Benjamin F. Swinehart
Benjamin F. Swinehart, well-known farmer of Chester township, Wayne county, is one of those whole-souled, large-hearted individuals who are constantly adding to the number of their friends by their disinterested kindness and their genial natures. He was born in 1844 near where the Experiment Station is now located, the son of Ephraim and Barbara (Stoner) Swinehart both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His paternal grandparents were Daniel and Elizabeth Swinehart, who lived and died in the old Keystone state. In that state Ephraim Swinehart, father of Benjamin F., was bound out. When eighteen years of age, 1836, he ran away and came to Apple Creek, Wayne county, Ohio. The maternal grandparents of the subject of this review were John and Elizabeth Stoner, who came to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1836, Mr. Stoner following the trade of basketmaker in connection with farming. Here the father of Benjamin F. worked on the farm for Jacob Kurtz, and while employed there he became acquainted with Barbara Stoner, who was at that time working for Mr. Kurtz also, and they were there married, soon afterwards, buying a farm in Medina county, Ohio. Later he bought near Lattasburg, Chester township, Wayne county. Ephraim Swinehart followed farming all his life, making a success of agricultural pursuits.
Benjamin F. Swinehart was reared in the neighborhood in which he now resides. He received a good education in the district schools and in his youth taught one term, but not taking kindly to school teaching, he cast about for other lines of endeavor; however, if he had continued teaching he would doubtless have been very successful, for he received on first trial a six-months license. As a young man he followed selling machinery and threshing. Giving this up, he later followed farming for six years in Stark county, but the remainder of his life has been spent in Wayne county; however, he got a good start farming in the former county. He resided in Wooster for a period of six years. In 1881 he purchased the farm where he now lives in Chester township, consisting of one hundred and ninety acres. He also owns twenty-nine acres adjoining Lattasburg. He cleared thirty acres of the first-named tract. He has greatly improved his land, putting up good buildings and fences and in many other ways rendering his farm equal to any in the township. He has made a specialty of colt raising and his colts are always ready sellers, owing to their excellent quality. Although Mr. Swinehart practically retired from active farming in 1896, he has since resided on the home place and merely oversees his farming operations, leaving the work for the most part to his two sons.
Mr. Swinehart was married in the fall of 1865 to Nancy Worst, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and to this union the following children have been born: Mary, who married David Joliff; Ephraim A. married Nora Zurker; Frances C. married C.C. Stair; Clara E. married Jessie Ebert; Samuel W. died when thirteen years of age; Verna married Guy Pittenger; Ralph and Ray are twins; they are farming on the home place; Ralph married Sylvia Hiner, and Ray married Zella Peters. Mrs. Benjamin F. Swinehart was called from her earthly labors on August 17, 1907.
Mr. Swinehart is a Democrat and he has long taken considerable interest in the affairs of his community, having served very acceptably as township assessor and also trustee. He is well known throughout this part of Wayne county and everybody respects him for his honesty in dealing with his fellow men and his life of usefulness and industry. Religiously, he belongs to the United Brethren church.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, Vol. 1, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910