Benjamin was born, April 7, 1838, on the family farm at "Swartz's Dam," below Dry Run. He obtained a fair education in the district schools, and with the death of his father he began clerking in a store at Hokendauqua at the age of sixteen. A year later he was thus employed for six months at Bloomsburg and at the expiration of that time he came to Catasauqua and took charge of William Miller's store for a period of six months. He then entered the Wyoming Seminary, where he carried on his studies during the winter of 1856-1857, after which he went to Allentown. During the fall of 1858 he went to Ohio, where for two and one-half years he clerked in a store in Wyandot County. He then established his own firm in partnership with a Mr. Peck. He carried on this business at Carey, Ohio, until the fall of 1865, when he disposed of his interest and formed a partnership with his brother, Christian Swartz. The firm then traded as B. F. & C. Swartz, and they engaged in the dry-goods business. B. F. Swartz left Ohio, coming to Catasauqua in 1869, and there he was engaged by McKee, Fuller and Company as their traveling salesman. During 1883 he was taken into the company as a stockholder and he remained connected with this firm until January 1, 1909, when he retired from active business.

During the Civil War, Benjamin Franklin Swartz showed his devotion to his country by volunteering in the 144th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he was promoted to sergeant major of that regiment. B. F. Swartz was a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua, and in politics he was an ardent Republican. He also served as a director of the Lehigh National Bank of Catasauqua. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz resided on Third Street, at the Chestnut Street intersection, southeast corner.