Swormstedt & Poe, Cincinnati

This firm acted was a Cincinnati agent for the Western Book Concern (Methodist Episcopal Church). It was active between 1852-1860. It succeeded Swormstedt & Power and was succeeded by Poe & Hitchcock.

Leroy Swormstedt (1798-1863) was an ordained deacon. He was named as an assistant book agent of the Western Book Concern and beginning in 1836 had been associated with John F. Wright (Wright & Swormstedt). Other firms he was part of included Swormstedt & Mitchell (John T. Mitchell) (1844-1848) and Swormstedt & Power (John H. Power) (1848-1852 )

In 1852 he was named a senior agent with Adam Poe as the junior agent. Swormstedt retired because of poor health in 1860.

Adam Poe (1801-1868) became a preacher in 1825 and later was ordained a deacon (1828) and a bishop(1830). He was instrumental in obtaining a charter from the Ohio Legislature for Ohio Wesleyan University. After acting as a junior agent with Swormstedt, he was a senior agent between 1860-1868 as Poe & Hitchcock.

The firm of Swormstedt & Poe published one series for juveniles:

Fireside Reading by D. W. Clark

This series was first published by Swormstedt & Poe in 1856. Poe & Hitchcock reprinted the set in 1861/1864/1866/1868. Walden & Stowe also issued this set.
Later publications by Nelson & Phillips, Phillips & Hunt, Hunt & Eaton and Eaton & Mains (Methodist Book Concern.)

Swormstedt & Poe Format
Cloth. Various colors. Blindstamped. Embossed cover pattern. Gilt spine lettering and design.