Elias was born in Durrus Parish, Cork County, Ireland and immigrated in 1837, settling in Rochester, NY. He and Ursula were married by Rev. G.S. Broadman at Bethel Presbyterian, now called Central Presbyterian, where Ursula attended church. Thereafter, they attended St. Luke's Episcopal in downtown Rochester.
They lived on Spring Street until the mid-1840's and then on Julia Street, which is now called Tilden Street. Elias purchased land from the government in Ashippun, WI in 1846, in Section 15 of that township, but fell from a hay wagon that same year and was crippled for the rest of his life. The land grant is dated 2 February 1848.
After Ursula died, Elias remarried on 17 August 1852 to a widow named Sarah Topham whose late husband John died on 27 March 1851. Elias moved to Wisconsin in 1859 with his children, although Sarah didn't come with him and his oldest son John soon returned to Rochester. He died in Ashippun, WI.
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Elias Swanton, Sr.
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