Monday, June 30 2008
This article by Tiffany Aumann in the Newark (Ohio) Advocate (www.newarkadvocate.com) tells about the humble beginnings of the Swisher family and how they grew into one of the world's largest tobacco companies.
It all started in 1861 with David Swisher, a traveling salesman from Newark, Ohio who acquired a small cigar business in a debt settlemnent and peddled the cigars by wagon with his four sons. In 1888 two of his sons, John and Harry, bought the business from their father and named it Swisher Brothers.
THE GROWTH OF SWISHER
By 1909, Swisher cigar factory, headquartered in Newark, was the largest in the state, according to the "Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County," by E.M. Brister. At that time, Swisher manufactured 300,000 cigars per day and employed 1,000 people in three cities. More than 60 brands were produced.
The company's online history states that John bought out Harry and took on his son Carl in 1913.
A letter on file at the Licking County Historical Society describes a competitive relationship between John and Harry. Sherwood Davidson House curator Charles Stricklin wrote in 1991 that Harry was enamored with the Third Street mansion John built.
Cigar giant's beginnings rooted in Licking County
