^r, \' '"•^ "^?ol 



fARS.B.B,SV/\lZ£R. 



B. B.SWITZER. 



BATTICE BRANSON SWITZER. 



Battice Branson Switzer was born in Bradford, Steuben Co., 

 N. Y., Oct. 20, 1817. He was the son of John and Sarah 

 Switzer, and grandson of Henry Switzer, of German extraction. 

 Henry Switzer came from New Jersey with his family, and 

 settled in Steuben County about the year 1800. He was two 

 days in coming from Savona to what is now known as Bradford, 

 then known as Jersey. Henry Switzer reared a family of 

 twelve children, of whom John, the father of the subject of 

 this sketch, was the eighth. John Switzer, the father of Bat- 

 tice Branson, shared the early struggles and hardships of the 

 pioneers of Steuben County. He was a soldier in the war of 

 1812, being then twenty-six years of age. He died in 1860. 

 With such an ancestry, and among such scenes as were known 

 in the early history, was the subject of this sketch born and 

 reared. He was the first son of John Switzer, and one of a 

 family of six children, of whom the following were the mem- 

 bers, viz. : Lawrence, Julia Ann, Battice Branson, Richard 

 Hall, Jacob Nefi*, and Andrew Jackson. Battice Branson 

 Switzer was married to Eliza Littell, Jan. 5, 1842. After his 

 marriage, and during the same year, upon the farm of one 

 hundred acres given him by his father, and upon which his son 

 John now resides, he commenced farming. During his whole 

 life he has followed the occupation of a farmer, and in his early 

 life chopped and cleared land to a considerable extent. He was 

 always regarded as one of the representative farmers of Bradford. 

 His early advantages for education were limited, but he was re- 

 garded by his fellow-citizens as a successful business man of more 

 than ordinary ability. Was simple in his habits, energetic in his 

 business, and exact in his slightest promises. His determination 

 to succeed, combined with his integrity and industry, were 



prominent characteristics. In politics, Battice B. Switzer was 

 a Democrat of the old school. He never neglected his business 

 to gain political notoriety, but was held in high esteem by his 

 townsmen, and held the offices of assessor, town clerk, and 

 supervisor. To Mr. and Mrs. Battice B. Switzer were bom 

 eight children, of whom all are now living, viz. : Eleanor, who 

 married Franklin Morris, and lives in Bradford ; John C, who 

 married Sarah Keeper, and is a farmer of Bradford ; Sarah S., 

 who manied Henry S. Bronson, and lives in Horseheads; Cassie 

 C., who married Carver Longwell, and lives in Bradford; Bat- 

 tice B., who married Ada Lory, and is a farmer of Wayne j 

 Frank W., who married Jennie Minter, and is a farmer of 

 Bradford ; Lavina M., who married Miller S. Aber, and lives 

 in Schuyler County; and Edwin Curtis Switzer, who is a lad 

 of twelve, and lives at home. Such a family did Mr. and Mrs. 

 B. B. Switzer rear, teaching them lessons of industry and 

 economy, so that now they are useful and active members of 

 the communities in which they live. Mr. Switzer made several 

 large purchases of land during his life, and at his death, -which 

 occurred upon the 18th of July, 1871, he left as a result of his 

 labors and successes to his family three hundred and fifty-five 

 acres of land in Bradford, N. Y. His widow, Eliza, still lives 

 upon the old Switzer homestead at Bradford, which has been in 

 the possession of the Switzer family since 1810. Mrs. Eliza 

 Switzer shared in all the joys and successes of her husband 

 during his life, and has never failed to perform her duties as a 

 wife and mother. She has now the gratification of seeing her 

 children well started in the world. The Switzer family stands 

 prominently identified with the best interests of the towns in 

 which they live. 



