Texas Now Magazine Presenting the "Texas Coast Experience" | Page 15
Around 1877 Dave traveled to Colorado and struggled to develop a mining claim.
In order to continue mining he was forced to take additional jobs hauling freight,
serving as sheriff (he was elected in 1884 but had resigned by 1886-1887), and
working as a saloonkeeper. His wife, Laura, took in boarders and insisted that
Dave keep working the claim. When Laura won $5,000 in the Louisiana lottery,
this windfall was put into the mine. In 1886, the prize money was down to less
than $100 when a vein of almost pure silver was reached. Dave Swickheimer
had struck it rich and had become a millionaire. Shortly after, David and Laura
Swickheimer were divorced. Dave had a partner named George S. Barlow who
owned a one-half interest in the mine. Mr. Barlow sold his interest to Dave
in 1890, and only one year later, Dave Swickheimer sold
his silver mine for $1.25 million dollars.
Upon marrying his second wife, Annie Shear in 1896, Dave, Annie and her son,
Jimmy moved to Denver, Colorado. The “Father of Bay City”, David Swickheimer
would remain in Denver until his death on February 5, 1920.
Of all Dave Swickheimer’s many ventures and developments his most successful
venture of them all was the founding of Bay City in Matagorda County.
Today Bay City is flourishing and undergoing an
e c o n o m i c b o o m o f e p ic
proportions! ✯
D
NWOO
COTTO
H
IT
W
ES
ACHIN
RICE M
K
IC
M
OR
G MCC
SHOWIN
I
E
U
EN
6
OM AV
CA. 189
EST FR REGROUND
W
G
IN
LOOK
E IN FO
BRIDG
CREEK
After making his fortune
and fulfilling his promise
made to his parents of a
large house in the city,
Dave Swickheimer came
to Texas, where he invested
a large amount of his
money. In the early 1890s
h