John Irvin Swisher was born July 3, 1893, in Paulding County, Ohio, the son of George M. Swisher, who was born in December 1850 in Ohio, and Mary E. (Ayers) Swisher, who was born in 1864 in Ohio. The couple was married on January 13, 1885, in Van Wert, Ohio.
By 1890, the family was living in Paulding County, where George worked as a day laborer. A daughter, Laura Gertrude Swisher, was born in October 1885, followed by Francis John in July 1889. By 1900, the family was still living in Paulding. A daughter, Anna Elizabeth, had been born, followed by Joseph Marion in January 1895, Candice Allene in March 1897, and Vera Cleora in June 1899. John was a grade school student at the time.
By 1910, the family had moved to Bethany Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. George found work as a farm laborer. The birth of Bernard R. Swisher in 1902 completed the family. John was working odd jobs as a laborer. John’s mother, Mary, passed away, although details of her burial could not be found. George remarried within the year…