BIO: William E. Swiler, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ _______________________________________________ History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886. _______________________________________________ Part II, Biographical Sketches, Newberry Township, Pg 158 WILLIAM E. SWILER, M. D., was born in Cumberland County, Penn., October 23, 1833, and is the second child in a family of three boys and two girls of John and Isabella (Eckels) Swiler, natives of Cumberland County, and of Scotch-Irish and English descent. The father followed farming and teaching for a livelihood, and died in 1839. The mother died in 1858. At the age of six years William E. was taken by his grandfather, who owned a farm, where he grew up, attending school until he was sixteen years old, when he went to Mechanicsburg, Penn., where he engaged in the mercantile business with his uncle. Here he remained two years. His health becoming impaired he quit the academy and went to Harrisburg, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He next came to Yocumtown, where he engaged in the mercantile business for a year, after which he went to Shiremanstown and commenced the study of medicine under Drs. Robert G. Young and Jacob C. Black. Under their instruction he remained one year, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, in 1855, and graduated in 1857. In the following spring he located at Yocumtown, Penn., where he still resides, and has acquired a large and lucrative practice. He was married, November 26, 1859, to Kate E. Pretz, who died December 9, 1878. They had five children: Minnie I., Lizzie L., Robert D., Carrie E. and Annie (deceased). November 9, 1880, he married Mrs. Matilda Groom, widow of William Groom, and daughter of Hiram and Susan (Resser) Prowell.