By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent TROY, Ohio — Evelyn Swank’s 63-acre farm on South Nashville Road in Troy is one of the newest properties in Ohio to be recognized as a Century Farm. The Century Farm Program recognizes families that have maintained a farm in the family for at least 100 consecutive years.
“I can still remember my grandfather working the land,” says Evelyn, who tends to the property with her son, Melvin. “It was a working farm with some animals and lots of corn and wheat.
Grandfather didn’t grow his own tobacco, but he had a drying barn for those who did. Not much has changed to this farm in 130-plus years. We have the same number of acres as my grandfather had.
Evelyn’s grandfather, Melvin William Swank, is of German descent and was born in Troy in 1887. Melvin married Mary Nina Antonides, a Greece descendant, in 1909. Both were laid to rest in Wheellock Cemetery just down the road from the farm.
Evelyn’s great grandfather, Samuel Swank, was born in 1831 and lived in Augusta County, Virginia before heading west in search of farmland.
“Samuel was in search of land with which to raise corn, wheat and tobacco,” Evelyn said. “When the family first settled here there were lots and lots of trees. They wanted to farm so they had to clear all the land west of the house.”
Evelyn’s great great-grandfather, Joseph Swank, was born in 1799 in Rockingham County, Va. while her great great great-grandfather, Jacob Swank, was born in Centerville, Va. in 1765. A family tree tablet which was passed down from generation to generation documents the names and dates of all men, women and children since 1762.
“My grandfather here in Troy had just four structures on the premise,” Evelyn said. “He had the farmhouse, a wood house, a barn and a tobacco shed for drying tobacco.”
Aluminum siding has replaced the exterior of each structure. A fire in 1970 destroyed the original farmhouse, but the house was rebuilt around the original wood-burning stove.
“When the fire department arrived, the house was engulfed in flames,” Evelyn said. “Fortunately for us, one fireman kicked in the front door and salvaged our record books, including the ones with our family tree.”
Evelyn can document this Century Farm with countless photos, but most of her recollections of this farm come from memory.
“I remember dad purchased a Model-T in 1917,” Evelyn said. “He used his horse to do the farming, but when they began putting rubber tires on tractors he traded in the Model-T for a 1939 Minneapolis-Moline tractor. From that time on Dad got busy and started raising a good number of hogs and several herds of cattle, mostly milking cows.”
Eventually her father and grandfather added to the equipment, adding a New Idea corn husker and an Allis-Chalmers tractor a few years later.
“I remember them paying $1,100 for that Allis-Chalmers tractor,” Evelyn said.
There’s a good chance the farm will remain in the Swank possession for years to come. Evelyn’s brother-in-law, Harold, tends to the crop, as does her nephew, Monte Swank. Monte has inquired about purchasing the farm from Evelyn in the near future.
“This farm is all I’ve ever known,” Evelyn said. “Lots of memories and lots of history rests on these 63 acres.”
The New York State Agricultural Society was one of the first organizations to begin officially recognizing farms, beginning this tradition in 1937. Several states began their century farm programs during the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976.
In Ohio, families that wish to have their farm recognized must submit a Century Farm registration form. Qualifying farms receive a certificate signed by the governor of Ohio.
For more information or to download a registration form, visit www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/cent_farms |
