The Swihart Family

On February 15th, 1909, William Harrison Swihart of West Bethlehem Township tragically passed away due to accidental drowning. His lifeless body was discovered 2 months later in April, floating on Ten Mile Creek near the dam. Swihart was a skilled blacksmith who lived in Zollarsville.

William was the son of Joseph Swihart, hailing from Clarksville, and Elizabeth Swihart (née Miller). William found companionship in Emma Ann Tharp, his wife. Together, they raised eight children: Joseph, Wilbur, Colin, Elizabeth, John, William, Charles, and Clifton.

William is interred at Dunkard Cemetery in West Bethlehem Township.

William's grandfather was Jacob Swihart II. Jacob died at the age of 94 on November 25, 1907. He is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Amity. His wife was Elizabeth Swihart (née Zimmerman).

Jacob Swihart's II father was Jacob Swihart, whose father was Peter Swihart, who lived in West Bethlehem Township and died October 2nd, 1829.

Notice to Creditors

All persons having claims against the estate of Peter Swihart, late of West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, deceased, are requested to present them duly authenticated for settlement and allowance, on Saturday the 19th of December next, at the house of Gabriel Swihart, when and where the subscribers, administrators of said estate will attend - Also, all persons owing said estate, are requested to make payment on said date.

Gabriel Swihart, Ezekiel Swihart, Administrators.

Washington Review and Examiner (Washington, Pennsylvania) Volume XIII; Issue 29; page 3 - Saturday, November 28, 1829

GenealogyBank.com

Peter Swihart's father was George Gabriel Swihart, born in Germany March 1721, died on June 22nd, 1805 in West Bethlehem Township.

One can imagine that Gabriel Swinehart became acquainted with Esther Neff when taking his horses to Jacob Neff, the community blacksmith, to have his horses shoed. The Swinehart's were Lutheran as far as is known. Gabriel was the only one of the family to join the Brethren, no doubt, through his marriage to Esther Neff. It appears that all persons in the Brethren Church today with the name Swihart and Swinehart are descendants of Gabriel and Esther. Sometime in the 1770s they moved their family to West Bethlehem Twp. Washington, Co., PA.

From J.F. Murray's Neff Families and their Descendants 1991

Gabriel married Ester Neff and they had 12 children, 3 of them being those  who are listed above.

Gateway to the West, Vol II

Note: Six Swinehart brothers, grandsons of (John) George, sons of Gabriel I, moved from Frederick Co, MD, to West Bethlehem Township, Washington Co, PA, in the 1770s. The Swineharts, as well as the Leathermans, with whom they intermarried, were members of the Church of the Brethren (Dunkard-German Baptists). In the early 1800s, some changed their names to SWIHART, some to SCHWYHART, and some retained SWINEHART

Resource: KeyHole, Vol XX, No. 1, Jan 1992