Swenson, George

SWENSON, KNUTSON, EVANSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 1/5/2008 at 23:29:53

Source: History of Monona County, Iowa 1890
Pub: Chicago National Com

George Swenson came to the county of Monona in June, 1868, in company with Evan Evanson, Evan Knutson and his brother, Andrew Swenson, and settled on the farm where he now lives, on Section 33, in Soldier Twonship. Having built a log cabin that summer, in which he took up his residence, he worked out through the country by day’s work until the next spring, He purchased a small farm of some forty acres which he fenced and half of which he broke the next summer, and engaged in the cultivation of the soil. He resided in the dug-out until the summer of 1884, when he built a small frame house which was replaced the next year by the commodious and tasty one, in which he now resides. From the humble beginning and state of comparative poverty with which his life in the county was commenced, he has raised himself by his own exertions to a position among the successful and well-to-do farmers of the community and feels a justifiable pride in so doing.

Mr. Swenson was born November 25, 1840, in Norway, and is the son of Swen and Anna (Knutson) Swenson. Having received the education common to the youth of his native land, under its system of law, he there grew to manhood and made it his home until April 10, 1866, when he crossed the ocean for America, landing at Quebec, Canada. After a week spent there and the same length of time in Montreal, he came to Chicago and thence, two weeks later, to LaCrosse County, Wis., where he was engaged in farm labor for two years previous to coming to Monona County.

Mr. Swenson was married June 20, 1863, to Miss Jane Evanson, a native of Norway, who was born March 9, 1846, and is a daughter of Evan and Isabel Evanson. Of this union there have been born seven children—Anna, Swen, Julia, Elena, Carl, Isaac and Josie Matilde.