Isaac (Richard/Dick) Swartz
Born: 1854 (Russia)
Died: Unknown
Married to: Hannah Goldsmith
In Leadville: 1892
Hannah (Anna) Swartz (née Goldsmith) [1]
Born: 1858
Died: 1932
Married to: Isaac Swartz
In Leadville: 1892
Nathan Swartz
Born: October 1876
Died: Unknown
Married to: Unknown
In Leadville: 1892, 1896?
Jennie Swartz [2]
Born: 1879
Died: 1962
Married to: Morris Harry Levy
In Leadville: 1892
Mabel Swartz [3]
Born: 1884
Died: 1966
Married to: Charles O’Neil
In Leadville: 1892
Isaac “Dick” Swartz Family
The family of Isaac “Dick” Swartz appear in Leadville’s city directory during a single year; 1892. In addition, Nathan and his parents appeared in several Leadville newspapers during that year, one of which links them to the larger Leadville Jewish community. Isaac’s wife Hannah was born in Kentucky and her father, Michael Goldsmith is buried in a Jewish cemetery in that state. [4] Her father was an immigrant from Saxony, while her mother originated in Bavaria. Given their age and origin, they were probably forced from the German states in the face of anti-Jewish laws which gained more and more traction in the middle 19th century. [5] The origin of her parents, the timing of their immigration, as well as the location of the family burial plot suggest that Hannah was brought up in an American Reform German-Jewish community. While Hannah was an American from German parents, Isaac was interchangeably listed a Polish or Russian immigrant in census documents.
Due to the commonness of the Swartz name and to incomplete records, Isaac and his family are difficult to trace before and after their time in Leadville.
The 1885 Colorado state census listed the Isaacs as residents of Arapahoe county in 1885 which lends evidence to the probable makeup of the family during their time in Leadville 7 years later. [6]
In 1892, “Dick” was listed in Leadville’s city directory as a produce salesman with a residence and business at 118 East 3rd Street. [7] The building at 118 East 3rd in which they were listed as residents was a two story wood frame structure (left and above) with a storefront on the street level for the produce market and residential space on the second floor for the family. In June of 1892, both “Mr. and Mrs. D. Swartz” were listed as attendees of the annual Hebrew Ladies Society Strawberry Ice Cream Festival. [8] One month later, 16 year old son Nathan was involved in a fight with a 15 year-old messenger named Hollingshead in the alley behind the Western Union Telegraph office, close to the Swartz household. During the melee, Hollingshead drew a pocket-knife and cut Nathan’s arm from his shoulder to his bicep, inflicting a “ghastly wound”. Dr. Heimberger was called to stich the wound, and no further mention of the incident was reported. According to the reporter, the assailant disappeared as press time. [9] While the attack on Nathan was not reported upon again, further evidence revealed that Hollingshead became a notorious “tough”. Several years later in 1894, Hollingshead drunkenly attacked a city alderman in his shed and was sent to jail. [10]
Looking east up East 3rd Street, the Swartz’s produce market was the fourth building up from the large brick structure, with the elaborate rounded cornicing. This photo was captured in late 1879 or early 1880.
Courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection.
Cropped detail of same photo with building circled.
Courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection.
Location of Swartz’s store, circled.
1895 Sanborn fire map
Advertisement for Swartz, the fruit man.
“Big War”. Herald Democrat. August 11, 1892. Page 2.
In August, Dick published an eye-catching advertisement in the Herald Democrat which touted his exclusive “carload” of fruit and vegetables from California under the sensational headline, “BIG WAR”. [11] Leadville’s city directory from 1893 is not extant, and Dick did not appear in the 1894 Leadville city directory.
One article curiously revealed Nathan’s presence in Leadville outside of 1892. In late May of 1896, a short notice in the City Council columns of the Herald Democrat announced that Nathan Swartz requested from jail that his fruit peddling fee could be waived, as he was incarcerated. It was reported that this request was rejected. While it is difficult to determine if this is the same Nathan Swartz of this study without an address or further documentation, the profession and name make the connection very likely. The report stated that Nathan was arrested for theft. Further details of the situation were not uncovered and neither Nathan nor Dick appeared in the 1895 or 1897 Leadville city directories; the 1896 directory does not exist.
