From: Chicago: its history and its builders, a century of marvelous growth, Volume 4
By Josiah Seymour Currey
The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1912
ROBERT M. SWEITZER.
In a great metropolitan center like Chicago there are acrimony, petty contention and backbiting as factors in politics and a continuous struggle on the part of some to get ahead and win from those whom they regard not merely as opponents, but as foes in their office hunting. In none of these things has Robert M. Sweitzer ever indulged and his policy of good cheer and good-fellowship, as well as his natural ability, have gained for him the success which has come to him in politics. Of the men who are to be found in the offices of the county building perhaps none is more popular than Robert M. Sweitzer, who in November, 1910, was elected to the office of county clerk. Throughout his life he has followed the pathway of cheer, with results that would seem to commend it to others.
His birth occurred in Chicago, May 10, 1868, his parents being Martin and Sarah (Lamping) Sweitzer, the former a native of Strassburg, Germany, and the latter of Joliet, Illinois. In 1849, or when only three years of age, the father was brought to Chicago by his parents. Here he was reared to manhood and throughout the intervening period of sixty-two years has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of the city. He is a self-made man in every sense of the term, for in early youth, of necessity, he made his start in the business world and from that time has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was connected with the theatrical business for a number of years, becoming stage manager for the old McVicker and other early theaters of the city. He was also a member of the first minstrel company that toured the country, known as the Arlington, Kemble and Cotton minstrels. His stage name was John Sweitzer Roach and he is still known by many old-timers as Johnny Roach. He is a great friend of all the old-time actors of today and usually makes it a point to visit or meet them when they come to Chicago. For a number of years he has been interested in the firm of Chapin & Gore and, although now well advanced in years, he is still hale and hearty, being wonderfully well preserved and looking much younger than he is.
His son Robert M. Sweitzer was educated in the public schools of Chicago, supplemented by business and commercial training in St. Patrick's Academy, from which he was graduated in 1884. He then engaged with the James H. Walker Company, wholesale dry-goods merchants, with whom he continued until the liquidation of the business in 1893. At that time he became connected with the John V. Farwell Company as territory manager, and remained with that house until his name was brought before the democratic nominating convention in July, 1910, during his absence on a business trip in the east. He was selected without solicitation or any knowledge on his own part and after his name was placed on the ticket for county clerk his friends and the party rallied to his support and he was elected by a plurality of twenty thousand, becoming the second democrat to occupy this office. It was because of his business ability and popularity that he was selected for the position, for aside from his connection with the house of John V. Farwell Company, he is a director of the Illinois Commercial Men's Association, an organization numbering ninety-two thousand commercial travelers as its members.
The county clerk's office is now the most important office of Cook county. It carries with it the office of comptroller of Cook county, clerk of the county court, clerk of the commissioners, and there are altogether about three hundred employes. Mr. Sweitzer has the full confidence of the voters of the county and his official career is demonstrating the soundness of their judgment in calling him to the posi- / tion. He is preeminently a business man and not a politician, and he is bringing to his work the same sterling, sturdy, stalwart business principles which have characterized him in the conduct of the important interests entrusted to his care by the John V. Farwell Company.
On the 3d of August, 1904, Mr. Sweitzer was married to Miss Alice Kevil, of Chicago, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Kevil, and they have two children, Robert M. and Alice Genevieve. Mr. Sweitzer belongs to Chicago Lodge, B. P. O. E., Garfield Park Lodge, L. O. O. M., the Royal League, of which he was formerly a member of the supreme council, and the Knights of Columbus, of which he is. a district deputy. He is also a member of the Iroquois Club. He is always genial and courteous, is never too busy to be cordial, nor too cordial to be busy. He has delivered public addresses on the joy of living and is himself a splendid exponent of that subject.
By Josiah Seymour Currey
The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1912
ROBERT M. SWEITZER.
In a great metropolitan center like Chicago there are acrimony, petty contention and backbiting as factors in politics and a continuous struggle on the part of some to get ahead and win from those whom they regard not merely as opponents, but as foes in their office hunting. In none of these things has Robert M. Sweitzer ever indulged and his policy of good cheer and good-fellowship, as well as his natural ability, have gained for him the success which has come to him in politics. Of the men who are to be found in the offices of the county building perhaps none is more popular than Robert M. Sweitzer, who in November, 1910, was elected to the office of county clerk. Throughout his life he has followed the pathway of cheer, with results that would seem to commend it to others.
His birth occurred in Chicago, May 10, 1868, his parents being Martin and Sarah (Lamping) Sweitzer, the former a native of Strassburg, Germany, and the latter of Joliet, Illinois. In 1849, or when only three years of age, the father was brought to Chicago by his parents. Here he was reared to manhood and throughout the intervening period of sixty-two years has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of the city. He is a self-made man in every sense of the term, for in early youth, of necessity, he made his start in the business world and from that time has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was connected with the theatrical business for a number of years, becoming stage manager for the old McVicker and other early theaters of the city. He was also a member of the first minstrel company that toured the country, known as the Arlington, Kemble and Cotton minstrels. His stage name was John Sweitzer Roach and he is still known by many old-timers as Johnny Roach. He is a great friend of all the old-time actors of today and usually makes it a point to visit or meet them when they come to Chicago. For a number of years he has been interested in the firm of Chapin & Gore and, although now well advanced in years, he is still hale and hearty, being wonderfully well preserved and looking much younger than he is.
