BIOGRAPHY

Niceswanger was born in Penn Township, Morgan County, Ohio, USA, on 6 August 1906, to parents Frederick Simpson McInturf (1880–1957) and Carrie Esther Moody (1884–1969). She had 11 siblings: Dwight Luther, James Franklin, Alice Mae Lauer, Eli, William Kenneth, Robert Cecil, Samuel Ray, Elizabeth Mae Martin, Ruby Ilene McPherson and Ruth Irene Townsend. She grew up on a farm where her father raised cattle, sheep, chickens and pigs. Mary had a pet pig named Faye. Mary and her parents always celebrated her birthdays on 2 August, however the family eventually discovered how her birth certificate supports 6 August as her birthdate.

On 26 November 1933, she married Leonard Niceswanger. The couple had one daughter, Yvonne Barth, who passed away in 2010.

Her husband passed away on 20 November 1971. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she attributed it to always staying positive. She was a long-time member of Marietta’s Church of Christ.

Niceswanger passed away in Marietta, Ohio, USA, on 25 January 2018. She was survived by her son-in-law, two grandsons, two great-granddaughters and a step-great-grandson.

RECOGNITION

At the time of death, she was the second-oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Ohio, after Lessie Brown.

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 28 June 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Mary M. McInturf Niceswanger” – FindAGrave

* “She’s doin’ fine & almost to 109” – Marietta Times, 21 July 2015

* “110 years of blessings” – Marietta Times, 6 August 2016

* “Mary M. Niceswanger, 111 years old” – Marietta Times, 27 January 2018

GALLERY