The wife of Abraham Minnich, Elizabeth Swinger, was born on the old Swinger homestead northwest of Painter Creek, July 1, 1838, daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Stager) Swinger. Her father was born in Wurtenberg. Germany, March 1, 1805, one of the four children of George and Rosanna (Stout) Swinger, who came in a sailing vessel to Philadelphia in 1814, their son Jacob then being about nine years of age. While they were on board the ship they encountered a terrific storm, which carried away the sailing gear and caused great consternation among the pasesngers, but they finally won through and landed safely. In 1836 Jacob Swinger purchased some land in Ohio, where it was much cheaper than in Pennsylvania, and brought his household goods in a wagon the distance of about five hundred miles, which they traveled in six weeks.
He first bought a farm of forty acres a half mile northwest of where the village of Painter Creek now stands. One acre of this was cleared and there was an old log house on it. The cleared land was sown in wheat, but there were such wild animals as deer, wolves, foxes, catamounts and the like all around in the surrounding woods and also wild turkeys in great numbers. Jacob Swinger and wife had to endure many privations, as did other pioneers, and they worked very hard for many years. He became an extensive landowner, finally becoming possessed of over a section, part of which he exchanged for a flour mill. He and his wife united with the Church of the Brethren in 1850, remaining in that faith until death. Heretofore she had held to the Presbyterian Church and he to the Lutheran. She was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1893. On December 19, 1894. the descendants of Jacob Swinger and wife, Anna Maria Swinger, held a family reunion, at which five generations were present, and as guests Rev. Tobias Kreider and Rev. Jesse Stutsman were present. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Swinger were: John, Sarah, Susanna. Jacob, Elizabeth. Catharine, Rebecca, David and Samuel, the latter two being twins.
Mrs. Abraham Minnich lives on the home place, where she and her husband had lived continuously for more than 56 years, never having lived elsewhere. They had five children, Louisa, wife of Joseph Hollinger, died on the farm on which her brother. Levi, now resides; Levi; Rebecca, widow of Moses Royer; Martha, at home with her mother; Anna Maria died in infancy. Mrs. Royer was left a widow, with five children, from three to eighteen years of age, her husband passing away in Decomber, 1910. With the aid of her children, she courageously continued to live on and operate the farm, which is near the old home place of her parents. They have been very successful in this and are prospering very well. Her children are: Forest M., Galen B., Virgil Abraham. Wilbur R. and John Harold. The two older sons taught school one term in the adjoining township, but as Forest was needed on the home farm, he returned and Galen went to North Manchester to attend college and fit himself for a profession.