His son Robert M. Sweitzer was educated in the public schools of Chicago, supplemented by business and commercial training in St. Patrick's Academy, from which he was graduated in 1884. He then engaged with the James H. Walker Company, wholesale dry-goods merchants, with whom he continued until the liquidation of the business in 1893. At that time he became connected with the John V. Farwell Company as territory manager, and remained with that house until his name was brought before the democratic nominating convention in July, 1910, during his absence on a business trip in the east. He was selected without solicitation or any knowledge on his own part and after his name was placed on the ticket for county clerk his friends and the party rallied to his support and he was elected by a plurality of twenty thousand, becoming the second democrat to occupy this office. It was because of his business ability and popularity that he was selected for the position, for aside from his connection with the house of John V. Farwell Company, he is a director of the Illinois Commercial Men's Association, an organization numbering ninety-two thousand commercial travelers as its members.
The county clerk's office is now the most important office of Cook county. It carries with it the office of comptroller of Cook county, clerk of the county court, clerk of the commissioners, and there are altogether about three hundred employes. Mr. Sweitzer has the full confidence of the voters of the county and his official career is demonstrating the soundness of their judgment in calling him to the posi- / tion. He is preeminently a business man and not a politician, and he is bringing to his work the same sterling, sturdy, stalwart business principles which have characterized him in the conduct of the important interests entrusted to his care by the John V. Farwell Company.
On the 3d of August, 1904, Mr. Sweitzer was married to Miss Alice Kevil, of Chicago, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Kevil, and they have two children, Robert M. and Alice Genevieve. Mr. Sweitzer belongs to Chicago Lodge, B. P. O. E., Garfield Park Lodge, L. O. O. M., the Royal League, of which he was formerly a member of the supreme council, and the Knights of Columbus, of which he is. a district deputy. He is also a member of the Iroquois Club. He is always genial and courteous, is never too busy to be cordial, nor too cordial to be busy. He has delivered public addresses on the joy of living and is himself a splendid exponent of that subject.
From: Chicago: its history and its builders, a century of marvelous growth, Volume 4
By Josiah Seymour Currey
The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1912
ROBERT M. SWEITZER.
In a great metropolitan center like Chicago there are acrimony, petty contention and backbiting as factors in politics and a continuous struggle on the part of some to get ahead and win from those whom they regard not merely as opponents, but as foes in their office hunting. In none of these things has Robert M. Sweitzer ever indulged and his policy of good cheer and good-fellowship, as well as his natural ability, have gained for him the success which has come to him in politics. Of the men who are to be found in the offices of the county building perhaps none is more popular than Robert M. Sweitzer, who in November, 1910, was elected to the office of county clerk. Throughout his life he has followed the pathway of cheer, with results that would seem to commend it to others.
His birth occurred in Chicago, May 10, 1868, his parents being Martin and Sarah (Lamping) Sweitzer, the former a native of Strassburg, Germany, and the latter of Joliet, Illinois. In 1849, or when only three years of age, the father was brought to Chicago by his parents. Here he was reared to manhood and throughout the intervening period of sixty-two years has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of the city. He is a self-made man in every sense of the term, for in early youth, of necessity, he made his start in the business world and from that time has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was connected with the theatrical business for a number of years, becoming stage manager for the old McVicker and other early theaters of the city. He was also a member of the first minstrel company that toured the country, known as the Arlington, Kemble and Cotton minstrels. His stage name was John Sweitzer Roach and he is still known by many old-timers as Johnny Roach. He is a great friend of all the old-time actors of today and usually makes it a point to visit or meet them when they come to Chicago. For a number of years he has been interested in the firm of Chapin & Gore and, although now well advanced in years, he is still hale and hearty, being wonderfully well preserved and looking much younger than he is.
His son Robert M. Sweitzer was educated in the public schools of Chicago, supplemented by business and commercial training in St. Patrick's Academy, from which he was graduated in 1884. He then engaged with the James H. Walker Company, wholesale dry-goods merchants, with whom he continued until the liquidation of the business in 1893. At that time he became connected with the John V. Farwell Company as territory manager, and remained with that house until his name was brought before the democratic nominating convention in July, 1910, during his absence on a business trip in the east. He was selected without solicitation or any knowledge on his own part and after his name was placed on the ticket for county clerk his friends and the party rallied to his support and he was elected by a plurality of twenty thousand, becoming the second democrat to occupy this office. It was because of his business ability and popularity that he was selected for the position, for aside from his connection with the house of John V. Farwell Company, he is a director of the Illinois Commercial Men's Association, an organization numbering ninety-two thousand commercial travelers as its members.
