Edward William Swafford, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 767-768 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" 	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and 
	was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				EDWARD WILLIAM SWAFFORD, M. D. 

	Dr. Edward William Swafford has entered upon the active work of a 
profession which many regard as the most important to which an 
individual can turn his attention, and recognizing the fact that 
advancement must depend upon individual merit, he has made every effort 
to promote his knowledge and thus enhance his efficiency in ministering 
to his patients. He practices in Sturgis, where he is now widely and 
favorably known. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 7, 1878, a 
son of Lorenzo D. and Josephine (Cox) Swafford. The father's birth 
occurred in St. Joseph, Missouri, October. 9, 1846, and the mother was 
born at Collinsville, Illinois, April 6, 1847. In early life Lorenzo D. 
Swafford learned the trade of an iron molder and was engaged in that 
line of business until 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil 
war as a private in Company H, Fortieth Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He 
remained at the front throughout the period of hostilities and was 
wounded by a gunshot in the left knee. After leaving the army he 
returned to St. Louis, where he engaged in teaming and acted as a 
street-car driver in the days when horses were the motive power. He 
continued in that business until his death, which occurred in 1899, his 
wife surviving him until 1905. 

	Dr. Swafford is the eldest of four children. He attended the 
public schools of St. Louis and in 1900 went to Chicago, where he 
attended night school, becoming a student in Armour Institute. In 1903 
he matriculated in the Bennett Medical College, from which he was 
graduated with the class of 1905. Long before this, however, he had 
known the stress and strain of business activity and responsibility. 
When but ten years of age he assisted in the support of his mother in 
St. Louis, beginning work as a cash boy in Nugent's department store, 
where he was employed for nine years, during which time he constantly 
worked his way upward. At the end of that period he entered the shops 
of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad Company to learn 
the machinist's trade and was employed at that work until 1900, when he 
went to Chicago, where he entered a preparatory school, becoming, as 
stated, a student in Armour Institute, which he attended during the 
night sessions while working for the R. T. Crane Company through the 
day and in vacation periods. He advanced in that connection and was 
given charge of the tool room. Following his graduation from the 
Bennett Medical College, which marked the fulfillment of the hope that 
he had long cherished, lie became an interne in the Cook County 
Hospital, where he remained for eighteen months, gaining that broad 
practical experience which only hospital practice can bring. He then 
opened an office in Chicago, where he remained until December, 1908, 
when he removed to Sturgis and established a private hospital under his 
own name. Since that time he has practiced continuously in Sturgis, not 
only in the hospital but also as a general physician and surgeon. He is 
also a landowner in South Dakota and has city property. 

	On the 29th of September, 1909, Dr. Swafford was married to Miss 
Ellen Tomlinson, who was born at Alton, Illinois, a daughter of David 
George and Mary Elizabeth (Levick) Tomlinson. Her father was born in 
Staffordshire, England, August 14, 1847, and when twelve years of age 
came with his parents to the new world, the family home being 
established at Alton, Illinois, where in early life he learned the 
blacksmith's trade. He there resided until 1905, when he removed with 
his family to Dallas, Texas. He is now traveling salesman for a house 
engaged in the manufacture of horse nails, traveling out of St. Louis. 
At one time he was mayor of Alton yet he has never been very active in 
politics. His wife passed away March 30, 1896. Their daughter, Mrs. 
Swafford, was the third in a family of nine children. She attended 
school at East Alton, also Shurtleff College at Upper Alton and was 
graduated in nursing in Chicago. Dr. Swafford has but one child, George 
Harry, born of a former marriage. His first wife died in 1905, leaving 
this little son, then but three years of age, his birth having occurred 
January 5, 1902. 

	Dr. Swafford is a Mason and has taken the degrees of the blue 
lodge and of the Scottish Rite up to and including the thirty-second 
degree. In politics he is a republican and has served as one of the 
commissioners of the county board of insanity for a number of years. He 
is medical examiner for various insurance companies and is local 
surgeon for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. In 
professional circles he has been accorded high honors. He belongs to 
the Ninth District Medical Society, of which he was secretary in 1911 
and 1912, while through the following year he was its president. He is 
also a member of the state and national medical associations and thus 
keeps in touch with the advanced thought and methods of the profession.