See History of Arizona medicine; collections of Orville Harry Brown, M.D. [AHSL Special Collections WZ 70 AA7 H673].
Quebbeman, Frances E. Medicine in territorial Arizona. Phoenix : Arizona Historical Foundation, 1966, pages 373-374.
A historical and biographical record of the Territory of Arizona. Chicago : McFarland & Poole, 1896: Dr. James Manoah Swetnam. He is a native Kentuckian, born in Lawrence County, November 11, 1841...In 1867 he commenced the study of medicine in Colorado City under Dr. Robert L. Garland; attended two full courses of lectures at the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Michigan and was graduated March 30, 1870. He also attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1871-72. Dr. Swetman commenced practicing medicine at Louisa Kentucky in April 1870 and continued there until October 1871, after which he located at Kirksville, Missouri where he remained from the spring of 1872 to August 1882. At the last named place he began the publication of the "Graphic" a weekly newspaper and a few months later the "Dailey Graphic" and in connection with John R. Musick, a literary paper called the "Home Treasure" at the same time attending to his medical practice. In 1882 he disposed of his newspaper interests and removed to Omaha and was one of the chief movers in organizing the Douglas County Medical Society, filling the presidential chair during 1883. Dr. Swetnam is now a member of the Nebraska State Medical Society and the American Medical Assc. ... The years 1887 and 1888 the doctor spent in travel in the United States, Canada and Mexico and in May 1889 again resumed the practice of medicine in Omaha. From there he moved to Phoenix Arizona in November 1894 and is now engaged in the treatment of diseases of the chest and stomach as a special practice. Dr. Swetnam was first married October 21, 1871 to Miss Laura P. Ferguson at Catlettsburg, Ky. She died on consumption in February 1886 leaving one daughter, Nellie. His second union occurred October 21, 1877 with Mrs. Nellie E. Brockett at Augusta, Kansas who died in December 1879. On the 27th of December 1887 the doctor married Mrs. Mae E. Black in Omaha and they have one child, Louise.
SWETNAM, James Manoah, Phoenix, Arizona, son of John James and Rebecca (Osborn) Swetnam, grandson of Neri Swetnam, was born November 11, 1841, in Lawrence county, Kentucky. He was educated in the common schools and then went west, at the time of the Pike's Peak gold excitement; driving an ox team from the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains for ten dollars a month, being more than sixty days on the trip. From there he drifted south through New Mexico and Arizona to Old Mexico; became a citizen of Prescott, the first capital of Arizona, before a house was erected there, remaining a citizen of the territory for nearly two years and participating in several battles with hostile Apache Indians. He returned to Denver in 1866, making the distance of one thousand miles on horseback with a single compan ion, four hundred miles of the distance being through a hostile Indian country. He attended school in 1866–67, and taught the public school in Colorado City, Colorado, during 1867–68. He commenced the study of medicine in Colorado City in 1867 under Dr. Robert L. Garland; attended two full courses of lectures at the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Michigan, and was graduated March 30, 1870; also attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, 1871–72. Dr. Swetnam commenced the practice of medicine at Louisa, Ky., in April, 1870, continuing there until October, 1871 ; was located at Kirksville, Mo., from the spring of 1872 to August, 1882. In 1880 at Kirksville he started the publication of the Graphic, a weekly newspaper, and a few months later the Daily Graphic, and in connection with John R. Musick, a literary paper called the Home Treasure, at the same time attending to his medical practice. In 1882 he disposed of his newspaper interests and removed to Omaha, and was one of the chief movers in organizing the Douglas County Medical Society, filling the presidential chair during 1883. Dr. Swetnam is now a member of the Nebraska State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association ; a member of Apperson Lodge, No. 195, A. F. and A. M., Louisa, Ky., and Union Pacific Council No. 1069, Royal Arcanum, Omaha, Neb. The years 1887 and 1888 Dr. Swetnam spent in travel in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and in May, 1889, again resumed the practice of medicine in Omaha. In November, 1894, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he is now engaged in the treatment of diseases of the chest and stomach as a special practice. Married, first, October 21, 1871, Miss Laura P. Ferguson, at Catlettsburg, Ky., who died of consumption in February, 1876, leaving one daughter, Nellie; second, October 21, 1877, Mrs. Nellie E. Brockett, at Augusta, Kan., who died in December, 1879; third, December 27, 1887, Mrs. Mae E. Black, in Omaha. They have one child, Louise.
Source: Watson, Irving Allison. Physicians and Surgeons of America: (Illustrated). A Collection of Biographical Sketches of the Regular Medical Profession. Republican Press Association, 1896, pages 181-182 [includes photo].
https://books.google.com/books?id=vEr9eZA8V6kC
Farish, Thomas Edwin. History of Arizona, Filmer Bros. Electrotype Co., 1918, volume 4, pages 215-246. (Dr. Swetnam’s account of the first white settlement in the Verde Valley.)
J Am Med Assoc, Feb 1907; XLVIII: 536: List of new members of the American Medical Association for the month of January, 1907: Arizona: Swetnam, J. M., Phoenix.
J Am Med Assoc, Apr 1907; XLVIII: 1356: The Maricopa County Medical Society, at its annual meeting, held in Phoenix, April 6, elected the following officers: President, Dr. James M. Swetnam..
J Am Med Assoc, Jan 1909; LII: 303: A committee consisting of Drs. James M. Swetnam, John W. Thomas and W. C. Ellis has been appointed by the Maricopa County Medical Society to draft a bill requiring the collection of vital statistics in the territory.
J Am Med Assoc, Feb 1921; 76: 606: James M. Swetnam, Phoenix, Ariz. ; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1870 ; aged 71 ; died, February 6.