The county clerk's office is now the most important office of Cook county. It carries with it the office of comptroller of Cook county, clerk of the county court, clerk of the commissioners, and there are altogether about three hundred employes. Mr. Sweitzer has the full confidence of the voters of the county and his official career is demonstrating the soundness of their judgment in calling him to the posi- / tion. He is preeminently a business man and not a politician, and he is bringing to his work the same sterling, sturdy, stalwart business principles which have characterized him in the conduct of the important interests entrusted to his care by the John V. Farwell Company.
On the 3d of August, 1904, Mr. Sweitzer was married to Miss Alice Kevil, of Chicago, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Kevil, and they have two children, Robert M. and Alice Genevieve. Mr. Sweitzer belongs to Chicago Lodge, B. P. O. E., Garfield Park Lodge, L. O. O. M., the Royal League, of which he was formerly a member of the supreme council, and the Knights of Columbus, of which he is. a district deputy. He is also a member of the Iroquois Club. He is always genial and courteous, is never too busy to be cordial, nor too cordial to be busy. He has delivered public addresses on the joy of living and is himself a splendid exponent of that subject.
By Josiah Seymour Currey
The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1912
ROBERT M. SWEITZER.
In a great metropolitan center like Chicago there are acrimony, petty contention and backbiting as factors in politics and a continuous struggle on the part of some to get ahead and win from those whom they regard not merely as opponents, but as foes in their office hunting. In none of these things has Robert M. Sweitzer ever indulged and his policy of good cheer and good-fellowship, as well as his natural ability, have gained for him the success which has come to him in politics. Of the men who are to be found in the offices of the county building perhaps none is more popular than Robert M. Sweitzer, who in November, 1910, was elected to the office of county clerk. Throughout his life he has followed the pathway of cheer, with results that would seem to commend it to others.
His birth occurred in Chicago, May 10, 1868, his parents being Martin and Sarah (Lamping) Sweitzer, the former a native of Strassburg, Germany, and the latter of Joliet, Illinois. In 1849, or when only three years of age, the father was brought to Chicago by his parents. Here he was reared to manhood and throughout the intervening period of sixty-two years has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of the city. He is a self-made man in every sense of the term, for in early youth, of necessity, he made his start in the business world and from that time has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was connected with the theatrical business for a number of years, becoming stage manager for the old McVicker and other early theaters of the city. He was also a member of the first minstrel company that toured the country, known as the Arlington, Kemble and Cotton minstrels. His stage name was John Sweitzer Roach and he is still known by many old-timers as Johnny Roach. He is a great friend of all the old-time actors of today and usually makes it a point to visit or meet them when they come to Chicago. For a number of years he has been interested in the firm of Chapin & Gore and, although now well advanced in years, he is still hale and hearty, being wonderfully well preserved and looking much younger than he is.
His son Robert M. Sweitzer was educated in the public schools of Chicago, supplemented by business and commercial training in St. Patrick's Academy, from which he was graduated in 1884. He then engaged with the James H. Walker Company, wholesale dry-goods merchants, with whom he continued until the liquidation of the business in 1893. At that time he became connected with the John V. Farwell Company as territory manager, and remained with that house until his name was brought before the democratic nominating convention in July, 1910, during his absence on a business trip in the east. He was selected without solicitation or any knowledge on his own part and after his name was placed on the ticket for county clerk his friends and the party rallied to his support and he was elected by a plurality of twenty thousand, becoming the second democrat to occupy this office. It was because of his business ability and popularity that he was selected for the position, for aside from his connection with the house of John V. Farwell Company, he is a director of the Illinois Commercial Men's Association, an organization numbering ninety-two thousand commercial travelers as its members.
The county clerk's office is now the most important office of Cook county. It carries with it the office of comptroller of Cook county, clerk of the county court, clerk of the commissioners, and there are altogether about three hundred employes. Mr. Sweitzer has the full confidence of the voters of the county and his official career is demonstrating the soundness of their judgment in calling him to the posi- / tion. He is preeminently a business man and not a politician, and he is bringing to his work the same sterling, sturdy, stalwart business principles which have characterized him in the conduct of the important interests entrusted to his care by the John V. Farwell Company.
On the 3d of August, 1904, Mr. Sweitzer was married to Miss Alice Kevil, of Chicago, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Kevil, and they have two children, Robert M. and Alice Genevieve. Mr. Sweitzer belongs to Chicago Lodge, B. P. O. E., Garfield Park Lodge, L. O. O. M., the Royal League, of which he was formerly a member of the supreme council, and the Knights of Columbus, of which he is. a district deputy. He is also a member of the Iroquois Club. He is always genial and courteous, is never too busy to be cordial, nor too cordial to be busy. He has delivered public addresses on the joy of living and is himself a splendid exponent of that subject.
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