contact with the ropes, bored holes with an auger and made an opening large enough to insert his arm. He then severed the ropes with a halcart and freed the vessel from its fastenings. As it then righted itself those on board were saved from suffocation. After being tossed and buffeted about by the wind and waves they were finally driven ashore along the Greenland coast, where they remaied through the winter and until the following spring, when the United States government sent a vessel to their relief and brought them to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. George Swinger had several hundred dollars when he left the old country, but this he spent for the relief of his fellow passengers during the winter and arrived in Philadelphia penniless, with a wife and three children, one having died on the voyage. He sold the father of our subject to a Mr. Grumm in Philadelphia to pay his debts. He settled near Lebanon, in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. After his death his widow came west and died at the home of her daughter, eighteen miles west of Peru, Indiana.
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