Louis A. Swartz

LOUIS A. SWARTZ. Some of the finest farming land in Nemaha County is owned by members of the Swartz family, who were pioneers in this section of Kansas and by their energy and industry have acquired a conspicuous position as farmers and stockmen. The operations of Louis A. Swartz, a younger representative of the family, are in the vicinity of Bancroft, where he has made for himself considerable reputation as a farmer and cattle raiser.

He was born on his father's farm in Nemaha County October 11, 1891. He is a son of Albert Swartz, who has lived in this part of Kansas for over half a century and is one of the largest land holders in Nemaha County. His possessions comprise 1,550 acres. His home place where he resides is four miles west of Bancroft.

The founder of the family in Kansas was Henry Swartz, grandfather of Louis A. He was born in Germany in 1833, came to this country when a young man and lived successively in New York State, Indiana, and Illinois, and in 1865 was a pioneer in Nemaha County, Kansas. He followed farming actively for many years and then retired to Soldier, where he died in 1909. Politically he was a democrat and the recipient of several township offices. He belonged to the German Lutheran Church. Henry Swartz married Mary Shumaker, who was born in Germany in 1833 and died at Soldier, Kansas, in 1908. Their children were: Anna, wife of George Brenner, a retired ranchman and politician living at Colorado Springs, Colorado; Edith wife of George Smith, a retired mechanic at Soldier, Kansas, Albert; Henry, who owns the electric light and ice plant at Valley Falls, Kansas; William, a farmer who died near Soldier in 1906; Minnie, wife of J. H. Lynn, a merchant at Soldier.

Albert Swartz was born in Illinois May 2, 1862, and was three years of age when his parents came to Nemaha County. The family bought a preemption and on that old homestead Albert was reared to years of maturity and then embarked in farming for himself. He has served as trustee of Riley Township and also as clerk, and for six years was a county commissioner. He is a democrat and a Modern Woodman of America. Albert Swartz married Annie Cline, who was born in Illinois in 1860. She is a member of the Catholic Church. Their children are: May, unmarried and living with her parents; Nora F., who is a registered nurse living at Springfield, Missouri, and has tendered her assistance to the Government during the war; Louis A.; Francis H. who assists his father on the farm; and Lawrence L., still at home.

Louis A. Swartz attended the rural schools of Nemaha County and for one year, in 1906, was a student in the State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Most of his education was acquired in St. Mary's College at St. Mary's Kansas, where he spent seven years, graduating in 1911 in both the classical and commercial courses. After leaving college Mr. Swartz farmed for a year in Nemaha County and then went to Felsmere, Florida, where he handled a Florida farm for a couple of years. On his return to Nemaha County he assisted on his father's large estate for a year, and in 1916 came to his present place. Mr. Swartz' farm contains 550 acres and bounds Bancroft on the south, north and west sides. It is a highly diversified and intensive farm and besides the staple crops Mr. Swartz raises blooded stock, specializing in Hereford cattle. He is also owner of real estate at Felsmere, Florida, where his father and father-in-law have 590 acres.

Mr. Swartz is a democrat, a member of the Catholic Church and is affiliated with Seneca Council of the Knights of Columbus and Soldier Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Soldier.

He was married October 26, 1912, at Holton, Kansas, to Miss Ada Wilcox, daughter of J. E. and Ella (Vannote) Wilcox. Her father is in the seed business and a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, and her mother died in that city in April, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz have one daughter, Mary Frances, born January 30, 1915.

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