James Monroe Swisher

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Resolutions and Journal entries

• J.M. Swisher, Travis County. House Journal.

Biographical Sketches

• J.M. Swisher, mentioned in description of Alamo monument, Volume I, p. 708. "After the completion of the present capitol building, in 1888, the twenty-first legislature made an appropriation for the erection of an Alamo monument, to be placed in the capitol grounds. It stands at the right of the main entrance, fronting the avenue; the design, which is a combination of the arch and monument, was selected by a commission composed of Colonel S. H. Darden, J. M. Swisher, and H. B. Andrews." A Comprehensive History of Texas, 1685 to 1897.
• Biographical sketch, James M. Swisher, 54 years of age in 1876 (born 1822?), pp. 134-135. "Though it is probable Mr. Swisher has been a Democrat in days long gone by, he is now a Republican. He ran as an independent, coming out at the last hour against the Democratic nominee, and was elected by a majority of 174 votes." Sketches of Legislators and State Officers, Fifteenth Legislature, 1876-1878, 1876.

Military Service Notes

• Private, Texas Mounted Volunteers, McCullough's Independent Company. Captain, Texas Frontier Battalion, Texas Rangers. James Monroe Swisher, Austin, Texas, death date 3/27/1903 (handwritten on pension card), widow Mary A. Swisher. FamilySearch. United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926 United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940
• Mexican War, soldier under Ben McCulloch. Texas Rangers, Captain, 1870-1871 on the frontier. Sketches of Legislators and State Officers, Fifteenth Legislature, 1876-1878, 1876.

Other Resources

• Census of 1860 - J.M. Swisher, Austin, Travis County, age 41, exchange booker, born in Tennessee.
  Census of 1880 - James M. Swisher, Austin, Travis County, age 58, born in Tennessee, spouse Mary, children Milton, Mary, Emma, Charly, Josephine, Isabella, and Michael. One M.J. Swisher in 1880 - born in Georgia, however.
  Census of 1900 - James M. Swisher, Travis County, age 78, born March 1822 in Tennessee, spouse Mary A., children Milton, Charley, Jossie, and Isabell. FamilySearch. 1860 1880 1900
• Capt. James M. Swisher, burial in White Rock Cemetery, Bee Cave, Travis County, with Mary A. Swisher. Find a Grave.
• Monroe J. Swisher. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
• Included in "Table II, Constitutional Unionists (Identified from newspapers) with Biographical Data," list of leaders of the Texas Constitutional Union Party in 1860. The party was formed in January of 1860. "The Constitutional Union Party in Texas," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 82, Number 3, January 1979, pp. 238, 256-262, crediting Texas State Historical Association. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries). Table II, Constitutional Unionists
• Monroe J. Swisher. Texas House of Representatives: A Pictorial Roster 1846-1992, 1992.

Photographs

• Photograph. J.M. Swisher, 15th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 15th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.

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