Santa Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE SWALL
Actively identified with the agricultural industries of Santa Clara county, George Swall, who is pleasantly located at Mountainview (sic), is an extensive dealer in stock of all kinds and carries on a prosperous business as a general farmer. He holds an assured position among the live, energetic and progressive men of his community, and ably performs his whole duty as an intelligent, capable citizen. A son of Mathias Swall, he was born March 1, 1858, in La Salle county, Ill.
Born, reared and educated in Prussia, Germany, Mathias Swall left the Fatherland when young and came to the United States, located first in New Orleans, La., and later in La Salle county, Ill. Migrating to California in 1865, traveling by way of Panama, he settled first in San Joaquin county, taking up a quarter-section from the government near Tracy. Subsequently buying several sections of railway land in that locality, he carried on general farming and stock-raising and dealing for some time. Removing to the Salinas valley in 1873, he continued his operations as a stock dealer and also embarked in the butcher business to some extent, remaining there two years. Disposing of his land and stock in 1875, he went south to Los Angeles county, settling near Los Angeles, where he resided until his death in 1897. He married Elizabeth Haines, who was born in Germany, near the Rhine river, and now resides in Los Angeles, Cal. Eleven children were born of their union, nine sons and two daughters, George being the sixth child in order of birth.
Coming with his parents to California when a small lad, George Swall obtained his early education in the public schools, and was afterwards associated with his father in the butcher business. From 1876 until 1878 he worked in the old town of Mountainview, being in the employ of a butcher, and was afterward similarly engaged in Los Gatos for four years. In 1882 Mr. Swall embarked in the butcher business on his own account, for two years having a market in Los Gatos. Returning to Mountainview in the fall of 1884 he opened a meat market, and was here successfully employed in his former occupation for nearly thirteen years. In 1897 he sold out his butcher business and has since devoted his time to cattle raising and trading and to general ranching. He owns a ranch of three hundred and fifty acres, lying two miles east of Mountainview, and also rents two thousand acres of land, which he uses for a stock range. Thoroughly versed in the different branches pertaining to agriculture, he is meeting with excellent success and is one of the leading stockmen of the county.
While living in Los Gatos Mr. Swall married Florence Collins, who was born and reared in California. She died at her home in Mountainview, leaving three children, Lester G., Mary Ellen and Ada Elizabeth. In political matters Mr. Swall is independent, voting with the courage of his convictions for the best men and measures. He evinces a warm interest in municipal affairs, and is now a member of the city board. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge.
Transcribed
5-14-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 605. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.