Hon. Joseph M. Swearingen and Sarah Wherry

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Husband Hon. Joseph M. Swearingen ¹

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           Born: 5 Sep 1854 - Hanover Twp, Beaver Co, PA 1
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         Father: William Van Swearingen (      -      ) 1
         Mother: Nancy I. Shannon (      -      ) 1

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Sarah Wherry ¹

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         Father: Archibald Wherry (      -      ) 1
         Mother: 

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Children

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1 M William Van Swearingen ¹

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2 F Nancy Isabel Swearingen ¹

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         Spouse: Dr. Walter F. Donaldson (      -      ) 1

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General Notes: Husband - Hon. Joseph M. Swearingen

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He was born on the homestead of his great-grandfather, Samuel Swearingen, in what is now Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He received his preparatory education in the local common schools and at Frankfort Springs Academy, and then entered Washington and Jefferson College, graduating with the class of 1879. He studied law with the Hon. Boyd Crumrine, at Washington, Pennsylvania, and there, on June 13, 1881, was admitted to the practice of his profession. He was admitted to the bar of Allegheny County on July 2, 1881.
The legal requirements of Mr. Swearingen, as he then was, and the reputation which he had made for himself in the conduct of many important cases, led to his elevation to the bench. The legal business of Allegheny County required another court, and in response to the demand, the Legislature created Common Pleas Court No. 4. On April 4, 1907, Governor Stuart appointed, as the president of that court and one of the three judges, Joseph M. Swearingen, of Pittsburgh. Mr. Swearingen was indorsed by the Allegheny County bar for the position. At the general election in November of the same year, Judge Swearingen was chosen to serve for a term of ten years. When the Duquesne University included the Law School, Judge Swearingen was appointed Dean of this school.
To the requirements of his high office, Judge Swearingen brought not only profound legal learning, great knowledge of men and an exceptionally judicial mind, but a broad and general culture and a deep human sympathy hardly less essential to the perfect fulfillment of his duties. Of all these attributes his countenance is expressive, as well as of the general nature and companionable disposition which drew around him a large circle of friends both within and without the pale of his profession. [PH, 8]

1 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (SW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 8.