Many years ago, a fire destroyed Ner Middleswarth’s homestead and the official papers that marked his business and political career, apparently causing the loss of much information about his life. A direct descendant described the home as a twelve-room structure, with six inches of pine bark between the outer and inner walls, used by pioneers as a form of insulation.

Ner Middleswarth was born on December 12, 1783, in New Jersey, of Dutch ancestry, the son of John and Martha (Reed) Middleswarth. In 1792, Middleswarth moved with his parents to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He grew up on a farm with his brother Abraham and his four sisters Mary, Martha, Rachel and Rebecca. Indians would visit the spring near their home to cure their meat and game. Ner had only three months of formal schooling. He was self-taught in both English and Pennsylvania German and spoke both fluently. He married Christine Schwartzkop and raised a family of twelve children.

In 1812, Ner Middleswarth raised a company of volunteers and entered the War of 1812 as captain, attached to the Pennsylvania Riflemen. Again in 1814, he raised another company which was attached to General Thomas McCall Cadwalader's Division, during the Niagara campaign.

At the completion of his military service in 1815, Middleswarth was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was re-elected for thirteen terms during the period of 1815-1842 in the Legislature. During his tenure, he was elected Speaker of the House in 1828 and 1836. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, for one term, and from 1853 to 1855 he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. He was a Whig, and later a Republican. He served with noted Congressmen Henry Clay and Dsniel Webster.

Although he had little education, people considered him one of the great orators of his day, during the time when Clay, Calhoun, Jackson, and Webster spoke in the halls of Congress. Webster said of Middleswarth that he had the most powerful head he had ever seen.

During a historical society gathering in Snyder County years ago, one of the speakers shared the family story that in Ner Middleswarth's old age, they were holding a barn raising on one of his farms when a worker fell from the rafters and fractured his arm. Work stopped while everyone gathered around the injured workman. After a period of time, Middleswarth remarked in Pennsylvania Dutch, "Come on boys, don't look at one man." The gist of the comment being that it was time to get back to work.

 Middleswarth at one time was a man of considerable wealth, (he) acquired 17 farms and left one to each of his 12 children. He also owned and operated a grist mill, three mills, two distilleries, and was part owner of the Beavertown furnace. The operation was located near Beavertown and processed iron ore from Shade Mountain using local charcoal and limestone. It was a business venture in which Middleswarth lost a great deal of money, reportedly through the mismanagement of his partner. 

Folklorist and historian Henry W. Shoemaker said to listen to him was like sitting before a Pennsylvania edition of the Arabian Nights! “(Middleswarth) became the "Dutchest" of Pennsylvania Dutchmen, was very fond, in his later years, of recounting old stories which he heard when he first penetrated into the wild country tributary to the Juniata, storles of Indians, borderers, outlaws, and also quaint folklore and traditions. He often told his family had made notes of some of his more remarkable experiences; that when he had the time, he would write a book of reminiscences. But the chance never came; his busy life extended to the end, and when he passed away, his story went to the grave unrecorded.

New Middleswarth lived thru the administrations of 16 Presidents of the United States, from Washington to Lincoln. He died at his homestead, one mile east of Beavertown on Junne 02, 1865 at the age of 81. At his request, he was laid to rest next to his wife in the Beavertown Cemetery.