Peter J. Swanson Genealogy
Thanks to Vicki Michel
PETER J.2
SWANSON
(Col. Edward1) was
born in Davidson Co, Tenn. Sept 24 1789. Peter
died Dec 14, 1849 in Harrison
County, Texas, at 60 years of age. His
body was interred Dec 14, 1849 in
Swanson Cemetery - a private cemetery located on FM l999 one mile east of
intersection of FM l999 and FM 9 at Leigh, Texas. The cemetery is surrounded by wrought iron fence which was
brought up from New Orleans, La. by his son. James M. Swanson.
He is buried with his wife, Amelia, and outside of the cemetery fence his
slaves are buried.
A famous governor from Alabama was also buried there.
The governor had become ill while in Texas and died.
Peter Swanson buried him in the family cemetery and then wrote to his
relatives in Alabama about the burial. Years
later the letter was discovered and the state of Alabama moved the governor's
body back to the state of Alabama.
He
married AMELIA (ELIZABETH 'MILLY')
TARKINGTON SWANSON
in Williamson Co., Tennessee -
esimated date 1809. Amelia was known as Elizabeth "Milly" Tarkington
when she was growing up in Tennessee.
Amelia
was born in Tyrell Co., Tennessee
October 11, 1786. Amelia
died January 10, 1866 in Harrison
Co., Texas, at 79 years of age. Her
body was interred January 10,
1866 in Swanson Cemetery where he husband Peter was buried.
Swanson's Landing one of the most historic points on Big Lake
(Caddo Lake) was named after Peter Swanson, slave owner who settled sometime in
the early l830's. He was a civil
engineer and a surveyor. Peter was
one of the engineers who helped design the suspension bridge in Nashville,
Tennessee before he moved to Texas. The
landing soon became one of the most used on the lake after being settled and
opened by Swanson. It was a port of
entry for such far away inland Texas points as San Antonio. It is said that
Henrietta Swanson, granddaughter of Peter Swanson, once boarded the river packet
at Swanson's Landing and went all the say to St. Paul, Minnesota by boat without
once having to travel by land. Swanson's Landing was the starting point for one
of Texas' first railroads.
It extended from the landing to Jonesville and later was built on to
Marshall. Swanson's Landing has remained in the family since Peter Swanson
settled the land in 1830's.
Peter J. SWANSON
and Amelia Tarkington SWANSON
had the following children:
i. JAMES M.
3 was born August 26,
1820. James
died November
30, 1857 in Harrison County, Texas. James
M. Swanson erected the black wrought iron fence around the Winston plot in the
Concord Cemetery in Jonesville, Texas. He also put up the black wrought iron fence around the
Swanson cemetery (where Peter Swanson his father was buried) just off of FM 1998
a few miles east of Hwy 9, just east of Leigh, Texas. It was said that the fence was shipped from New Orleans to
East Texas by steamboat.
His
body was
interred November 30, 1857 in Jonesville, Texas, Concord Cemetery.
James M. Swanson built the fence that is around the Concord Cemetery
Winston plot. The iron fence was
supposed to have been brought up from New Orleans on a steamboat.
ii. THOMAS F.
date of birth unknown. Thomas
died February
1861 in Harrison County, Texas.
iii. OPHELIA P.
date of birth unknown.
She
married F. H. BLADES
.
3
iv. WILLIAM CARVER
was born in Giles County,
Tennessee Oct 23, 1810.
v. EDWARD L.
was born in Giles County, Tennessee
January 18, 1818. Edward
died August 11, 1840 in Harrison
County, Texas, at 22 years of age. His
body was interred August 11, 1840
in Swanson Cemetery located off Hwy 1998, 2 miles east of Hwy 9, just east of
Leigh, Texas.