William Hudson Swatszel, president of the Inter State Mortgage Trust Company, at Parsons, was born Dec. 7, 1858, at Westport, Mo., now a part of Kansas City. His father, Alfred B. Swatszel, a Tennesseean by birth, was the son of Peter Swatszel, who was born in Germany and immigrated to America, settling first in Tennessee, from whence he removed to southwestern Missouri, where he spent the remainder of his days in the town of Sarcoxie. Alfred Swatszel was reared on a Missouri farm. In 1856 he located at Westport, Mo., where he married Miss Anna Hudson, a daughter of Selah Hudson, a native of Ohio. Mr. Hudson was a pioneer resident of Westport, where he served as postmaster for a number of years, and where he died. In 1861 the parents of our subject removed to Kansas and located, on a farm in Miami county, two miles south of Paola, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father's death having occurred when sixty-four years of age, and that of the mother at the age of forty-five. Three of their children grew to maturity, William H. being the eldest. He was reared on the Miami county farm and obtained his education in the country school near his home and at the normal school at Paola. He initiated his business career as a clerk in a drug store at Paola, where he remained two and a half years and then, in January, 1884, became special agent for the Home Insurance Company, with headquarters at Parsons, where he has since resided. In 1885 he engaged in the real estate business, which line of endeavor claimed his attention until April, 1893, when he was appointed by President Cleveland as deputy internal revenue collector for the Third Congressional district of Kansas and the Indian Territory, which position he held until August, 1897. In 1898 he took charge of the Inter State Mortgage Trust Company's business at Elreno, Okla., where he remained two years. He then returned to Parsons to become manager of the company and soon afterwards was elected president. He is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party and is a prominent worker in that party's behalf in Parsons. He affiliates fraternally with the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has taken a prominent part in the affairs of both the Knights of Pythias and Elks orders in Kansas. In the former fraternity he has served in all the chairs of the local and grand lodge, and was grand chancellor commander of Kansas in 1896. He has also served in all the offices of the Elks order for Kansas, and has served two terms as a member of the national committee on appeals and grievances.

In 1883 Mr. Swatszel married Miss Flora E. Quinn of Paola, Kan. They have one son, Erle M., who is married and resides in Parsons and travels in the interest of the Inter State Mortgage Trust Company.