Lucas-Webster County IA Archives Biographies.....Swanburg, Gustaf Alfred 1857 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2007, 7:18 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

REV. GUSTAF ALFRED SWANBURG, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran Church of Chariton,
Iowa, is a native of Nasby, Sweden, born April 23, 1857. His father was
interested in educational work and at one time was quite well-to-do, but through
unfortunate investments he lost much of his property and died in America a poor
man. His name was Carl Gustaf Swanburg, and his wife bore the maiden name of
Anna Marie Bonde. They came to this country in 1867, bringing with them one son
and two daughters, and one son was born after reaching this country. Our subject
and his eldest brother remained in Sweden attending school at Ahlsborg for three
years after their parents' removal, pursuing the preparatory course in Ahlsborg
Academy.

   In 1870 Rev. Swanburg and his brother, John August, came to America and
joined their mother, who had been left a widow the first year after their
arrival here, her husband having died on the 8th of September, 1868. The family
was left in very straightened circumstances. The eldest son was about seventeen
years of age at the time he came to the New World, and upon his shoulders
largely fell the responsibility of providing for the family. Our subject is the
second son and third child, and he also aided substantially, contributing his
meager earnings as a farm laborer to the support of his mother and her children.
Their labors were rewarded in soon seeing the little family comfortably situated
upon a farm of 240 acres in Webster county, Iowa, which had been acquired
through their industry and frugality. The mother now resides at this home, where
she is surrounded with all the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life. One
of the saddest events which has entered into their family life was the death of
their eldest son, John August, who had devoted himself untiringly to the labors
that devolved upon him, and who passed away on the 30th of May, 1888, just as he
was prepared to enjoy life. The other members of the family are Anna L.
Wallburg, a resident of Dayton, Webster county, Iowa, whose husband is a
mechanic; Christina Marie, at home; J. Emil Christopher, who has charge of the
home farm; and Carl Oscar, who died February 23, 1893, at the age of twenty-four
years.

    After working upon the farm until his family was comfortably situated, Rev.
Swanburg entered Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois, pursuing a
classical course of seven years and graduating in 1889. In the fall of that year
he entered the theological seminary at Rock Island, pursuing the prescribed
course, graduating in 1891, and on the 21st of June, 1891, he was ordained to
the ministry. On the 3d of July following he took charge of the pastorate of the
Chariton Church, to which he had been called several months previous. Here his
labors have been pleasant and successful, and the church has steadily grown and
prospered. It was organized in 1868, and has a membership of 284, with 185
communicants. The parochial school under the jurisdiction of the church is
conducted each summer season for three months, at a period when least likely to
interfere with the public schools. Here the Swedish language and church and
Bible history are taught, thus supplementing the public-school course.

   Although still a young man, Mr. Swanburg, by virtue of his ability and zeal
in the cause to which his life has been dedicated, occupies an important place
among the people of his nationality in Iowa. He is a member of the executive
committee of the Iowa Conference, also of the board of missions of the same,
serving as treasurer of the board. For the past two years he has been chairman
of the Southwestern district of the conference, and for some years has been a
member of the Orphans' Home State board. The Iowa Conference of the Swedish
Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Swanburg is an honored member, has 9,438
communicants, and a membership of 15,735.

   Mr. Swanburg was married May 2, 1894, to Miss Selma Mathilda Falk, a native
of New Windsor, Illinois. Her parents were Carl M. and Ella (Johnson) Falk, both
natives of Sweden, and when quite young they became residents of New Windsor,
Illinois, the father being thirteen years of age at the time he located there,
while the mother was seventeen when she became one of the residents of that
town. Their marriage was celebrated there, and in 1875 they removed to Essex,
Page county, Iowa. The father is a retired farmer, and in Essex operates a
flouring-mill and deals in real estate. Mrs. Swanburg was born May 7, 1868, and
was educated in the Essex public schools, being a member of the first graduating
class of the high school of that place. She afterward attended Shenandoah
College and is a lady of culture and refinement, who ably assists her husband in
his work.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."'—MACAULAY.

"Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant,
of all things."—CARLYLE

"History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE.

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896


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