William Franklin Switzler was an American journalist, publisher, and historian of the 19th century from Columbia, Missouri. He studied law under Abiel Leonard and James Sidney Rollins. In the 1840s he edited the Columbia Patriot eventually going into business for himself, printing the Columbia Statesman. In 1882 he published a History of Boone County, Missouri. In 1866 and 1888 he ran for congress, unsuccessfully, but was eventually appointed Chief of the Bureau of Statistics. Switzler Hall on the David R. Francis Quadrangle at the University of Missouri is named after him.[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Franklin_Switzler

See also: http://muarchives.missouri.edu/exh_mu_cemetery_switzler.html

I found one document that listed him with the title Colonel, but find no record of his militry service. Could be for the Mexican War or Militia service. And then again, an honorary title.