BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 545-546.

 
DANIEL Z. McSWORDS, of Martin's Ferry, a well-known retired druggist,
is a representative of one of the early families of this region. He
is the grandson of Archibald McSwords, a native of north Ireland,
who came to America during the Revolutionary war, with British
troops, but as soon as possible, after landing, joined the con-
tinental army, and served in its ranks until independence was
secured. Then coming west, he settled in VirgLnia and was engaged
for several years in the manufacture of Iron at Mooresfield. Sub-
sequently he came to Brooke county, W. Va., and engaged in farming
and stock-raising until his latter years, which were spent with his
son at Martin's Ferry. He died in 1855. While at Mooresfield, he was
married to a Miss Moore, who died in 1815, the same year of the
birth of their only son, Amon, the father of the subject of this
sketch. Amon McSwords became in youth, a clerk in a dry goods store,
at Wheeling, and several years later, went to Wellsburg, where he
conducted a general store and acquired an interest in the glass
works there. About 1850, he removed to Bridgeport and engaged in
merchandise there, and on Wheeling Island, and several years
later, he embarked in the same business at Martin's Ferry, in
company with Mr. Cable, in partnership with whom he also conducted
a meat market and a slaughterhouse. Before settling at Bridgeport
he had also been engaged in trading on the river, between Wheeling
and New Orleans. Being greatly interested in the culture of small
fruits, he spent his declining years upon a farm near the Ferry,
and was not engaged in business for some fifteen years, before
his death, April 16, 1874. He was married in 1837, to Indiana,
daughter of Daniel Zane, a relative of the celebrated Elizabeth
Zane, and three children were born to them: Orville C., Alexis A.
and Daniel Z. The subject of this sketch was born September 3, 1840.
He was educated at Martin's Ferry, and at the West Liberty academy,
and then, in 1847, engaged in the drug trade at Wheeling. Sub-
sequently he removed to Martin's Ferry and conducted the same
business here until February, 1888, since when he has been retired.
His was one of the leading drug establishments of the place, and
Mr. McSwords was decidedly successful in business. He is regarded 
is one of the leading influential men of the town, and is socially
popular. He and wife are members of the Episcopal church, and he is
a member of the Senior Order of American Mechanics, the Maccabees
and Foresters. Mr. McSwords was married in 1883, to Laura Barnhill,
of Bellaire.