OHIO CITIAN IS NEWEST COUNTY NONAGENARIAN by Lynn Wortman

A native and long-time resident of the county who marked his 90th year Wednesday lays claim to the fact that he was one of the first few in the county to have registered Guernsey cows.

He was born on a farm immediately south of the present village limits of Ohio City, a farm purchased by his father while serving in the Civil War.

George F. Swoveland, who now lives at the north edge of Ohio City marked 90 years Wednesday, but the formal observance of the milestone was held yesterday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Stella Coil of Venedocia.

Ripe old ages seem to run in Swoveland's family. His age and those of his living brothers total 259 years. Orley Swoveland of Berne, Ind., is 81, and James Swoveland, also of Ohio City, turned 88 years old in October.

He is also a first cousin of Anna Medaugh, former Ohio City resident, who observed her 90th birthday October 18.

Swoveland was born in 1869 in a log cabin on the present Dale Shaffer farm on the south edge of Ohio City.

In May of 1894, he married Lydia [should be Lida] Goodwin of Mercer County. She died in 1933.

Three years of Swoveland's lifetime were spent in Payne where he operated a livery stable. He had a milk route in Mendon for three years and another three years were spent on a Michigan farm.

His other years were spent in farming near Ohio City, Mendon and Willshire. He had registered Guernsey cows for about 13 years. During the summer months, he lives at Ohio City and keeps house for himself. This was his first summer not to have a garden, which was due to some ill health.

His winters are spent at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Coil.

Two other daughters are Pauline Riley of South Franklin Street and Rowena Johnson of South Race Street. Twin sons died when they were young. [These sons were not twins].

The nonagenarian has 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Present at the Coil home Sunday to observe the occasion were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wagner and children of Rockford, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Coil of Fort Wayne, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Riley and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Coil, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Wortman and daughter, all of Van Wert.

---

Note from contributor: George Swoveland died Mar 10, 1966 just shy of his 97th birthday. His daughter Stella died in 1997 at the age of 102. His youngest daughter Pauline will be 92 this November. May we all live as long.

---