SWANSON, ALGOT LEONARD

SWANSON, BLOMGREN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/18/2003 at 22:40:11

Biography reproduced from page 395 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Farming in America is no longer a mere haphazard occupation; it has advanced to the dignity of a modern science. All over the country great agricultural schools are offering to their students the most scientific methods and a knowledge of the most improved equipment through special courses in the various departments of agriculture. Algot Leonard Swanson is a graduate of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and his career is an example of the success which is the result of thorough and comprehensive knowledge. He was born on August 11, 1884, on a farm on section 10, Harrison township, Kossuth county. His father is a native of Sweden and was born in the province of Halland, in the town of Varberg, January 2, 1848. He came to America in 1877 and followed his occupation as a blacksmith, first in New Haven, Connecticut, and later in Kossuth county, Iowa, whither he came in 1884. He was a prosperous farmer, also, in his district and lived in Harrison township until 1903, when he came to Swea township, bought eighty acres on section 4 and is active in its operation at the present time. The mother of our subject was also a native of Sweden, who came to America at an early day. She died on May 30, 1897, in Bethesda Hospital at Minneapolis.

Algot Leonard Swanson attended district school, No. 5, in Harrison township, and supplemented his early education by a course in the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa. He entered that institution in the year 1905 and took a special course of study in general farming and stock-raising. He did not enter upon the occupation of agriculture immediately after his graduation, but spent the years from 1909 to 1911 in tile ditching. In 1912 he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Swea township and began its cultivation. He has been active in the agricultural field only a short time but has already gained the reputation for himself for successful and scientific methods and for his expert knowledge along many lines. He is known as a judge of cattle and his opinions in this direction are often asked and his advice always followed.

Politically Mr. Swanson is a consistent republican and has always been active in local affairs. He is now serving his second term as assessor of Swea township and has done excellent work in this capacity. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church and is a prominent figure in its affairs. He has a remarkable talent for music and a great love for this art and is a valuable addition to the band affiliated with the Luther League, in which organization he plays the slide trombone. He is one of the rising young men of Swea township, upon whom the future development of Kossuth county along agricultural lines to a large extent depends. The progress of this district is in the hands of these young men. They are taking the land which a former generation opened up by hard and unremitting work and are bringing to its cultivation their new and specialized knowledge and are giving their energies and their efficient ideas to promote the growth and prosperity of the county. They are raising the standard of agriculture and by their talents and scientific knowledge are adding yearly to the abundance of the Iowa harvests.