BIOGRAPHY: William VAN SWERINGEN, Juniata Co., PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mike Williamson 
  Transcribed by Patty Frank
  
  Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/juniata/
  
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  The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, 
  Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, 
  Pennsylvania.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume II, 
  Page 867.
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    WILIAM VAN SWERINGEN, Honey Grove, Juniata county, Pa., was born
  near McCoysville, Tuscarora township, Juniata county, December 15,
  1817, son of Evan and Margaret (Shafer) Van Sweringen. His paternal
  grandfather, Samuel Van Sweringen, who was born in Holland, came to
  America, and settled in Virginia, when he removed to Waterloo, in the
  Tuscarora valley, and there engaged in farming.
    Evan Van Sweringen, son of Samuel Van Sweringen, was born in 1779.
  He owned 200 acres of land near McCoysville, which he farmed and
  improved by planting orchards and building a stone house and barn. He
  was fond of horses and was a successful stock raiser. Mr. Van
  Sweringen was a Democrat. Evan Van Sweringen was married in the
  Tuscarora valley, to Margaret Shafer, who was born April 23, 1785.
  They had eight children; two survive: William; and Drusilla, widow of
  Abner Wharton, of Illinois, who was born May 11, 1826. Those deceased
  are: John, born February 24, 1809; Mary (Mrs. Alexander Murphy), born
  February 21, 1811; Thomas, born June 22, 1813; George, born August 5,
  1815; William; Joseph, born May 22, 1820; and Margaret (Mrs. William
  Silverthorn), of Rushville, Ind., born November 24, 1822. Mr. Van
  Sweringen died May 28, 1848; his wife died in March, 1860. They were
  members of the United Presbyterian church near McCoysville.
    William Van Sweringen attended the "Rock School" in Beale township,
  at that time part of Milford, and assisted on the farm until he was
  sixteen years of age, when he entered upon a three years' clerkship
  in the store of Joseph S. Laird, of McCullochs Mills. He was then
  clerk during one year for A. Shorb & Co., of Centre county, and
  afterwards engaged in business at McCullochs Mills, buying the store
  of Samuel McCulloch; here he remained ten years; he was also
  postmaster, and there was a weekly mail from Mifflintown. In 1861, he
  removed to Bealetown, where for thirty years he conducted a successful
  business. Mr. Van Sweringen is a proprietor of a farm of 200 acres,
  and also of the Honey Grove Mills. The mill is fitted up with roller
  process machinery and is one of the finest in the county.
    Mr. Van Sweringen is one of the oldest residents of the township;
  he has won the confidence and respect of friends and neighbors, and
  is highly esteemed in the community. Mr. Van Sweringen is a Democrat;
  he is postmaster at Honey Grove, which position he has held for twelve
  years; he served as commissioner, and during his term, in 1874, many
  improvements were made; one of these was the first iron bridge in
  Juniata county, built over Tuscarora creek. He was tax collector and
  assessor of the township for several terms. Through Mr. Van
  Sweringen's influence the former name of the borough, Bealetown, gave
  place to Honey Grove.
    William Van Sweringen was married in Cumberland county, October 13,
  1851, to Rachel, daughter of Thomas Sweringen, a farmer of Juniata
  county. Their children are: William, a farmer of Nebraska; Thomas, a
  farmer of Page county, Ia.; Mary (Mrs. James Stewart), of Page
  county, Ia. Priscilla (Mrs. James Thompson), who died; Jesse B.,
  deceased; George, of Iowa; Clarence, at home; David, married Tessie
  Peck, has one child, David, operates the Honey Grove Mill; and
  Matilda (Mrs. James Junk), of Tuscarora township. Mrs. Van Sweringen
  died February 7, 1890. Mr. Van Sweringen is an elder in the United
  Presbyterian church, and has been a teacher in the Sabbath-school.