John P. Swisher

JOHN P. SWISHER.

John P. Swisher, long prominent in agricultural circles of Union township, Licking county, is now living in retirement after a long life devoted to farming. He was born October 14, 1837, in Lima township, a son of Joseph and Dorothy (Houser) Swisher, his father having been a native of Virginia, while his mother was a native of Ohio. In their family were seven children, namely: Sarah, who became the wife of Osear F. Wilson, of Columbus, Ohio; O. Rhoda, who was united in marriage to Ebenezer Graham, and lives in Madison, Indiana; John P., our subject; Nancy, the wife of George Whitehead; Mary, a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Jacob Sennett, who lives in Colorado; and Stephen, who makes his home in Omaha.

On his father’s farm in Lima township John P. Swisher spent his boyhood days, acquiring his preliminary education in the neighboring schools and subsequently taking a three years’ course in the Columbus high school. After completing his studies he remained on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age, and then taught school for while, later serving as a clerk for about eight years, at the expiration of which time he commenced farming in Licking township. He began his agricultural life on a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres which he had obtained from his father-in-law, and to which from time to time he added until he owned a magnificent place consisting of something over six hundred acres. He has since given his son and his son-in-law each a farm of one hundred acres, and sold to them the reservoir farm, and has retired from active life and removed to Hebron locating in an elegant new residence on Basin street, in which he still resides.

On March 4, 1861, Mr. Swisher wedded Miss Sarah Green, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Green, born in 1839. They were the parents of two children, namely: Karey A., who resides in Millersport, Ohio, engaged with a Mr. Pence in the hay and grain business. He married Florence Stoolfire, a daughter of Charles Stoolfire, and they have one daughter, Louise; and Mary, who became the wife of George Stinson, of Utica, Ohio, and has had five children, two of whom survive, namely, Carl and Thelma. Mr. Swisher does not ally himself with any particular political party, as it has always been his opinion that one should vote for the candidate, after having duly considered his qualifications, rather than for party principles. Consequently he reserves the right to examine the ballots of the several political cuts and mark his ticket independently. For forty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is an active worker and of which he has served as steward for some time. Being a man possessed of those qualities of character which add dignity to his person and command respect, he has been very influential in his community, endeavoring to live in obedience to the teachings of Christ, in whom he anchors his hope for a higher and better life. His industry and enterprise have not only been a benefit to him and his family, but also to the entire county, in the financial circles of which he figures prominently, being a stockholder in the Hebron Bank, the Park National Bank of Newark, and the Millersport Bank. He is favorably known throughout that entire region and enjoys both the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

As printed in Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, vol. II: Biographies (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.