Biography - Francis Swanner
FRANCIS A. SWANNER, a progressive hotel man, farmer and merchant of
Parker, Johnson county, was born in Logan county, Kentucky, September 7,
1854, but almost all of his life has been spent in Illinois, where since
attaining his majority he has been prominent in business ventures,
agriculture and public-spirited movements. His father, Richard Swanner, was
born in North Carolina, February 9, 1814, a son of John Swanner, a native
and farmer of Virginia, who died on his own farm in Tennessee at a ripe old
age. He had nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom Richard,
who married Miss Tabitha Hunt, of Tennessee, was one of the eldest.
Richard Swanner and his wife moved from Tennessee to Kentucky about 1850,
and from the latter state to Southern Illinois about ten years later, making
the last journey in wagons drawn by oxen, in true pioneer style. They
settled near Eldorado, Saline county, renting a farm there for two years,
after which they purchased eighty acres of wild land from the Illinois
Central Railroad Company, near Carbondale, upon which they built a rude log
cabin in the woods, where they resided for three years. When they first came
to Illinois they had eight children, five of whom were sons, and one
daughter was born to them after they settled in this state, making a family
of nine children. In 1867 they sold their farm near Carbondale and returned
to Eldorado, and there purchased a tract of two hundred acres, which was
sold in 1872. At this time they moved to a farm in Saline county, near
Stonefort, but in 1875 disposed of this land and moved to Johnson county,
one and, one-half miles from Parker City, where they purchased one hundred
and sixty acres, and lived here during the remainder of their lives, the
father passing away in 1886 and the mother in 1890.
Francis A. Swanner had but few advantages in the educational line in his
youth, but during later years much study and close observation has made him
a well-informed man. He remained at home until twenty-four years of age,
marrying Miss Malinda Choat on September 26, 1878, she being the daughter of
Silas and Emily (Vaughn) Choat, of Tunnel Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Swanner
followed farming in Johnson county until 1890, at which time they moved to
Parker City, and here Mr. Swanner has since carried on a successful general
merchandise business, and associated himself with various movements of
public interest. In 1892 he was appointed postmaster, and served in that
office for ten years, displaying great executive ability. He is a great
friend to education, and although he has no children of his own has been
prominent in movements that have tended to advance the development of the
school 'system in his community. He is the owner of an excellent farm of one
hundred and fifty-six acres in New Burnside, which he keeps well stocked,
and it is supposed that the mineral on this land contains coal and a quartz
that is thought to contain gold. In addition to this he has a farm of eighty
acres in Tunnel Hill, which is in grass, Parker, situated between the
Illinois Central and New York Central Railroads, being an excellent shipping
point. Mr. Swanner has also interested himself somewhat in selling railroad
ties, and all large ventures of a legitimate nature have received his
consideration.
As a citizen and public official Mr. Swanner has discharged his duties in
the same faithful manner that he displays in his private business. His trade
is a large one, not only in Parker but in the surrounding territory for a
radius of some miles, and his store is also a market for the produce of the
farmers, who appreciate his liberal methods as to price and a "square deal."
Extracted from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, page 642.
