My Genealogy Hound

DR. SAMUEL B. SWAVELY, residing at the corner of Chestnut and Washington streets, Pottstown, is a native of Potts Grove township, Montgomery county, where he was born April 13, 1847. He is the son of Aaron and Mary (Burdan) Swavely, the father being a native of Berks county and the mother of Montgomery county. They had five children: four sons and one daughter, of whom Dr. Samuel B., Levi and John survive.

Aaron Swavely (father) was a blacksmith all his life in Potts Grove township, Boyertown and Pottstown. He went to Pottstown about 1868, and was engaged in his trade there to the time of his death in 1896, dying on his seventy-third birthday. His wife died in 1900, aged seventy-four years. The parents of Dr. Swavely were both Lutherans. The father was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, belonging to the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving nine months in all. He was for one term tax collector of the borough of Pottstown.

Samuel Swavely (grandfather) was born in Pennsylvania and was of German descent. His wife was Rebecca Richards. He died well advanced in years. His wife survived him some years. They had a family of five sons and one daughter.

Adam Swavely (great-grandfather) was born in Germany. He came to America and settled in Pike township, Berks county.

Samuel Burdan (maternal grandfather) was a native of New Jersey, and a blacksmith by trade. He belonged to the state militia. His wife was Miss Overman. He died at upwards of seventy years of age, leaving a large family.

Dr. Samuel Swavely lived in Boyertown until he was ten years of age and then went to Pike township, residing in that vicinity until he was twelve or thirteen years of age. He attended the common school and on February 29, 1864, when he was only sixteen years old, enlisted in Company B, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Army of the Potomac, and served until the close of the war. He was in the following actions: battle of the Wilderness, Ny River, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, City Point, and in front of Petersburg, and assisted in undermining Fort Stedman. He was present at the time of Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, and then went to Washington, D. C., and thence to Gettysburg, where the regiment took part in the dedicatory services of the monument on that famous battlefield, and was mustered out July 30, 1865. At Spottsylvania his trousers were pierced by a bullet, and his cap while he was on picket duty in front of Petersburg. Again, in front of Petersburg, the tin cup from which he was drinking was shot away. He then entered as a student at Kallyenan Academy, and, on leaving that institution, taught five years in Montgomery county and two years in Berks county, after which he took up the study of medicine at Jefferson Medical College, graduating in 1877. He began practicing at Blue Rock, Chester county, now called Elverson. He remained there until the spring of 1882, when he went to Pottstown and has practiced there since.

On February 11, 1869, he married Miss Mary D. Buck, daughter of Henry and Annie (Dunn) Buck. They had two children, Cora Alice and one who died in infancy. Cora Alice married James M. Reigner, of Pottstown. They have one child, Charles. Mrs. Mary D. Swavely died November 17, 1880, aged thirty years. She was a member of the Lutheran church.

On July 11, 1895, Dr. Swavely married Miss Annie Elizabeth Smith, of Phoenixville, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Swavely) Smith. Dr. Swavely was confirmed in the Lutheran church. Mrs. Swavely was raised in the Methodist faith. Dr. Swavely belongs to Madison Lodge, No. 466, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to Graham Post, No. 106, G. A. R.

Politically he is a Democrat and has been an active and influential worker in the ranks of that party since 1868. He is a councilman from the fifth ward of Pottstown, serving his second term. He was president of the school board in West Nantmeal township, Chester county. In 1902 he made the canvass for county commissioner on the Democratic ticket, receiving the highest vote polled in the convention, but was defeated at the election by a small vote.

The parents of Mrs. Annie Elizabeth Swavely were natives of Germany and came to America about 1852. Mrs. Swavely was born in Phoenixville, where her parents still reside.