However, it can be proven with certainty that Nathan was out of jail by 1900 and that the family relocated to Cripple Creek to continue in the produce business. Jenny was not listed in the household because she married Harry Levy and was a resident of Omaha, Nebraska. [12] The 1900 census was enumerated with several family members short from the list enumerated by the often inaccurate 1885 Colorado State census. [13] Following the census of 1900, the family dispersed across the nation. Nathan was not traceable in records by this author. Jennie was laid to rest in a non-denominational cemetery outside of Spokane, Washington while youngest daughter Mabel is buried with her Christian husband in California.
1 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Anna H Swartz (1858–1932), Find A Grave Memorial no. 144857848, citing Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by ReconnectNow (contributor 47291893) .
2 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Jennie Swartz Levy (1879–1962), Find A Grave Memorial no. 144857831, citing Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by ReconnectNow (contributor 47291893) .
3 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Mabel O'Neill (19 Apr 1884–21 Jul 1966), Find A Grave Memorial no. 85480110, citing Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave (contributor 8) .
4 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Michael Goldsmith (1816–20 Mar 1890), Find A Grave Memorial no. 66254363, citing The Temple Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Michael Harrington (contributor 46760007) .
5 Year: 1860; Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 7, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: M653_972; Page: 186; Family History Library Film: 803972 Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
6 The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M158; NARA Roll Number: 1 Ancestry.com. Colorado State Census, 1885 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006.
Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. Schedules of the Colorado State Census, 1885. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M158, 8 rolls.
7 1892 Leadville City Directory p. 248
8 “Very Pleasant Soiree” Leadville Daily/Evening Chronicle, June 9, 1892 p. 2
9 “A Youthful Assailant” Herald Democrat, July 16, 1892 p. 6
10 “A Gang of Toughs” Leadville Daily/Evening Chronicle, October 15, 1894 p. 1
11 “Big War” Herald Democrat, August 11, 1892 p. 2
12 Year: 1900; Census Place: Omaha Ward 8, Douglas, Nebraska; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1240925. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
13 Year: 1900; Census Place: Cripple Creek, Teller, Colorado; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0127; FHL microfilm: 1240130. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
Bibliography
Ballenger, JH and Richards. “Ballenger & Richard’s Thirteenth-Eighteenth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City of Leadville for 1892-1895”. Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers. Leadville, CO; USA. 1892-1895.
Photos/Maps:
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Leadville, Lake County, Colorado. Sanborn Map Company, 1895. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn01031_001/
Wakely, George D. Telephone building looking up main st. Western History Collection, Denver Public Library, Denver, Colorado http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/843/rec/2
Census Records:
Year: 1900; Census Place: Omaha Ward 8, Douglas, Nebraska; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1240925. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
Year: 1860; Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 7, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: M653_972; Page: 186; Family History Library Film: 803972 Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M158; NARA Roll Number: 1 Ancestry.com. Colorado State Census, 1885 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006. Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. Schedules of the Colorado State Census, 1885. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M158, 8 rolls.
Cemetery Records:
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Anna H Swartz (1858–1932), Find A Grave Memorial no. 144857848, citing Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by ReconnectNow (contributor 47291893) .
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Jennie Swartz Levy (1879–1962), Find A Grave Memorial no. 144857831, citing Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by ReconnectNow (contributor 47291893) .
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Mabel O'Neill (19 Apr 1884–21 Jul 1966), Find A Grave Memorial no. 85480110, citing Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave (contributor 8) .
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2019), memorial page for Michael Goldsmith (1816–20 Mar 1890), Find A Grave Memorial no. 66254363, citing The Temple Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Michael Harrington (contributor 46760007) .
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Trevor Mark
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Swartz
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville CO; USA. 2019
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishleadville.org/swartz.html
