Johannas “Benardus” Henricus Zwart (born 1827 Weesperkarspel, Holland, died 1893 Ironton, Missouri)
He is Claude Sr’s grandfather and Steve Zwart’s great-great-grandfather.
A map of Weesperkarspel, Holland.
His autobiography (written at age 56) can be seen on page 5 of the Zwart family history.
In Holland he could ice skate 50 miles in 3 hours. He often skated 8 miles in 30 minutes.
He spoke Dutch, French, English, and German.
He sailed from Holland to New Orleans in 1848 at age 21 with the family on the ship Alhambra, a 77 day voyage.
The Alhambra had sails only (no steamships were in use for 5 more years). It was built in 1839 in Maine and displaced 694 tons. A year later, it sailed from New Orleans to San Francisco taking the southern route around Cape Horn (Chile). That voyage took 180 days! This is more than 50 years before the Panama Canal was built. It was broken up and used as a store ship after arriving in San Francisco.
He got a US patent for an improved version of a lime kiln in 1858. But the family lime business was impacted by the Civil War, and at age 36 he had to find new employment. He obtained a Captain’s Commission in the Union Army in 1862. Following is a clip from the Roster of Enrolled Missouri Militia from the Missouri Senate Journal of 1865:
He considered running for Congress and practiced as an attorney. He married Cornelia M J Henriet in Keokuk Iowa and they had 5 children.
He was appointed as a collector for the US Treasury Department, Office of Internal Revenue in 1867.
He went into business with his son 7 months before passing away. He was age 65 and the son age 22 –
Clip from 1893 Ironton:
“Notice of Copartnership. We have this day associated ourselves, under the firm name of B. Zwart & Son, to carry on a general collection, insurance and real estate agency, and offer our services as such to our friends and the public generally assuring them of promptness and fair dealing in all matters entrusted to our care. Law matters will be attended to by the Senior member, as heretofore.
Bernard Zwart, Joseph A. Zwart. Ironton, Mo., January 2d, 1893.”
Ironton is a small town 88 miles south of St. Louis in the Missouri Lead Belt. Its population in 1890 was 965.
A blog post on his son Joseph
Obituary: Another one of Southeast Missouri’s landmarks have passed away. Capt. Bernard Zwart in his 66th year fell asleep at his home in Ironton, on Monday, July 10th, 1893. The Capt. had many friends in this county who extend to the bereaved family their sympathy, in this deepest sorrow. Reynolds Outlook
