John Charles Swelnis was born on 19 November 1882 in Lithuania to George Swelnis and Antonia (Iapeto) Swelnis. He apprenticed as a blacksmith at the age of sixteen. Leaving Lithuania, he worked in Germany and Scotland, and then emigrated to the U.S. through the port of Philadelphia in 1908, aged 25. He found work in the Pennsylvania coal mines shoeing the mules that were used to pull coal carts. In 1909 in Pennsylvania, he met and married a recent Lithuanian immigrant, Paulina Naczewic (sometimes spelled as Notsovaze or Naceorica). He was 26 at the time of his marriage. Their son, John Gedmin Swelnis, was born on 1 January 1913 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Uncomfortable with the danger of cave-ins and accidents in the coal mines, John saved his money and purchased 24 acres of farmland in Fountain, Mason County, Michigan and moved his family there in 1914. He opened his blacksmith shop in 1920 and was the Fountain village blacksmith until he retired in the mid-1950s. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen when the 1930 census was taken.
A second son, George Joseph Swelnis, was born to he and Aldona Kedmin on 4 October 1921 in Fountain.
His first wife, Paulina Swelnis (born 1886 in Lithuania), died in 1942. His second wife, Anna Zukas (born 1889 in Lithuania), died in 1951. In 1951 he married his third wife, Della (Draugelis) Romanosky (born 1889 in Lithuania).
John Swelnis died at Paulina Stearns Hospital in Ludington, Mason County, Michigan on 17 August 1957 after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 at the time of his death.
He is buried next to his first wife, Paulina.
Note: The original Lithuanian spelling of Swelnis is Švelnys .
Uncomfortable with the danger of cave-ins and accidents in the coal mines, John saved his money and purchased 24 acres of farmland in Fountain, Mason County, Michigan and moved his family there in 1914. He opened his blacksmith shop in 1920 and was the Fountain village blacksmith until he retired in the mid-1950s. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen when the 1930 census was taken.
A second son, George Joseph Swelnis, was born to he and Aldona Kedmin on 4 October 1921 in Fountain.
His first wife, Paulina Swelnis (born 1886 in Lithuania), died in 1942. His second wife, Anna Zukas (born 1889 in Lithuania), died in 1951. In 1951 he married his third wife, Della (Draugelis) Romanosky (born 1889 in Lithuania).
John Swelnis died at Paulina Stearns Hospital in Ludington, Mason County, Michigan on 17 August 1957 after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 at the time of his death.
He is buried next to his first wife, Paulina.
Note: The original Lithuanian spelling of Swelnis is Švelnys .
John Charles Swelnis was born on 19 November 1882 in Lithuania to George Swelnis and Antonia (Iapeto) Swelnis. He apprenticed as a blacksmith at the age of sixteen. Leaving Lithuania, he worked in Germany and Scotland, and then emigrated to the U.S. through the port of Philadelphia in 1908, aged 25. He found work in the Pennsylvania coal mines shoeing the mules that were used to pull coal carts. In 1909 in Pennsylvania, he met and married a recent Lithuanian immigrant, Paulina Naczewic (sometimes spelled as Notsovaze or Naceorica). He was 26 at the time of his marriage. Their son, John Gedmin Swelnis, was born on 1 January 1913 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Uncomfortable with the danger of cave-ins and accidents in the coal mines, John saved his money and purchased 24 acres of farmland in Fountain, Mason County, Michigan and moved his family there in 1914. He opened his blacksmith shop in 1920 and was the Fountain village blacksmith until he retired in the mid-1950s. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen when the 1930 census was taken.
A second son, George Joseph Swelnis, was born to he and Aldona Kedmin on 4 October 1921 in Fountain.
His first wife, Paulina Swelnis (born 1886 in Lithuania), died in 1942. His second wife, Anna Zukas (born 1889 in Lithuania), died in 1951. In 1951 he married his third wife, Della (Draugelis) Romanosky (born 1889 in Lithuania).
John Swelnis died at Paulina Stearns Hospital in Ludington, Mason County, Michigan on 17 August 1957 after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 at the time of his death.
He is buried next to his first wife, Paulina.
Note: The original Lithuanian spelling of Swelnis is Švelnys .
Uncomfortable with the danger of cave-ins and accidents in the coal mines, John saved his money and purchased 24 acres of farmland in Fountain, Mason County, Michigan and moved his family there in 1914. He opened his blacksmith shop in 1920 and was the Fountain village blacksmith until he retired in the mid-1950s. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen when the 1930 census was taken.
A second son, George Joseph Swelnis, was born to he and Aldona Kedmin on 4 October 1921 in Fountain.
His first wife, Paulina Swelnis (born 1886 in Lithuania), died in 1942. His second wife, Anna Zukas (born 1889 in Lithuania), died in 1951. In 1951 he married his third wife, Della (Draugelis) Romanosky (born 1889 in Lithuania).
John Swelnis died at Paulina Stearns Hospital in Ludington, Mason County, Michigan on 17 August 1957 after suffering a heart attack. He was 74 at the time of his death.
He is buried next to his first wife, Paulina.
Note: The original Lithuanian spelling of Swelnis is Švelnys .
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