From the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, Munsell Publishing Company, page 952.
WILLIAM SWIGART; Farmer and stockman; Maquon; born in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 15, 1822. He is of German descent. His father, Daniel Swigart, was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; his mother, Elizabeth (Conrad) Swigart, was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia. Mr. Swigart came from Marion County, Ohio, to Knox County, in November, 1852. For a time he sent occasional shipments of grain to Chicago, but in 1862, he engaged permanently in the grain trade. For many years he conducted a lumber yard, which he now rents to other parties. In 1878, he opened a general grocery store in partnership with J. B. Boynton, which business he still conducts. In 1881, he opened the bank which bears his name. Mr. Swigart is a member of the I.O.O. F. In Maquon, and is also a Mason, holding membership in the Maquon lodge, in Eureka chapter, No. 98, of Yates City, in Knoxville Council, No. 1, and also in the Peoria Consistory of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites. He owns three farms in Haw Creek Township and fourteen others scattered in various townships and counties. In all he possesses two thousand six hundred acres of improved land. October 21, 1847, Mr. Swigart was married to Eliza J. McHenry, in Wyandotte County, Ohio; she died in 1861, leaving four children: John; Jane, now the wife of O. D. Cooke, of Hinsdale, Illinois; Daniel, now living in Chicago; and Alonzo, deceased. His second wife was Susan Stewart, who was born in Indiana, and died in 1875. She was the mother of six children, of whom the survivors are: Elizabeth, wife of Charles Hartsook, of Haw Creek; Sarah, wife of F. C. Bearmore, Maquon; and Lincoln, of Knoxville. Mr. Swigart was married May 16, 1876, to his present wife, Elizabeth Bull [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a William Swigart marrying a Elizabeth A. Butt in Knox County on May 16, 1876], who is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio. Mr. Swigart has held numerous local offices and has been Township Treasurer since 1863. He supports the worship of the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren denominations. In politics, he is a republican. [Bio thanks to Michael Esquer Rootsweb contributor]