Leonard Swanson Family

SWANSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/18/2010 at 22:04:03

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Leonard Swanson Family
By Lora Lee Bramley

The L Swansons moved to their farm three miles south of Moville in March of 1947. Leonard and Leora Swanson were both raised in the Sloan area and their two daughters, Leah Gayle, born August 27, 1939, and Lora Lee, born September 3, 1944, were born there. My folks said that was an interesting year – a new baby, Leah started school, and uncle Bob came back.

Robert Smith, born July 25, 1927, shared the Swanson’s home from the time they were married. He was the only boy in the family of six girls, of which Leora was the second daughter. Robert went to live with his father, Jess and stepmother, Lula Mae Smith. Lula Mae Smith in Fairmount, Indiana. Here he attended junior high and high school until his senior year. He returned to live with L Swanson the year he was a senior. After graduation in 1944 he joined the Navy. Following his service of two years, Bob attended Morningside College. That same year he married Dorothy Dunn of Sioux City, October 14, 1950. Robert now owns his Distribution Business in San Francisco, California, where his family of two boys and two girls live.

The former Leora Smith was born September 19, 1912, to Jess M and Palma L (Peterson) Smith. Leorga graduated from Sloan High school in 1930, attended Wayne State College and taught in the Sloan area.

Leonard Swanson was born January 28, 1908, to Frank and Matilda (Lindburg) Swanson. His parents immigrated to Sloan from Sweden around 1900 and were farmers near the Swedish Covenant Church. Leonard graduated from Sloan High school in 1927. He married Leora Smith on February 27, 1937, in the home of her sister, Irene and Arthur Beem of Hornick. Leonard has engaged in farming all his life.

Leah Gayle Swanson graduated from Moville High school in 1957. She attended Wayne State College and taught in St Edward and Clark, Nebraska. On November 23, 1962, he was united in marriage to Fred Alexander. This was the first big wedding in the new United Methodist Church in Moville. They resided in Silver Creek, Nebraska, until the time of her death, December 27, 1964. Leah Alexander is buried at Silver Creek, Nebraska.

Lora Lee Swanson graduated from Moville High school in 1962. She attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned a degree in Home Economics in 1969. On August 14, 1965, she married William Bramley of Earlville, Iowa. They taught school at Turkey Valley and Maquoketa Valley schools. They have two children: Todd Lee, born March 21, 1967; and Tara Lee, born August 15, 1977. The family now resides in Earlville. William is a partner in Dee, Gosling and Company, Certified Public Accounting firm in Manchester.

The Swanson couple has been members of the Moville Federated Church since 1947 and have been actively involved in many church activities throughout the years. Mrs Swanson has taught many boys and girls in Sloan and Moville as a church school teacher. Leora was the first woman director of the Moville Township School District #2, and the first president of the Moville Senior Citizens. She was active in forming the first Woodbury County Parent Teachers Association, serving as the second president of that organization. The couple was the first to sign up for ‘Project Alone’ which was introduced in the summer of 1983 by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department.

Leora put together a story of her parents, their eight children (the first baby, Roy, lived two days), the offsprings, forefathers and gentle mothers. This unusual genealogy is in the form of a loose leaf notebook so more pictures, information, and charts can be added. It is titled, The Story of J M & P L Smith and Kin & Kith. She says that this project could not have been accomplished without the help of others and her sisters: Irene Beem; Lavonne Irwin of Tucson, Arizona; Harriet Pullen of Whiting, Iowa; Margaret Schaefer of Sun City, Arizona; Clara Jane Pullen of Whiting; and especially brother. The books were assembled and shipped starting in 1982, form Robert D Smith Co., Inc, San Francisco, California.

Leoanrd and Leora enjoy genealogy, reading, writing, gardening, traveling and the companionship of friends and relatives. They celebrated their forty-fifth wedding anniversary in 1982.

Additional note: from Leora Swanson

Mrs Swanson adds that her family’s interest in genealogy and Lora’s help with typing pushed the Smith story along. Len and I are proud of Lora Lee and Bill Bramley’s involvement in their community. In the Earlville Methodist Church, Bill is the lay leader; Lora is serving as education chairman. The two have been co-chairmen of C A T (civic action team) that sponsor community betterment projects. Lora is a past president of Federated Women’s Club and the Hope Club, while Bill is on the town council. Lora Lee feels that her years in Woodbury County 4H helped prepare her for teaching home economics, being a homemaker and enjoying working with others.