In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1845, Westmoreland County
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903)
SAMUEL SWAB.
Among the prominent and substantial citizens of Cass township, Hancock county, Ohio, must lie mentioned Samuel Swab, whose great estate of three hundred and fifty-eight acres is not only Avell situated for farming and stock-raisinjef purposes, but it is also valuable on account of containing twenty-four oil producing wells.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
George Swab, the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, where his wife was born in 1826. She died in the winter of 1848, their family consisting of four children, namely: !Mary, deceased; Barbara E., deceased; David and Samuel. In his young manhood George Swab worked at various occupations, principally teaming, but later leased the distilling business which he followed for sixteen years. He thus accumulated means with which to move to Hancock county, Ohio, and purchase a farm of eighty acres, twenty of which had been cleared. He was born of most worthy parents, George and Barbara (Coder) Swab, and as they were in limited circumstances, he assisted in their care. His residence now is on his fine farm in Cass township, still in the enjoyment of health despite his advanced years, and he has always been respected in his community.
Such were the honorable ancestors of our subject. In 1872 he received a gift of forty acres of land from his father and his own energies enabled him to add to this tmtil it is the large and productive estate mentioned above. Here he erected commodious and suitable buildings, on modern lines, and is surrounded with all of the comforts of life. He has taken an active part in politics, being like his father, an ardent Republican, and he has been called upon to serve his township in a number of offices, as trustee and supervisor, and as a member of the school board. He was also township treasurer, being a man of such reliability that his fellow citizens have been glad to so honor him.
In 1872 iVIr. Swab was married to Miss Barbara Kagy, born in Fairfield comity, Ohio, in 1847, and a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Kagy. To this union there were born: Blanch, who married John Nusser; Delora, who married Charles Harry; Samuel K., who married Bessie Ullery; and Pearl A.
Mr. Swab is generally regarded as a thorough business man, known to be of strict integrity and is truly a representative citizen. His residence, one of the best in Cass township, is situated upon ground sufficiently elevated to lend a commanding view of the surroimding country. The house and bam, which were built about forty years ago, were remodeled eight years ago by Mr. Swab.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
SAMUEL SWAB, justice of the peace, is one of Cass Township’s most valued and substantial citizens, one of the heaviest taxpayers and public spirited men, and owns four fine farms, comprising 637 acres, and resides on one containing 140 acres. He was born in the old log house standing on his father’s farm at that time, in Westmoreland County, Pa., August 5, 1845, and is a son George and Mary (Rodibaugh) Swab.
George Swab was born in 1813, in Westmoreland County, Pa., and his father’s name was also George and he was born near Philadelphia, his parents having come from Germany. Six children were born to the older George Swab: George, Solomon, Samuel,
Christiana S., Smith, Mary, and Barbara Duffield, all deceased. George Swab (2) grew to manhood in Westmoreland County, and for a time operated a distillery there. He married Mary Rodibaugh, who died in Pennsylvania when their son Samuel was three years old. Six years later Samuel Swab accompanied his father and his brother and sister to Hancock County. The father settled in Cass Township, buying eighty acres of timbered land, the only improvement being a log house. He cleared and improved this place and put up the greater number of the buildings and continued to live here until the close of his life. His. death occurred August 20, 1907, he being at that time the oldest man in the township. His second marriage was to Fannie Shaufler, who was born in Fairfield County and still resides in Cass Township.
Samuel Swab was the eldest born of his father’s three children. His brother, David Swab, lives in Allen Township. His sister, Barbara, who is now deceased, was the wife of Andrew Pletcher, of Allen Township. Mr. Swab obtained a district school education. He gave great assistance to his father in clearing the homestead and has always been a hard working man. Although Mr. Swab owns much more land than does the average farmer, he has earned every acre of it by his own industry with the exception of the forty acres given him by his father. He has always been a progressive and enterprising man and has set a good example in his township in clearing and developing his property, in which he has spared neither time, labor nor expense. Oil is produced on all the farms.
On September 25, 1872, Mr. Swab was married to Miss Barbara Kagy, a native of Fairfield County and a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Kagy, who came to Hancock County when Mrs. Swab was an infant. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swab: Blanche, who is the wife of John A. Nusser, of Allen Township, and they have one child, Dorothy; Delora, who is the wife of Charles Harry, of Allen Township; Samuel K., who assists Mr. Swab on the home farm, married Bessie Ullery and they have two children — Gladys and Bernice; and Pearl, who is the wife of S. J. Overholt, of Cass Township, and they have two children — Frances and an infant.
Mr. Swab and son are Republicans and he has served in responsible township offices, having been president of the school board and township treasurer and trustee. Samuel K. is also prominent in township affairs, serving as school director and at present is constable. The family is a representative one in Cass Township, Hancock County.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John A. Nusser (b. 1873)
Their biographies name Samuel Swab: Joseph R. Kagy (b. 1842)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.