Swanson, Oscar Frederick (1862-1935)

SWANSON, PETERSON, POULSON, HITE, WILKE, RODINE

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Stratford Courier
August 8, 1935

Oscar F. Swanson

O.F. Swanson, 73, died in his home here Saturday night at about 8:30 o'clock following an illness of several years.

Funeral services were held here Tuesday afternoon with a brief service in the family home at 1:30 o'clock and a service in the Methodist church at 2:00 o'clock. Both services were in charge of the pastor of the church, the Rev. Paul R. Johnson. Following the services the remains were laid to rest in the South Marion Cemetery. The pallbearers were F.T. Ferlen, Charley Erickson, Tom Hakes, Carl Bergman, E.H. Barquist and S.E. Shaeffer. Miller's in charge.

Oscar F. Swanson, son of Swan J. Swanson and Sophia Peterson, pioneer settlers in the Swede Bend community southwest of Stratford, was born in Östergötland, Sweden, on Feb. 16, 1862. He died in his home here Aug. 3, 1935, and was thus 73 years, 5 months, 17 days old. At the age of 5 years he came to this country with his parents and lived with them until he grew to manhood. In 1887, he was united in marriage to Emma Poulson, who with their children: Garrett and Furman of Kennedy, Nebr., Herschel of Webster City, Clifford of Stratford, Mrs. William Hite of Pond Creek, Okla., and Mrs. Leonard Wilke of Webster City, survive him.

One son, Russell, a veteran of the World War, and two daughters, Florence and Vernice, the last two of whom died in infancy, preceded him in death.

Deceased was the third child in a family of six children and the remaining members of this family are, a sister, Mrs. Augusta Rodine, and a brother, Charley D. Swanson, both of Stratford.

In his home he was a kind and loving husband and father.

To a wide circle of friends and acquaintances he will be long remembered for his integrity and cheerful disposition, for his friendliness and hospitality in his ranch home, for his kindness to all and his faithfulness to duty, and for the fineness of his personality and the worth of his character.

The subject of this sketch was not only one of the early residents of Stratford and community but he was one of the early business men here. In the infant days of the town he was engaged in the hardware business with the late Charley Rodine. Later these two men engaged in the general mercantile business here which they operated for a good many years. Then in 1902, Mr. Swanson became interested in a government claim near Valentine, Nebr. Later this was developed into a ranch of several thousand acres and the greater part of his time for many years had been spent on this ranch. About five years ago his health failed him and since then he has been spending a great deal of his time in his home here.

During his business career here he was always one of the advocates for the upbuilding of Stratford and was back of almost every movement for the good of his town. He leaves a wide circle of friends who extend sincere condolences to the bereaved wife and children.

Card of Thanks

We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to our many friends for their kind assistance and their many expressions of sympathy in our bereavement. Mrs. O.F. Swanson and family.

Daily Freeman Journal
August 5, 1935

0. F. SWANSON, 73, IS DEAD

Prominent Retired Business Man Dies at Home in Stratford.

FUNERAL TOMORROW

(Freeman-Journal Special News Service)
STRATFORD, Iowa, Aug. 5. — Oscar Swanson, 73, a resident of Stratford for more than 50 years, died at his home here Saturday night about 8:30 o'clock. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon, at the home at 1:30 and at the Methodist church at 2 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. Johnson with Charles Miller in charge.

Mr. Swanson was one of the earliest residents of Stratford. He and the late Charles Rodine established the first hardware store in Stratford under the firm name of Swanson & Rodine. Later they took on a mercantile line, the firm name remaining the same.

Ranch His Pride.

More than 30 years ago Mr. Swanson bought a large ranch at Cherry county, Neb., which had been his pride ever since. Until poor health came upon him some five years ago, he had spent much of his time for 15 years at this ranch. There are 8,000 acres in the place, which is given over to cattle and corn raising. He loved the ranch and while he had his health he liked best to be there and oversee its operation.

Mr. Swanson was born in Ulrika Socken, Sweden, Feb. 17, 1862. The family moved to the United States in 1867 and settled in the Swede Bend community near Stratford, just over the line in Webster county. More than 50 years ago he moved to Stratford and until he retired from the mercantile business was prominent in the business activities of the town.

He leaves his wife, four sons and two daughters, one of the sons being Herschel Swanson, of Webster City, deputy county treasurer. A brother, Charles D., and a sister Mrs. August Rodine, live in Stratford.

Health Failed.

Mr. Swanson had been active all his life until some five years ago when his health began to fail. He had been confined to his bed only about a week, however.

He was widely known and during the active years when he was engaged in the hardware and mercantile business here was a leader in civic activites, and always held the highest esteem of the people of the community. He did much in the early days toward the upbuilding of the town and will be long remembered as one of the most active business men in the days of the town's infancy and for many years afterward until he transferred his activities to his large ranch in Nebraska.