My Genealogy Hound

W. J. SWINDLE, merchant, Sarcoxie, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., Feb. 22, 1829. His parents Pelage and Nancy (Hickman) Swindle were also natives of Tennessee. When sixteen years of age our subject moved with his parents to Macon county, same state, where for a decade he remained, engaged in agricultural pursuits; was educated in the schools of counties above named. In the fall of 1855 he moved with family to Jasper county, locating about five miles east of north of Sarcoxie; there he engaged for sixteen years in farming and stock-raising. During the great excitement over the rich lead ore discovered at Joplin in 1871, Mr. Swindle proceeded to that place and engaged in mining, on what is yet known as Swindle Hill, with abundant success; continued thus employed four years, engaging at the same time in the mercantile business at that place; returned to his farm in Sarcoxie township in 1875, where he remained until February, 1882. He then came to Sarcoxie where he established himself in the mercantile business. Mr. Swindle was married in Macon county, Tenn., Oct. 18, 1849, to Miss Rachel, daughter of John and Nancy Dodson, of that county. From this union there are seven children: Timothy, born Aug. 24, 1850; John T., born Feb. 4, 1852, died Feb. 1, 1874; Nancy, born Aug. 11, 1853; William B., born June 26, 1855, died April 10, 1881; Henry F., born Dec. 9, 1856; Mary E., born Feb. 6, 1861; and one, name and date of birth not given. Mrs. Swindle was born July 24, 1820, and died Nov. 19, 1876. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, having become a member of that denomination when but fourteen years of age. Mr. Swindle has been a man of untiring energy and ceaseless activity; has taken the greatest interest in all matters of enterprise, being liberal almost to a fault. Although now somewhat enfeebled with age and the applications which his industry has brought upon him, we most earnestly hope that there may yet be many years of happiness allotted him, and that the universal esteem in which he is held may comfort his declining years.