George W. Swink
Encyclopedia
George Washington Swink, or G.W. Swink, (1836–1910) was a landowner and politician in Colorado
and is said to have been the holder of the first timber claim certificate
in the United States, issued by President Grover Cleveland
on November 3, 1887.
, and moved with his parents to Schuyler County, Illinois, when he was four. When a young man, he worked in a sawmill
and then was a farmer and a "general merchandiser" in Bardolph, Illinois
.
He moved into Bent County, Colorado
, in 1871 and established a retail store and a cattle
business with Asahel Russell. in 1873 he
began the canal system in the area with the Rocky Ford Ditch, and he also helped develop the Catlin and Highlind canals. It was "the first community irrigation system in the valley, forever transforming Rocky Ford [Colorado] into a top crop-producing landscape."
Swink moved his stock of goods to Rocky Ford
in 1876, partnering with Isaiah Denness, and eventually he had a thousand acres of land, which he obtained by homestead
, pre-emption
and purchase. He developed the watermelon
and cantaloupe
industry in Rocky Ford, and In 1878 he introduced honey bees. In 1879 he grew his first crop of alfalfa
. Swink invented the cantaloupe crate, which replaced the barrels formerly used for shipping the fruit, and he began the Arkansas Valley Fair.
The entire town of Rocky Ford was moved from its prior location in 1884 when railroad tracks were laid through the townsite. Ford owned most of the new land where the new town was built. In 1899 he helped to found the American Crystal Sugar Factory, which remained in operation until 1979. In 1904 Swink set up and directed Colorado's agricultural and horticultural display at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri
. Swink, appointed postmaster of Rocky Ford in 1876, was the first mayor of the town after it was incorporated in 1887, and he was a state senator
for two terms. He was one of the original three county commissioners when Otero County
was formed.
In October 1855 he was married to Mary J. Cool, and they had eleven children — six boys and five girls. He died in 1910 at the age of seventy-four.
Swink began Watermelon Day in Rocky Ford: "The popularity of Watermelon Day started by Colorado Senator George Swink in 1878 gave rise to one of the longest-running festivals in Colorado."
The town of Swink, Colorado
, was named after him. According to the town's website:
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and is said to have been the holder of the first timber claim certificate
Timber Culture Act
The Timber Culture Act was a follow-up act to the Homestead Act. The Timber Culture Act was passed by Congress in 1873. The act allowed homesteaders to get another of land if they planted trees on one-fourth of the land, because the land was "almost one entire plain of grass, which is and ever...
in the United States, issued by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
on November 3, 1887.
Biography
George W. Swink was born June 30, 1836, in Breckinridge County, KentuckyBreckinridge County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,648 people, 7,324 households, and 5,309 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,890 housing units at an average density of...
, and moved with his parents to Schuyler County, Illinois, when he was four. When a young man, he worked in a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
and then was a farmer and a "general merchandiser" in Bardolph, Illinois
Bardolph, Illinois
Bardolph is a village in McDonough County, Illinois, United States. The population was 253 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bardolph is located at ....
.
He moved into Bent County, Colorado
Bent County, Colorado
Bent County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of frontier trader William Bent. The county population was 5,998 at U.S. Census 2000...
, in 1871 and established a retail store and a cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
business with Asahel Russell. in 1873 he
began the canal system in the area with the Rocky Ford Ditch, and he also helped develop the Catlin and Highlind canals. It was "the first community irrigation system in the valley, forever transforming Rocky Ford [Colorado] into a top crop-producing landscape."
Swink moved his stock of goods to Rocky Ford
Rocky Ford, Colorado
The City of Rocky Ford is a Statutory City located in Otero County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,286 at the United States Census 2000.-Geography:Rocky Ford is located at ....
in 1876, partnering with Isaiah Denness, and eventually he had a thousand acres of land, which he obtained by homestead
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
, pre-emption
Preemption Act of 1841
The Preemption Act of 1841, also known as the Distributive Preemption Act , was a federal law approved on September 4, 1841. It was designed to "appropriate the proceeds of the sales of public lands.....
and purchase. He developed the watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
and cantaloupe
Cantaloupe
"Rockmelon" redirects here, for the band see Rockmelons. See also Cantaloupe .Cantaloupe refers to a variety of Cucumis melo, a species in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes nearly all melons and squashes. Cantaloupes range in size from...
industry in Rocky Ford, and In 1878 he introduced honey bees. In 1879 he grew his first crop of alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
. Swink invented the cantaloupe crate, which replaced the barrels formerly used for shipping the fruit, and he began the Arkansas Valley Fair.
The entire town of Rocky Ford was moved from its prior location in 1884 when railroad tracks were laid through the townsite. Ford owned most of the new land where the new town was built. In 1899 he helped to found the American Crystal Sugar Factory, which remained in operation until 1979. In 1904 Swink set up and directed Colorado's agricultural and horticultural display at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
. Swink, appointed postmaster of Rocky Ford in 1876, was the first mayor of the town after it was incorporated in 1887, and he was a state senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
for two terms. He was one of the original three county commissioners when Otero County
Otero County, Colorado
Otero County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, one of the founders of the town of La Junta and a member of a prominent Hispanic family. The county population was 20,311 at U.S. Census 2000...
was formed.
In October 1855 he was married to Mary J. Cool, and they had eleven children — six boys and five girls. He died in 1910 at the age of seventy-four.
Legacy
A state historical marker in Rocky Ford says this about the early town:Its main asset, though, was Swink himself. He developed Rocky Ford’s two main cash crops, melons and sugar beets; courted the town’s largest corporation, the American Beet Sugar Company; and helped build the Rocky Ford Ditch, the spine of an extensive irrigation network. Swink’s formula—land, transportation, industry, and water—represented prairie town-building at its best. He died in 1910, but his many gifts to this town still live on.
Swink began Watermelon Day in Rocky Ford: "The popularity of Watermelon Day started by Colorado Senator George Swink in 1878 gave rise to one of the longest-running festivals in Colorado."
The town of Swink, Colorado
Swink, Colorado
Swink is a Statutory Town in Otero County, Colorado, United States. The population was 696 at the 2000 census. It was named after George W. Swink.-Demographics:...
, was named after him. According to the town's website:
The people called a meeting to decide a new name for their town. George Swink was late in arriving, and as he entered the room the idea of Swink for the name of their settlement swept the audience. The name was approved [by postal authorities,] . . . and thus George W. Swink was honored as the leading benefactor of the town.