Margaret Swineford (maiden name unknown) was born around 1818 in Pennsylvania. She married Emanuel Swineford, and they had at least four children: William, born around 1841; Custis, born around 1844; Henry, born around 1846; and Thomas, born around 1849. They eventually moved to Montgomery, Ohio, and her husband worked as a miller. By 1850, they owned $1,500 of real estate. A decade later, they owned $8,000 of real estate and $1,000 of personal property, and by 1870, their wealth had grown to $19,262 of real estate and $3,064 of personal property. She died on December 10, 1890.