Aug. 10, 1894 Grand Rapids Kent County Michigan, USA
According to a daughter Helen Elizabeth's journal he came to America via sailboat to Brooklyn NY in 1849, having been born at Strassbourgh Germany. He is said to have had a younger sister who died of rheumatism at a young age and a brother William who also came to NY. There is mention of William Swank on the cover of Peter's will - it mentions that he died "5 weeks ago" and the will is dated an unknown date in 1894. Was a stone mason by trade, having met his wife through her father Johannes Siegler who worked with him. Granddaughter Patricia Schwenk recounted her father's story of him walking to work in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday to help build the buildings and returning Friday evening and putting his weekly pay (coins) on the table. This was mentioned several times in the diary of his daughter Helen.
Also father of: -(Tentative) William Swank who died at Brampton, Ontario Canada in early 1866 according to journal sister Helen. This has not been proven yet. -Elizabeth Schwenk (died in Grand Rapids MI in 1870)
