JONATHAN SWEIGERT

 Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: HERRINGER,

            This gentleman is a “broad-gauge,” energetic man, full of active enterprise in whatever course he pursues.  He is a native of Du Page County, Illinois, where he was born in 1842.  His parents came to that State in 1830, after being married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, of which State his mother is a native.  His father came to that State direct from Germany, his native land.  His father dealt in real estate in Illinois, chiefly in Chicago, until the fall of 1852, when he came with his family, by the way of New York and Panama, to California.  He invested in real estate in San Francisco, where they remained until 1860; then they came to San Jose, where his father has been in business ever since.  Mr. Sweigert attended the public schools of San Francisco while they lived there, and after coming to this county he took a two years’ course at the University of the Pacific, at Santa Clara; then, deciding to engage in business pursuits, he began raising fruit in the Santa Clara Valley.  In 1878 he was elected a member of the City Council of San Jose, which office he filled for two terms, then was elected License Collector, and held that office two years.  In 1887 he was elected Sheriff of this county, and still occupies that honorable position.

            In 1868 he was married to Miss Emma M. Herringer, a native of Philadelphia, who came with her parents to California in 1862.  Her father was engaged in fruit-raising in Santa Clara Valley, and died in 1885.  Her mother still resides in San Jose.  Mr. and Mrs. Sweigert have three children:  George A., born in 1869 and graduated in June, 1888, at the University of the Pacific; Clara, born in 1871, and Emma, two years later, are both attending the same university.  Mr. Sweigert owns 330 acres of land near Berryessa, which is partly planted to fruit trees.  He is a member of the Methodist Church, and of Enterprise Lodge, No. 17, A.O.U.W. of San Jose.  He is a Republican in politics, and believes in the protection of American industries to the fullest extent.

Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. p.  613

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

 SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHY PROJECT

SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY - THE VALLEY OF HEART's DELIGHT