Early life

Ner Middleswarth was born on December 12, 1783 in New Jersey, of Dutch ancestry. His father was John Middleswarth, baptized 12 April 1745 in Somerset county, NJ. John Middleswarth served as a Quartermaster Sergeant for Colonel Sylvanus Seely's regiment in the New Jersey militia during the American Revolution. John Middleswarth was from the Van Middleswaert family, who came from the Netherlands to New Amsterdam to Flatbush, NY and then moved to Somerset NJ in 1690's. The Dutch used a Patronymic naming system and took the first name of the father, and made it the last name. Teunis Nyssen, the ancestor who came to America from Ultrecht, Binnick, Netherlands, used Nyssen or DeNys. His son Jan Teunis Nyssen baptized 1654 used a last name of Teunison and eventually the surname Van Middleswart.In 1792, Ner Middleswarth moved with his parents, John Middleswarth and Martha, to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Ner grew up on this farm with his brother Abraham, and his four sisters-Mary, Martha, Rachel and Rebecca. Indians would visit the spring near their home to cure their meat and game. Ner had only three months of formal schooling. He was self-taught in both the English and Pennsylvania German languages and spoke both fluently. He grew up to be a strong 200-pound man, filled with a strong sense of duty to his friends and neighbors. He married Christine Schwartzkop and raised a family of twelve children.

Public service

In 1812, Ner Middleswarth raised a company of Volunteers and entered the service as Captain, attached to the Pennsylvania Riflemen. Again in 1814, he raised another company which was attached to General Cadwalader's Division, commanded by Col. Uhl.

At the completion of his military service in 1815, Middleswarth was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was re-elected for thirteen terms during the period of 1815-1842 in the Legislature. During his congressional tenure, he was named as Speaker of the House in 1828 and 1836. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, for one term, and from 1853 to 1855 he was a member of Congress. He was a Whig, and later a
Republican.

In 1858, he served as an Associate Judge of the county. This was his final role as a public servant.

Final years

Ner was quite successful in business outside of government as well. He lost a great deal of his wealth, however, on a failed iron business called "Beaver Furnace" near Paxtonville, PA.

Ner Middleswarth died at the age of 81 years on June 2, 1865. He is buried with his wife
Christina Schwartzkop at Beavertown cemetery in Beavertown, Snyder county, Pa.

Sources

• The Political Graveyard