Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Swanson, Albert J. 1868 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 24, 2006, 10:44 pm

Author: T. H. Ball (1904)

ALBERT J. SWANSON.

    Albert J. Swanson, who is filling the office of township trustee and is
engaged in the hardware business at Hobart, Indiana, is a worthy citizen that
Sweden has furnished to Lake county and in his business career and private life
he displays many of the strong and commendable qualities of the Swedish race. He
was born April 6, 1868, a son of John and Beatrice Swanson. He was only two
years old when his parents crossed the Atlantic to America, establishing their
home in Moline, Illinois, whence they came to Lake county, Indiana, in October,
1871. Mr. Swanson was then only three years of age. He pursued his education in
the public schools of Hobart and in a Swedish school at that place, and when
fifteen years of age he started out to earn his own living, working for George
Stoker in a general store in Hobart. There he remained for two years, and at the
end of that time accepted a clerkship in the store of J. E. Mander, with whom he
continued for three months. His next employer was J. J. Wood, a general merchant
of Hobart, with whom he continued for two years, and later he was a salesman in
the general store of B. W. Stratton. In 1891 he embarked in merchandising on his
own account in partnership with his brother, F. P. Swanson. They purchased the
grocery department in the store of B. W. Stratton, and after a partnership of
three years Albert J. Swanson bought his brother's interest and continued in the
grocery trade until 1900. He then sold out and purchased the hardware store of
A. Mealin. He has since added to his stock and is now conducting a well equipped
hardware, tin shop, and plumbing establishment. He has secured a good patronage,
and his constantly growing trade is now bringing to him a very desirable
financial return. He is also engaged in dealing in coal in partnership with
William Jahnke, their yards being situated along the line of the Nickle Plate
Railroad track.

    In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Swanson and Miss Margaret Cooke,
a daughter of M. J. and Elizabeth Cooke. They have four children: Beth,
Margaret, Geraldine and Pliny. Beth is in the seventh grade, Margaret in the
sixth, Geraldine in the third, and Pliny in the second. Both of the two elder
children have taken music.

    Mr. Swanson is a public-spirited citizen who has manifested an active
interest in many measures pertaining to general progress. In politics he is a
Republican, and in November, 1900, was elected township trustee, which position
he is now filling. He is the youngest trustee that has ever served in Lake
county, and he was chosen to the office by one of the largest majorities ever
given a candidate for the position. Mr. Swanson is the only trustee in the
county of Lake who has introduced a special teacher of music for the schools of
the township, which is highly commendable, as an educative element. The teacher
in charge, Miss Cleo Z. Barnes, visits each school each week. Mr. Swanson has
also introduced typewriting in the public schools of Hobart, and it proves a
successful venture.

    Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge, the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, No. 333, the Knights of Pythias, No. 458, and the Knights of the
Maccabees, Tent No. 65, and he has filled all the offices in these various
lodges with the exception of the Masonic. He is well known in the county for his
business ability and political activity, and he has made for himself a most
creditable record. He started out in life empty-handed, and all that he
possesses has been accumulated through his own persistent purpose, capable
management and progressive business methods.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
Genealogy and Biography
OF
LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA,
WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 
1834—1904

A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and
the Founding of a Nation.

REV. T. H. BALL
OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO   NEW YORK
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1904


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