My Genealogy Hound

JUDGE M. F. SWORTZCOPE is a prominent resident of Grand Tower, and one well worthy of representation in this volume. He comes from an old Bohemian family, and the name was originally spelled Schwartzkopf. His father, Joseph Swortzcope, was born and reared in Bohemia, and became a weaver. He served as a soldier under Napoleon, and was wounded at the battle of Austerlitz by a musket ball in the left upper arm. He married Catherine Anna Broixdam, who was a native of Cologne, and was of French and German descent. Their marriage was celebrated in Cologne in 1807, and in 1814 they emigrated to America, locating in Elizabethtown, Md., where the father followed his trade. He afterwards went to Chambersburg, Pa., thence to Bedford, and in 1835 to St. Louis. Later he made his home on a farm in St. Charles County, Mo., and on selling that removed to Cottleville, that state, where he died in 1847, at the age of eighty-two. His wife passed away in 1851, at the age of eighty years. They were members of the Catholic Church.

Our subject is the only survivor in a family of seven children. He was born in Chambersburg, Pa., April 3, 1820, and all of his school privileges were acquired in Pennsylvania prior to his fourteenth year. He then served an apprenticeship to the cooper’s trade, which he followed for a number of years. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to Madison County, Ill., later went to Missouri, and afterwards returned to Ohio, where he followed coopering. He located in Chester, Ill., in 1842.

The same year Mr. Swortzcope married Zerelda Harmon, who was born in Randolph County, Ill., in March, 1821. In 1845 they removed to Murphysboro, and there our subject followed his trade until 1869, when they came to Grand Tower. Six children were born to them, of whom three are now living, Susan E., Emma B. and Walter. The mother of this family died in 1854.

Mr. Swortzcope was numbered among the valiant defenders of the Union during the late war. He enlisted in August, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service on the 18th of September, as a member of Company A, Thirty-first Illinois Infantry. He was promoted to be First Lieutenant and Quartermaster, April 2, 1862, and thus served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Belmont, Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson and the siege of Corinth. The regiment was under the command of John A. Logan, with whom he was very intimate, a strong affection existing between the two men. Mr. Swortzcope participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Champion Hills and Raymond, and his regiment acted with the escort of honor to General Grant on the capture of Vicksburg. In the spring of 1864 he returned home on a veteran furlough, and when his leave of absence had expired, rejoined his command in Georgia, participating in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, the march to the sea, and the battles of Savannah and Bentonville. He served as Assistant Quartermaster of the Seventeenth Army Corps from the landing at Port Royal, S. C., until mustered out at Goldsboro, N. C., April 8, 1865.

Mr. Swortzcope is a member and has served as Commander of John A. White Post of Grand Tower. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows’ society, and has represented the local lodge in the Grand Lodge. He deserves great credit for his success in life. When a young man of twenty-four, he could not do a simple example in subtraction, but he bought an arithmetic and slate, and without assistance mastered all of the problems in the book, and his reading, experience and observation have made him a well informed man. In 1858 he was elected County Surveyor of Jackson County, and was serving his second term when the war broke out. In 1854 he was Associate Justice of the County Court, and in 1865 was elected County Judge, which position he filled four years. He has also been Notary Public, Road Supervisor and School Director, and is now the efficient and popular Surveyor of Jackson County. In the discharge of his public duties he has ever been found faithful and true, and his frequent re-election to office indicates the confidence reposed in him.