Charles P. Swanson Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 737-738

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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CHARLES P. SWANSON. It is astonishing to witness the success of young 
men who have emigrated to America without capital and from a position 
of comparative obscurity have worked their way upward to a position of 
prominence. The readiness with which they adapt themselves to 
circumstances and take advantage of opportunities offered brings to 
them success and wins them a place among the leading men of the 
community in which they reside. Among this class is Charles P. Swanson, 
the present popular and efficient county treasurer of Hyde county, 
South Dakota. 

He is a native of Sweden, born at Porkenahult Fagerhults Sorken Nona 
Osbo Harad, near Engleholm, May 17, 1856, and is a son of Swan and Elna 
Swanson, farming people. The father is now deceased, but the mother is 
still living in Sweden. Our subject was educated in the common and high 
schools of his native land, and on laying aside his text books followed 
the carpenter's trade in his native land and also conducted a lumber 
yard there until his emigration to the United States in 1881. 

After stopping for a short time in Chicago, Mr. Swanson came to Hyde 
county, South Dakota, and took up a claim, which he improved to some 
extent, but gave the greater part of his attention to the carpenter's 
trade and to conducting a lumber yard. He married Miss Harriet E. 
Brewer, a native of Iowa, and they now have three children: Merlie E., 
Charles L. and William W Mrs. Swanson is an earnest and consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a most estimable lady. 

Socially, Mr. Swanson is a Master Mason, and a prominent member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, and has filled all the chairs in the first two fraternities. 
In political sentiment he is a strong Republican, and has ever taken an 
active and influential part in local political affairs, having served 
as city treasurer of Highmore for two years and is now city clerk. In 
1894 he was elected register of deeds for the county, which office he 
filled for two years, and was first elected county treasurer in 1896 
and re-elected in 1898. He gives his entire time and attention to the 
duties of the office and is serving with credit to himself and to the 
entire satisfaction of all concerned. As a citizen he has always been 
true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, so that his loyalty to 
his adopted country is above question. As an honored pioneer and a 
representative man of the community he is also worthy of the high 
regard in which he is held.