Almon E. Swinehart
Almon E. Swinehart, vice-president of the Bluffton Turned Goods Company, one of the leading manufacturing industries of Bluffton, was born in Allen County, one mile south of Lafayette, July 20, 1861, and is a son of the Charles and Mary E. (King) Swinehart.
Charles Swinehart was born near Somerset, Perry County, Ohio, August 14, 1839, and now resides at Carey, Ohio, where he runs several pump stations for the northern Ohio Railway.
He married Mary E. King, who was born near Van Wert, Ohio, January 8, 1844. Their children were: Almon E., Jacob E., of Rockford, O., Emma V., deceased in infancy, and Ella Josephine, who is the wife of P, E. Walborn, of Chicago.
When our subject was two years old, his parents moved to Van Wert County. Almon E. remained on the home farm until he was 15 years old and then entered a stave and hoop factory at Middlepoint, Ohio, where he remained until 19 years of age. He then went to Delphos and worked on the Northern Ohio Railway for twelve years; at first in the general office of the auditor and then as station agent. In 1893 he located at Bluffton and embarked in the sawmill business with his father-in-law, Ira M. Townsend, which continued until the development of the present business.
The Bluffton Turned Goods Company was first established in 1902, and is one of the leading handle and hardwood manufacturing concerns of the country. It was incorporated in February, 1905, with Ira M. Townsend as president; Almon E. Swinehart as vice- president, and Carl Balmer as secretary and treasurer. The company makes a specialty of manufacturing first-grade handles, farming tool handles, pike poles and logging tool handles, a turns out hardwood lumber both for domestic and export use, mostly second growth ash and oak. They cut their own timber and oversee the work personally. All are men of capital and responsibility.
Mr. Swinehart was married June 22, 1887, to Vanch L. Townsend, who was born in Bluffton and is the daughter of Ira M. Townsend. They have three children, viz: Ira H., Harold C and Ella Josephine. Mr. Swinehart and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In political sentiment Mr. Swinehart is a Republican, although he is more of a business man than a politician. He served one term on the Town Council and has always done his part in promoting the welfare of his fellow-citizens and in developing the resources of Bluffton. He belongs to Bluffon Lodge, No. 371, I. O. O F., Modern Woodmen of America and Tribe of Ben Hur.