WILLIAM O. SWAYZE
Was born in Pinckney, Warren County, Missouri, June 19, 1841. When he was five years old his parents removed to Canada West. Living there until he was eighteen years of age, he came with his parents to Grundy County, and settled on a farm near Lindley, where he lived with them until 1861.
He was enrolled in the State militia and served until 1862, when he enlisted in company C, Eleventh Missouri volunteer infantry, and served during the war. While in the service he was detailed as clerk at regimental headquarters, and was mustered out in August, 1865, and returned to Grundy County and engaged in farming.
In 1870 he was deputized sheriff, under N. A. Winters, and served until 1873, when he, with N. A. Winters and H. J. Herrick, formed the firm of Herrick, Swayze & Winters, and engaged in the mercantile business for a short time. After the dissolution of this firm, he, with N. A. Winters, went into the grain and forwarding business, which they carried on until 1874. In 1870 he was one of the original incorporators of the Grundy County Coal Company, and while he was acting as superintendent, in 1875, a shaft was successfully sunk and mining began in 1876.
In 1877 he was appointed deputy county collector, under W. T. Wisdom. In 1873 he married Mrs. Amanda H. Fisher, of Trenton, a lady who had established herself in the millinery business in Trenton in 1868, which she still carries on, her establishment being one of the oldest in the city.
Source:  The History of Grundy County, Missouri: Birdsall & Dean, publ. 1881; Submitted to Geneaology Trails and Transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack