This page is a biographical sketch I found in the
Biographical Encyclopaedia of PA of the 19th Century (1874)
Pages 646 & 647
SWEITZER, GENERAL JACOB BOWMAN, Lawyer and Soldier, was born at Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvanis, July 4, 1821. His great-grandfather, Ludwig Sweitzer, a native of Switzerland, came to the United States in 1725, and settled in Philadelphia, where his grandfather was born, who, after arriving at maturity, engaged in farming at Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and became a Mennonite preacher; his father, born in Doylestown, went early to Hagerstown, Maryland, and became a clerk for Colonel Rochester, until that gentleman removed to western New York, where he founded the present city of Rochester. He and Mr. Perrine then purchased the business at Hagerstown, and prosecuted it for several years. In 1810, they disposed of their interest in the establishment, and shortly after, he, though under thirty years of age, was elected Sheriff of Washington county, Maryland, by a hitherto unparalleled majority; after the expiration of his official term, he travelled through the South, with a view to settlement in that region, but finding the climate uncongenial, returned to Hagerstown, having been during his absence nominated and elected to the Maryland Legislature, where he served one term. While in this place, he purchased some 3000 or 4000 acres of land in western PA, of the firm of Turnbull, Marmie & Company, of which Robert Morris was a member, and which had established the first iron works west of the Alleghenies, on Jacob's creek, that stream forming a portion of the boundary line between Fayette and Westmoreland counties. Jacob Bowman, a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, whose ancestors had came from Holland, had been trained for business in the store of Colonel William Elliott, and having married the niece of his employer, was sent to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1784, to establish a branch store, and was the first person to transport a wagon-load of store goods over the Alleghenies. He established also a nail manufactory in that place, and made the first cut nails west of the mountains. After a long and honorable career, he died in 1849, at the age of eighty-four years, having been the first President of the Monongahela Bank, founded about 1812, at Brownsville, until his decease, when he was succeeded by his eldest son, who, at his death, was succeeded by another son, who retained the Presidency until his decease in 1873. Henry Sweitzer was married to the daughter of Jacob Bowman about 1817, and subsequently settled at Brownsville, where he became largely interested in the leading manufacturing establishments of that section of Pennsylvania, also in various steamboat enterprises, and in the improvement of river navigation; his death occurred in 1852, while in the seventy-third year of his age. Ann Elliott Sweitzer, second child of Jacob Bowman, still lives at the age of eighty-four years, and retains in a remarkable degree her physical and intellectual powers. Jacob Bowman Sweitzer, graduated from Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylbania, in 1843, and entered upon the study of the law with Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and having been admitted to the bar, November 11th, 1845, removed to Pittsburgh in 1846, and engaged in the practice of his profession. During the administration of General Taylor, he was appointed United States District Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and discharged the duties of that office with fidelity and ability. He continued his practice until 1861, when he entered the Union army as Major of the 33d Independent Regiment of Pennsylvania, commanded by Colonel Samuel W. Black, containing twelve companies, and raised by direct authority of the Secretary of War, but later, in November 1861, numbered the 62d Pennsylvania regiment. His major's commission bore date July 4, 1861. Early in August, this force proceeded to Harrisburg, whence, after an encampment of twelve days, it moved via Baltimore to Washington, and shortly after was ordered across the river, and assigned to the defence of Fort Cochran, opposite Georgetown; it was there placed in the Second Brigade of Fitz John Porter's Division, after, the First Division, Fifth Corps; that brigade consisted of the 14th New York, the 4th Michigan, the 9th Massachussets, and the 62nd Pennsylvania regiments, and was kept together during their whole term of service. November 19th, 1861, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and continued with his command on the front line until the opening of the spring campaign, when he participated in all the movements in the Peninsula. Having succeeded to the command upon the death of Colonel Black at the Seven Day's Fight, he was taken prisoner June 27th, 1872, and confined in Libby Prison until the following August 14th, when he was exchanged, and resumed his command at Harrison's Landing, where he found awaiting him his commission as colonel, bearing date August 9th, 1862, conferred for "gallant and meritorious conduct on the field of battle." His command having been transported by water from Newport News to Acquia creek, joined the army of Pope at Falmouth, and after an active participation in the disastrous campaign which followed, entered with McClellan upon the Maryland campaign. When the latter was succeeded by General Burnside, at Warrenton, Virginia, various changes and promotions left a vacancy in the command of his brigade which fell to him as senior Colonel, and he continued in command until mustered out of service July 13th, 1864, having participated in the battle and siege of Yorktown, and in the actions at Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Chickahominy, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Blackford's Ford, Kearnysville, Fredericksburg-where he won especial distinction and weas severely wounded-Mud March, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Frankstown, Rappahannock Station, New Hope Church, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Little River, Shady Grove Church, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Jerusalem Road, in many of which he won flattering recognition of his distinguished gallantry, notably, his brevet commission as Brigadier-General, March 13th, 1865. After being mustered out, he returned to Pittsburgh, and lived in retirement until his appointment by General Grant in 1869, as Supervisor of Internal Revenue for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which position he retained until the district was consolidated with others in 1873. In November of this year, he was appointed Prothonotary of the Supreme Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, an office he still fills. He has been a member of Councils, and is now President of the Young Men's Merchantile Library Association, also a member of the Board of Guardians of the Poor, and Director of Dixmont Hospital, and of the Pennsylvania Reform School. He was married June 15th, 1852 to Mary Holmes, daughter of Dr. Henry Stevenson, and granddaughter of Dr. George Stevenson and John Darragh, old and prominent citizens of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Info from PA Vital Records Vol II [pg 28]
In the year 1795...
10-22 Ludwick Switzer Menonist Minister died last night I believe.
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I know the above article SOUNDS strange... I tried to copy it
verbatum to show the writing style of those times.
Did you
notice no new paragraphs?..
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