John P. Swygard

J. P. SWYGARD.

J. P. Swygard is proprietor of a general store at Mediapolis and has developed a business of gratifying proportions. He keeps an attractive line of goods and his earnest desire to please his patrons has been one of the factors ihis growing success. He was born in Northfield, Louisa county, Iowa, May 13, 1862, a son of Frederick W. and Ellen (Jugenheimer) Swygard, natives of Germany, the former born at Schwap, August 11, 1833, and the latter at Hesse- Darmstadt, November 17, 1833. The father was but three years of age when his parents crossed the Atlantic to America and settled at Fredericksburg, Maryland, whence they afterward removed to Burlington. Iowa. His wife crossed the ocean when in young womanhood, the voyage consuming seventy-two days. She made her way direct to Burlington and in that city they were married in 1859. While in that city the father followed the tinner's trade and after their marriage they located upon a farm in Louisa county. When their son, J. P. Swygard, was but three months old the father enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company C of the Thirtieth Iowa infantry, with which he served for three years, being advanced to the rank of sergeant. He took part in all of the engagements in which his company participated and at the close of the war resumed farm work, devoting his energies to the further development and improvement of his home place until his later years, when, having acquired a handsome competence as the reward of his former toil, he retired to Mediapolis, where his remaining days were passed in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He died July 21, 191 2, while his wife passed away in January, 191 1.

In politics Frederick W. Swygard was a stalwart republican, giving unfaltering support to the men and measures of the party, and his religious faith was evidenced by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. They were the parents of seven children: W. H., who is now living in Mediapolis; J. P., of this review; Matilda, the wife of Henry Todd, of Wheatland, Oklahoma; C. F., who is living on the old homestead farm in Louisa county; J. E., a resident of Colfax, Washington; Mary E., the wife of Frank Nelson, of Mediapolis; and Deborah, who married John Loper.

J. P. Swygard was reared upon the old homestead farm in Louisa county until he attained his majority and attended the district schools in the acquirement of his education. On reaching man's estate he removed to Mediapolis and began learning the harness-making trade, which he followed for two years. At the end of that time he secured a clerkship in the general store of Parrott & Fulmer, with whom he remained for a decade. He then became a partner in the firm of J. D. Clement & Company, with which he was connected for three years, and at the end of that time bought out his partners' interests and organized the firm of J. P. & J. E. Swygard. After two years a reorganization was effected under the name of Swygard Brothers & Walker. Eventually all sold out and J. P. Swygard then embarked in business alone as a general merchant, occupying a store in the Commercial State Bank building, known as the Brown & McClure building. His store is one hundred and ten by one hundred and forty feet. It is a department store and he employs three clerks. He is also proprietor of a store in Garland, where he employs a man to conduct it. He is a stockholder in the Commercial State Bank of Mediapolis and is a progressive and energetic business man who readily recognizes and utilized opportunities, and thus is steadily advancing toward the goal of success.

In January, 1888, Mr. Swygard was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Cassing, who was born in Ohio in 1868, and in her childhood came to Iowa with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cassing. Mr. and Mrs. Swygard have become the parents of four children: Jessie Elma, who was graduated from the Iowa State University with the class of 191 1, and is now a teacher of Latin in Centerville, Iowa;

Stanley F., who died at the age of five years; Chalmer F., who died at the age of two years; and Pauline Elizabeth, who was born in November, 1909.

Mr. Swygard is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Aid, and his religious faith is evidenced by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, being ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument. His attention, however, is largely concentrated upon his business affairs, and it has been by reason of his close application and unremitting energy that he has gained a place among the representative merchants of Mediapolis.

As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.