Olof Swenson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 623-624 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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OLOF SWENSON.

	Olof Swenson, who carries on general farming on section 23, 
Hancock precinct, in Bon Homme county, is a native of Sweden, his birth 
having occurred in the province of Herjdallen in 1842. According to the 
custom of the Scandinavian people whereby the children take the 
father's Christian name, adding thereto the syllable son and thus 
forming their last name, the subject of this review as a son of Swen 
Paulson became Olof Swenson. His mother in her maidenhood bore the name 
of Engel.

	Reared in his native country, Olof Swenson remained there until 
1869, when he emigrated to the new world. He made the trip from 
Stockholm by canal to Goteborg, the principal seaport, across the North 
Sea to Hull, England, and by rail went to Liverpool, whence he embarked 
on a steamer of the Allen line for Quebec, sailing in June, 1869. He 
made his way direct from Quebec to Minnesota and lived in Wabasha 
county until he came to Dakota territory in the fall of 1873. 

	When Mr. Swenson settled upon his present place it was the only 
developed farm for many miles around. All was open prairie with not a 
tree in sight. His first house was built entirely of cottonwood lumber 
and shingles cut by a sawmill on the river nearby. For two or three 
years grasshoppers caused damage to his crops but somehow he lived 
through the hard times and ultimately gained a financial foothold. He 
was about two miles south from home when the blizzard of January 12, 
1888, struck the country. He fought his way against the storm and at 
length reached his house, but many settlers were lost in going between 
their homes and barns. A family traveling through the country found 
shelter at the home of Mr. Swenson until the storm abated the following 
day. 

	When in Minnesota Mr. Swenson was married to Miss Christina 
Olson, a native of Norway. Mrs. Swenson is very fond of flowers and 
quite successful in their cultivation. She has fine plants in the home 
throughout the winter, their blooms adding beauty and cheeriness. Four 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swenson, of whom two are 
living: Jonas, who remains at home and cultivates the farm with his 
brother-in-law, his father having practically retired; and Ida, the 
wife of Gilbert O. Blegen, who was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, 
October 15, 1874, and is a son of Ole Blegen, who was born at 
Guldbrandon, Norway, and in that country married Julia Moe. Mr. and 
Mrs. Blegen have one son, Clifford. 

	Mr. Swenson has been a stalwart republican since becoming a 
naturalized American citizen, for he believes that the principles of 
that party contain the best elements of good government. He belongs to 
the Lutheran church and his life has been guided by its teachings. For 
forty-two years he has lived in Dakota and the history of its 
development and progress is familiar to him from the period of pioneer 
times to the present. He has borne his part in the work of general 
development and his worth is widely recognized as that of a progressive 
farmer and public-spirited citizen.