Biographies
GEORGE
SWANSTON
GEORGE SWANSTON.–A
man of affairs who left a deep imprint on the history of the upbuilding of Sacramento City and County was the late
George Swanston, wealthy landowner and cattleman, and
head of the large packing-plant of Swanston and
Son. He was born near Salem, Ohio, January 3, 1866, a son of Charles and
Nancy (Powers) Swanston, natives respectively of the
North of Ireland and of Pennsylvania. Charles Swanston
moved from Ohio to California in or about 1881; and here he became a successful
cattleman and the senior member of the first of Swanston
and Son, continuing actively in business until his death in April, 1911, at the
age of seventy-eight years. His wife had passed away many years before,
leaving him two interesting children: George, the subject of this interesting
review; and Lillian, now Mrs. McCaslin, of Oakland.
George Swanston was reared in Ohio and received a good education
in the public schools of that state. Coming to Sacramento County,
California, when a boy of fifteen years, he took a course in Atkinson’s
Business College, in the capital city, and after his graduation took up active
business with his father, learning the cattle business in all of its details,
and soon developing into a most excellent judge of stock, having acquired a
keen appreciation of their value. Their business was conducted under the
title of Swanston and Son; and through their combined
efforts it grew to large proportions, and success crowned their
efforts. They had valuable holdings on Riverside Road, and there they
started a small packing-house. This grew rapidly by additions, as their
business expanded; and here too they built and first cold-storage plant in
Sacramento, and so became leaders in their line.
After his father’s
death, George Swanston incorporated the business
under the old firm name, Swanston & Son, and made
plans for enlarging the business, erecting the large new packing-plant at North
Sacramento, where he owned a large acreage. The plant is substantially
built, and is modern and up-to-date in every way, being the largest and finest
plant of its kind in the Sacramento Valley. Mr. Swanston
was president and manager of the corporation; and his years of experience, coupled
with his natural tact and business ability, made it a financial
success. Mr. Swanston was a large landowner in
Sacramento county, and also owned extensive holdings
in Lake, Colusa and Yolo Counties. He was a director in the National Bank
of D. O. Mills & Co.
At the home of Mr.
Ward, sixteen miles north of Sacramento, on the Auburn road, in Sacramento
County, on May 1, 1888, Mr. Swanston was married to
Miss Jennie Ward; and their union proved a very happy one. Mrs. Swanston is a native daughter, born in Eldorado
(sic) County, being a daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Slater) Ward. The
father was born in England, and came out to California via the Isthmus of
Panama when he was a young man of seventeen years; while the mother crossed the
great plains with her parents in an ox-team train when a girl of eight
years. As was usual in the early days of gold, Robert Ward followed mining
for some years. Then he settled down to the more certain occupation of
farming, becoming the owner of a good farm on the Auburn road in Sacramento
County, where he reared his family; and there he resided until he passed
on. His widow now makes her home in Sacramento. Eight of their
children grew up and are living, Jennie being the second oldest.
Mr. Swanston, after having gained in a few years
great wealth and influence, was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labor;
for he passed away on July 3, 1923, mourned by his family and many
friends. He was a man highly esteemed, who had given of his best efforts
to develop the great natural resources of northern California.
The union of Mr. and
Mrs. Swanston was blessed with the birth of two
children: Lillis, the wife of Harry G. Krebs, a popular business man of
Sacramento; and Robert, who since his father’s death has assumed the presidency
and management of the firm of Swanston &
Son. Mrs. Swanston continues to reside at the
family home on Riverside Road, surrounded by her children and many friends and
enjoying her attendance at the Saturday Club and the Christian Science Church,
of which she is a member. Mr. Swanston donated
$10,000 to the city of Sacramento for the purpose of erecting a fountain to the
memory of his father. This fountain will be located in the William Land
Park. He was a member of the Elks and the Sutter Club; and being deeply
interested in civic improvement and the progress of the county, he was an
active and influential member of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. He
was a man who was able to plan ahead, having a mind gifted with foresight and
vision, coupled with an unusual amount of patience, while enabled him to wait
for the opportune time to bring his enterprises to a successful issue. All
in all, he was one of the substantial builders not only of Sacramento County,
but also of Northern California as a whole.
Transcribed 2-7-07
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 398-403. Historic Record Company,
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.