William Irvin Swoope

William Irvin Swoope (October 3, 1862 – October 9, 1930) was an attorney and Republican politician from Clearfield, Pennsylvania, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1923 to 1927. Over the course of two terms in Congress, he represented his Pennsylvania constituents during a significant period in American history and took part in the national legislative process as a member of the Republican Party.

Born on October 3, 1862, Swoope came of age during the closing years of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era, a context that shaped the political and social environment in which he would later practice law and enter public life. He was associated throughout his life with Clearfield, Pennsylvania, a community that served as the base for his legal career and political activities. Details of his early family life and upbringing are not extensively documented, but his subsequent professional path reflects a solid grounding in the legal profession and in the civic affairs of his region.

Swoope pursued legal studies and was admitted to the bar, establishing himself as an attorney in Clearfield. His work as a lawyer provided the foundation for his later political career, giving him experience in statutory interpretation, advocacy, and the practical workings of government at the local and state levels. Through his legal practice, he became a recognized figure in his community, which in turn facilitated his entry into elective office and Republican Party politics in Pennsylvania.

Building on his professional reputation, Swoope became active in public affairs and aligned himself with the Republican Party, which dominated Pennsylvania politics in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His legal expertise and party involvement positioned him as a viable candidate for higher office. By the early 1920s, he had gained sufficient standing within the party and among voters to seek national office, reflecting both his personal ambitions and the confidence of his political supporters.

Swoope was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served two consecutive terms from 1923 to 1927. His tenure in Congress coincided with the early years of the 1920s, a period marked by post–World War I adjustment, economic expansion, and evolving debates over domestic policy and America’s role in the world. As a member of the House of Representatives, William Irvin Swoope participated in the democratic process, contributed to the legislative work of the chamber, and represented the interests of his Pennsylvania constituents. During these years, he took part in deliberations and votes on measures that reflected the priorities of the Republican majority and the concerns of his district.

After completing his second term, Swoope left Congress in 1927. Although specific details of his activities following his congressional service are limited, his background suggests that he remained identified with the legal profession and with Republican politics in Pennsylvania. His career as both an attorney and a legislator exemplified the path of a regional lawyer who rose to national office during a transformative era in American political and economic life.

William Irvin Swoope died on October 9, 1930, closing a life that had spanned from the Civil War era into the onset of the Great Depression. Remembered primarily for his service as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania between 1923 and 1927, he left a record of participation in the legislative process and representation of his Clearfield-area constituents at the federal level.