The Dr. William Thomas Swindle family


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Dr. William Thomas Swindle came to the Randolph County area to practice Medicine and to raise his family . He settled in the Maynard area and was a fellow practitioner with Dr. J.W. Brown, Dr. C.E. Stuttle, Dr. H.L. Throgmorton, Dr. H.L. Richardson and other fine well know men in the County. Dr. Swindle was born and raised in Benton County, TN in 1854 and was living there when he decided to get a Medical Degree. He was married there to Vandora Hatley, also born in Benton County. They had one child when they came to Arkansas. The Swindle family was blessed with 8 living children,Larken Leonard (died at age 30.) Arcus, Horace, Belle, Nancy, Dovie, Thurman and Tula. All of these children married and lived and raised their family in the Randolph County area except Thurman and Belle. There are many grandchildren and great grandchildren from this family, of which I am one. Nancy Elizabeth married Martin Odom and my Father, Buford, was their second child. Dr. Swindle, his Father, William Anderson Swindle, and his wife, Vandora (Dora), are all buried in Siloam cemetery, near Maynard. W. Anderson Swindle was also born in Benton County, TN. but his parents, Thomas and Miriam Swindle, were born in North Carolina, as were many of our ancestors. They were all members of the Methodist Church. Dr. Swindle was a great country Doctor. He spent 58 years of his life ministering to the sick around Randolph County, AR. and Ripley County, MO. He delivered a large majority of babies born in the area of the time. He, in his younger days, traveled to a sick person, either by walking or by horseback, Medical Bag tied to the saddle. In his later days, he traveled in a buggy to treat the sick. He was always ready to go. He and his son Horace, owned and operated a Pharmacy in Maynard, when Maynard was a very lively Town. There are many descendants of this family, still living in Randolph County and Greene County today. Most everyone here by the name of Swindle is related to Dr. W.T. A book, 'The Swinherders', about this family has been written by Jena F. Hopwood, a granddaughter, @1987, and copies are still available today. Submitted by Dr. Cloyce E. Odom

Left: Dr. William Thomas Swindle; Right: Dr. Swindle's wife, Vandora Hatley Swindle

Dr. Swindle's children, L to R: ARCUS - HORACE - BELLE - NANCY - DOVIE - THURMAN - TULA

Younger days of Dr. W.T. and Dora.

Dr. W.T. is in buggy ready to make a house call to a sick person. This is his transportation. No ambulances, no Mercedes, or even Fords for the doctor. Automobiles would not get to houses back then because of roads. This is the house they lived in. Daughter Tula is standing on porch. Both Dr WT and Dora died in 1924, he in April, she in December. Both are buried in Siloam Cemetery. The Swindle family pictures were contributed by Dr. Cloyce E. Odom.

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