Elsie Rose Swartz was born 16 July 1909 in Monroeville, Allen, IN to Daniel
Albert Swartz and Minnie Catherina Luther. She married Walter Albert Eberhart 16
December 1976. Elsie had no children, but had a huge extended family. She spent
a lifetime traveling and researching, making friends around the world. She was a
teacher and worked for Montgomery Wards for 33 years.
In 1919, Daniel sold his two farms of 80 acres and bought land in Pendleton,
IN. Minnie wanted to live closer to a town and stayed in Monroeville until she
purchased a house in Fortville, IN with a $5,000 inheritance from her father
Christian Luther. The Swartz family moved from Monroeville to Fortville in 1920.
Elsie was in 5th grade. The following year Marie transferred to Fortville and
was her teacher in the 6th grade.
Bessie and Ed Dawson moved to Pendleton to work on the farm. They were there
until 1922 when some dispute occurred between Daniel and Edward. This has been
the source of many family stories and speculation since Edward and Bessie
refused to speak about it. I am sure the economic stress of the depression made
life and family relations very difficult. They merely backed up their family and
moved to Cozad, Dawson, NE.
This dispute also cause strife between Daniel and Minnie. In 1926, Daniel
left. Minnie and Elsie moved to Gary, IN where Hazel and Marie were teaching.
Hazel had just married David Conaway and they lived in their home. Elsie was in
her senior year of High School. Transferring from Fortville with a class of 40
to Gary with a class of 254 was a difficult adjustment. She graduated in 1927
from Emerson High School, Gary, IN.
In the fall she went to Madam Blaker's Teacher College, Indianapolis, IN. It
later became affiliated with Butler University. In 1929, she accepted a position
of primary teacher in the private boarding school, Dakota School for Boys,
Dakota, IL. She taught there for five years. These were the depression years and
salaries were constantly being decreased so she decided to changer her career.
She went to work in a book shop in Waukegan and took classes in bookkeeping
and comptometer. In 1941 she went to work at Montgomery Ward's corporate offices
in Chicago. Instead of remaining a few years, she was there 33 years. She was
the assistant buyer in the Rug Department when she retired in 1974.
She became interested in family history in 1967 and began sharing her research with family members. Eventually self publishing "Ancestry Trails and Tales - Swartz-Luther and allied Families," monthly newsletters mailed to family and friends. Elsie went on to write six books.
"Three Swartz/Schwartz men of Floyd and Clark County, Indiana"
"1893 land owners and patrons list of Champaign County, Illinois"
"1850 census, Champaign County, Illinois"
"Edwards County, Illinois, 1825 Census"
"Winnebago County, Illinois, early marriages, 1836-1866"
"Illinois, Winnebago County cemeteries"
Besides genealogy Elsie was interested in travel and photography, hobbies that complement each other. Elsie's research took her to every state of the Union and around the world. In 1977 Elsie moved to Wesley Willows Retirement Home where she lived until her death. Elsie died 21 October 1991. She is buried in Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville, IN.
Elsie's Autobiography
I was born near the little town of Monroeville, Ind. on a farm on July 16, 1909. My father and I were the only "Hoosiers" born in Indiana of our family. My mother and three sisters were born in Illinois. I have no immediate family. Through my recent interest in family history "Genealogy" I now find many relatives and "would be" relatives in the Swartz line
Our family moved to Fortville, Ind. near Indianapolis in 1918 then to Gary, Ind. in 1926. Graduated from Emerson High School in Gary. Went back to Indianapolis to Butler University. Taught Dakota School for Boys, Dakota, Ill. in the early 1930's. Changed my teaching profession to business world in the early 1940's. Montgomery Ward seemed to offer a promising future in their Traffic Dept. Then later a change into the Corporate Buying Division of Flooring Coverings, where I was a Buyer's Assistant.
Having lived in Chicago many years I was active in the Chicago Camera Club, Elanor Club - a business women's club, and Pi Omicron National Sorority, holding many local offices. Was on the Board of the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association held in the Hild Regional Library, as I lived in Historic Ravenswood area. First attended the Temple Methodist Church and later the Ravenswood Methodist Church.
For the Ravenswood Church 100th Anniversary I wrote a 12 page booklet "Historical Sketch of 100 years of Service." At the same time I copied the Church Records: 1872-1972 Membership Directories, Baptismal Records 1890-1924, Church Marriages 1910-1960. This is a 96 page bound book which is in the Church Archives and many state Historical Societies and Genealogical Societies.
Became interested in "family history" in 1967 and published a family publication "Ancestry Trails and Tales - Swartz-Luther and allied Families." Between "family history" and picture taking, I traveled every state in the United States. My itchy feet took me to Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and twice to Europe visiting eight countries.
Visited my grandfather's birth place, Christian Luther at Kippenheim, Germany. Traced the Luther records back to 1619. Retired to Rockford, IL in 1974. In 1976 married Walter Eberhart and in February 1977 Walter and I moved to Wesley Willows Retirement Home because of his ill health. I have made many friends and followed my active interests in my new home. - Elsie Eberhart.
Daniel Albert Swartz was born 6 February 1870 in
Putnamville, Putman, Indiana to Daniel Birtrum Swartz and Sarah Ellen
Hubbard. He married Minnie Catherina Luther 10 February 1892 in Champaign,
Champaign, IL. Daniel and Minnie had five children, Bessie Mae, Clara Bell, Mary
Buelah (Marie), Hazel Alice, and Elsie Rose. Daniel was a farmer and worked for
the Railroad.
