Jacob Swick. A resident of Champaign County during a period of sixty-five years and still interested in the pursuit of agriculture here, Jacob Swick is one of the best known among the citizens of Broadlands and the vicinity. During his long career it has been his fortune to have gained many of the rewards of industry and integrity, and in addition to material remuneration to have attained a position of substantial prominence in his community and a place in the respect and confidence of those among whom his long life has been spent.
Mr. Swick was born in Germany, June 27, 1837, a son of Jacob and Christine (Oberly) Swick, both born in that country. The family came to the United States in 1852, first settling in Pennsylvania, from which state they moved to Ohio, and there the parents passed the remaining years of their lives engaged in farming. They were honest, industrious, God-fearing people who reared their children to lives of usefulness and honor and gave them all the advantages that they could afford. The children were as follows: Jacob, of this notice; Christina, who is the wife of John Vedder and a resident of Urbana; Christopher, who also resides at that place; and Mary, the wife of Joseph Marsh, of North Dakota.
Jacob Swick was about fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and here in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Ohio completed the education which he had started in Germany. When he left the parental roof to engage in life’s activities on his own account he went to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he worked on a farm for five years, after which the Civil War came on and he enlisted in Company F, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, with which he served for two and one-half years. He had an excellent record as a soldier, and upon receiving his honorable discharge returned to Ohio, but soon located in Morgan County, where he worked on a farm for five years, after which he came to Champaign County and took up his residence in Raymond Township, where he engaged in operations on a farm of eighty acres. Later he bought forty acres more, and to this added an additional tract of like size, and finally purchased 240 acres in Ayers Township, where his subsequent activities were carried on. Mr. Swick won success by reason of his constant industry, his fidelity to engagements and the honorable manner in which he carried on his transactions, and the record of his business life presents a clean and unblemished page.
Mr. Swick was married first to Katherine Kirchner, who died in Champaign County, leaving one child, who died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Swick married Elizabeth Thady, and they became the parents of four children: Lillian May, Charles E., Ella Irene and Harry C. Mr. Swick is a Republican, but not a politician, although active in good civic movements in the community. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren Church. Since his practical retirement from active agricultural affairs Mr. Swick has resided at Broadlands, where he has a comfortable, modern home.