Santa Clara County
Biographies
CHARLES H. SWALL
Charles H. Swall, a life-long agriculturist of Santa Clara county, was born near San Jose July 24, 1861, and almost without interruption his home has been in this county ever since. The oldest of eleven children born to Peter and Mary (O’Rilley) Swall, he is of Irish-German parentage, his mother having been born in Ireland and his father in Prussia. It was in 1846 that the latter left home and sailed for American, making his home near Ottawa, Ill., for a few years. In 1852 he crossed the great plains in the customary way, behind ox teams, and upon arriving in California spent some time in the mines. In 1856 he took up ranching pursuits in the Santa Clara valley, which continued to be his home until 1901, when he retired from active business and moved to San Francisco. He still resides there, having a comfortable home at No. 931 McAlister street, where he is enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. Of the eleven children born to himself and wife five are deceased.
In his youth Mr. Swall had educational advantages beyond the common, for after completing the course of study prescribed in the public schools he became a student in the Santa Clara College, where he completed his studies. After leaving school he became associated with his father in ranching pursuits and with only one interruption his entire life has been spent in this occupation. In 1881 he went to Colorado and for two years he lived in that state near Aspen. In 1902 he located upon a farm near Mountainview, where he still resides, and which comprises a one hundred and twenty-three acre ranch. Sixty acres are devoted to raising garden seeds, principally onions, which he finds a very profitable crop. Besides rising vegetables to a considerable extent he has three and a half acres planted in strawberries, also a small assorted orchard. His marriage took place in the vicinity of his home place and united him with Miss Mary E. Whelan, also a native of Santa Clara county. Three sons have blessed their union, Rudolph D., Walter F., and Leo E. The family favor the Catholic religion, and socially Mr. Swall affiliates with but two secret orders, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World, of Mountainview. His political support has always been given to the Republican party, but he is not an aspirant to office. He is, however, largely interested in educational affairs, as his many years of service as school director will testify, and himself and family are highly esteemed members of the community in which they reside.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 654-655. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Joyce Rugeroni.