John A. Swartz

JOHN A. SWARTZ, a substantial farmer, an honored citizen, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, descends from sterling Dutch stock, and was born January 24, 1842, in Falls township, Muskingum county, Ohio. He is a son of Asbury and Sarah (Elder) Swartz, who removed to Mercer county when he was between six and seven years old. Having received a limited education he was reared a farmer and was married February 11, 1864, in Recovery township, Mercer county, Ohio, to Mary Noland, who was born December 16, 1844, in Coshocton county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Downs) Noland. Mr. Swartz enlisted January 31, 1865, in Recovery township, and was enrolled at Coldwater, as a private soldier, in company D, One Hundred and Ninety-third regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt, Alexander Gable, his enlistment being for one year or during the war. He was honorably discharged, on account of the war having closed, August 4, 1865, at Winchester, Va. While he enlisted late, yet he saw hard service in the Shenandoah valley, being on a hard march from Hall Station, Va., to Stevenson Station, a forced march, the troops suffering greatly. Serving six months and four days, he was sick only two weeks in hospital, otherwise being always prompt in the discharge of every duty.


The war having ended, he returned to Recovery township and settled on 160 acres of land in the woods. By hard work and industry he succeeded in clearing up his farm, building at first a log cabin. By degrees he improved his farm and at length erected a good frame house, and other substantial buildings, and he now has 152 acres in Recovery township, the railroad having cut off a few acres, and also 160 acres in Washington township, thus owning 312 acres in all. To Mr. and Mrs. Swartz there have been born six children, as follows: Sarah C., Savilda A., William H, Rachael A., Ettie M., and Clarence A. In their religious faith and belief Mr. and Mrs. Swartz are members of the New Light church, a branch of the Christian church, and as a republican Mr. Swartz has held the office of supervisor and has been a member of the school board for twelve years. Perceiving the value and the necessity of education, Mr. Swartz has always been in favor of good schools, and has given his children the best education possible under the circumstances in which he is situated, more than which no man can do. His son, William H. Swartz, was for a time a teacher, but is now a practicing physician, Rachael A. Swartz has also taught school in Mercer county, with unusual success. Mr. Swartz is a member of McDaniel post, No. 181, G, A, R, of Fort Recovery, and is in good standing.


Asbury Swartz, father of the subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and when a boy came with his father, Jacob, to Perry county, Ohio. He married in Muskingum county, and his children were as follows: John A., William E, Francis A., Louisa, Mary K., Almeda, Minerva, and Le Roy. Asbury Swartz moved to Mercer county, Ohio, in 1848, settling in the woods one mile north of Macedon. Selling this place he removed to the vicinity of Erastus, on eighty acres of land in the woods. This farm he cleared up and improved, and by industry and thrift became able to buy more land, and at length owned 240 acres of good land. Besides being a successful farmer he was also a plasterer, and worked at this trade also. He enlisted early in the great struggle for the preservation of the Union for three years or during the war; but after serving three months as drum major of his regiment, he was discharged on account of disability. He was a strong Union man, a republican in politics, and had two sons in the war, viz: John A., the subject of this sketch, and William, who died at Camp Chase of lung fever, at the beginning of the struggle. Asbury Swartz died November 12, 1895, at the age of seventy-five. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, an enterprising citizen, and an honest and benevolent man,


Thomas Noland, father of Mrs. Swartz, was born in Coshocton county, and was a son of Pierce Noland. He was a well educated man and became a school teacher and farmer. Locating in Mercer county in 1845, he taught school and died in the county in 1854, at the age of thirty-six. His children are William and Catherine, and he was a man of much intelligence and highly honorable character, John A. Swartz is a man of excellent character and is well known throughout Mercer county, in which he stands high as a straight-forward and honorable man in all his dealings. He was postmaster at Ferner for twelve years, and his family is one of great respectability and much intelligence.


Page 571-573

Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Mercer and Van Wert Counties Ohio, Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Company, 1896

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