Sander O. Swenson
One of the substantial, prosperous and deservedly successful
farmers of Post township is Sander O. Swenson, who owns and
operates a fine property of two hundred and sixty acres of land,
upon a portion of which he was born March 25, 1875. He is a son
of John and Oline Swenson, natives of Norway, both born in the
vicinity of Christiania, the former on the 13th of February,
1845, and the latter on the 23rd of July, 1844. Their marriage
occurred in Norway in 1868 and they afterward came to America,
settling first in Franklin township, Allamakee county. They later
removed to Post township and here the father purchased land,
buying one hundred and eighteen acres, upon which he carried
forward the work, of improvement and development until his death,
which occurred on the 1st of December, 1891.
Sander O. Swenson acquired his education in the Highland district
school, which he attended until he was thirteen years of age. He
was still very young when his father died but he afterward
assumed the entire management of the farm, which he has continued
to further improve and develop since that time. He has added to
the improvements made by his father, erecting a number of modern
buildings, installing a windmill and equipping the property with
all the necessary labor-saving machinery. In addition to the work
of the fields he engages extensively in stock-raising and this
has come to be one of the most important sources of his income.
He is a practical, modern and able farmer , and his labors
through the years have been crowned by success, his farm being
today one of the finest agricultural properties in this part of
Iowa.
On the 18th of October, 1898, Mr. Swenson was united in marriage
to Miss Cora A. McGhee, who was born in Franklin township, near
Hardin, November 10, 1876, a daughter of Lucius and Ruth (Eaton)
McGhee, the former a native of Ohio, born July 17, 1852, and the
latter of Iowa, born February 17, 1849. Throughout his entire
active life the father engaged in farming, becoming one of the
largest landowners in Franklin township and continuing to manage
his property there until his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson
have four children: Lloyd Lucius, whose birth occurred on the
12th of March, 1900; Harlin Willard, born July 25, 1903; Ruth
May, born November 9, 1904; and Alice Lenora, born March 28,
1908.
Mr. Swenson is a member of the United Brethren church and
fraternally is connected with the Yeomen. He gives his political
allegiance to the republican party but has never sought office,
preferring to concentrate his attention upon the conduct of his
farm. He is one of the most successful and capable business men
and substantial farmers of the locality and is a native son of
whom Post township has every reason to be proud.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
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