Peter J. Swanson Genealogy
Thanks to Vicki Michel

PETER J.² SWANSON (Col. Edward¹) was born in Davidson Co, Tenn. Sept 24 1789.  Peter died Dec 14, 1849 in Harrison County, Texas, at 60 years of age.  His body was interred Dec 14, 1849 in Swanson Cemetery - a private cemetery located on FM l999 one mile east of intersection of FM l999 and FM 9 at Leigh, Texas.  The cemetery is surrounded by wrought iron fence which was brought up from New Orleans, La. by his son. James M. Swanson.   He is buried with his wife, Amelia, and outside of the cemetery fence his slaves are buried.

       A famous governor from Alabama was also buried there.  The governor had become ill while in Texas and died.  Peter Swanson buried him in the family cemetery and then wrote to his relatives in Alabama about the burial.  Years later the letter was discovered and the state of Alabama moved the governor's body back to the state of Alabama.

       He married AMELIA (ELIZABETH 'MILLY') TARKINGTON SWANSON in Williamson Co., Tennessee - esimated date 1809. Amelia was known as Elizabeth "Milly" Tarkington when she was growing up in Tennessee.   Amelia was born in Tyrell Co., Tennessee October 11, 1786.  Amelia died January 10, 1866 in Harrison Co., Texas, at 79 years of age.  Her body was interred January 10, 1866 in Swanson Cemetery where he husband Peter was buried.

        Swanson's Landing one of the most historic points on Big Lake (Caddo Lake) was named after Peter Swanson, slave owner who settled sometime in the early l830's.  He was a civil engineer and a surveyor.  Peter was one of the engineers who helped design the suspension bridge in Nashville, Tennessee before he moved to Texas.  The landing soon became one of the most used on the lake after being settled and opened by Swanson.  It was a port of entry for such far away inland Texas points as San Antonio. It is said that Henrietta Swanson, granddaughter of Peter Swanson, once boarded the river packet at Swanson's Landing and went all the say to St. Paul, Minnesota by boat without once having to travel by land. Swanson's Landing was the starting point for one of Texas'  first railroads.  It extended from the landing to Jonesville and later was built on to Marshall. Swanson's Landing has remained in the family since Peter Swanson settled the land in 1830's.  

       Peter J. SWANSON and Amelia Tarkington SWANSON had the following children:  

                i. JAMES M. ³ was born August 26, 1820.  James died November 30, 1857 in Harrison County, Texas.  James M. Swanson erected the black wrought iron fence around the Winston plot in the Concord Cemetery in Jonesville, Texas.  He also put up the black wrought iron fence around the Swanson cemetery (where Peter Swanson his father was buried) just off of FM 1998 a few miles east of Hwy 9, just east of Leigh, Texas.  It was said that the fence was shipped from New Orleans to East Texas by steamboat.

               His body was interred November 30, 1857 in Jonesville, Texas, Concord Cemetery.  James M. Swanson built the fence that is around the Concord Cemetery Winston plot.  The iron fence was supposed to have been brought up from New Orleans on a steamboat.

              ii. THOMAS F. date of birth unknown. Thomas died February 1861 in Harrison County, Texas.

                iii. OPHELIA P. date of birth unknown.  She married F. H. BLADES .

            3 iv. WILLIAM CARVER was born in Giles County, Tennessee Oct 23, 1810.

                v. EDWARD L. was born in Giles County, Tennessee January 18, 1818.  Edward died August 11, 1840 in Harrison County, Texas, at 22 years of age.  His body was interred August 11, 1840 in Swanson Cemetery located off Hwy 1998, 2 miles east of Hwy 9, just east of Leigh, Texas.