Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 259] a conductor on the Western New York & Pittsburg R. R., residing at No. 210 Pittsburg Street, New Castle, this county, was born in North Beaver township, this county, Feb. 18, 1843, and is a son of John K. and Martha E. (McClure) Swisher. Hosea's mother, who was a daughter of James McClure and of Scotch descent, died when he was less than a year old. John K. Swisher was a son of Jacob Swisher; he followed the occupation of a farmer all the years of his life that were spent in active labor, and died in 1865, aged sixty-six years. He was one of the first county commissioners of Lawrence County, after its organization as a county, and held office three years.
Of a family of six boys and three girls born to his parents, five of whom now survive, Hosea H. was the eighth in order of birth. His education was secured in the district schools of Bethel, North Beaver township, and his early life up to the age of twenty-five was spent on the farm. The discovery of the extensive oil-fields of Pennsylvania and Ohio occurred about this time, and our subject enlisted his interest in the work, and spent two years drilling oil-wells at Island Run. On his return to his native place, he labored on the home farm for one summer, and then became the proprietor of a store at Mt. Jackson for two years, after which he moved to Mahoningtown, and worked on the railroad one year, and then for one year was employed in the quarries of Green, Marquis & Johnson. It had been his desire for quite a period back to become a trainman, for a prospect of steady advancement is offered such as is not found in every employment. He at last secured a place on the Beaver Valley R. R. as a brakeman, and was soon promoted to the position of conductor, and for thirteen years was on the company's pay-rolls in that capacity. For the past fifteen years he has been in the service of the W. N. Y. & P. R. R. In point of years of service he is one of the oldest trainmen in the city of New Castle.
Mr. Swisher assumed the obligations of the marriage compact at Mt. Jackson, uniting himself with Olive N. Officer, daughter of John and Eliza (Nesbit) Officer. Of this marriage there was born one son in Mahoningtown, Harry D., who attended the schools of that place in his boyhood. Harry's first business venture was in keeping a cigar and tobacco store; he ran it one year, and then secured a position on the W. N. Y.& P. R. R., for which company he served two years as brakeman, and in 1894 was made yard conductor, a position he is acceptably filling at the present time. Harry was married June 23, 1896, at Jamestown, N. Y., to Clara Carl, daughter of John and Kate (Crum) Carl; they have one child, Ruth E., born Sept. 3, 1897; John Carl is a conductor on the P. & W. R. R. All the members of the family are members of the Epworth M. E. Church. In politics, both Mr. Swisher and his son are Republicans. Our subject is a member of the Western Star Lodge, No. 160, K. of P.; is also a member of the A. P. A.; and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of which he is counselor. Harry Swisher is a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, J. H. Douglas Lodge, No. 222; Knights of the Maccabees, Lawrence Tent, No. 101; and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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