AUGUST T. SWANSON
There are many who, taking pessimistic views of life, think that the country is given over to the commercial spirit and that the religious element is diminishing. The life history of such a man as August T. Swanson stands to the contrary. His profession is that of telegraphy, but he finds many leisure hours to devote to the task of making the world better, being a licensed minister of the Baptist church. He holds the position of telegraph operator at Troy and is one of the native sons of Lucas county, his birth having occurred in White Breast township, September 9, 1877. There he was reared to manhood, spending his youthful days on the old home farm in White Breast township belonging to his father, A. J. Swanson, a native of Sweden. Coming to America, he won for himself a most creditable position among the successful and highly respected citizens of Lucas county. He married Christina Johnson, also a native of Sweden and a daughter of Eric Johnson, who was born in Sweden, March 2, 1822, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Lucas county, Iowa, making his home in White Breast township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swanson were born eight children: Albert, a resident of Sisseton, South Dakota; Gus, who makes his home northeast of Chariton, Iowa; August T., of this review; Oscar F., who was born January 24, 1880, and is residing in Lucas; Mrs. P. R. Bristor, a resident of Montpelier, North Dakota; Harvey, whose home is north of Chariton; Hattie, who is residing with her mother on the old home farm in White Breast township; and Arthur, who was born January 12, 1893, and is cultivating the old homestead. The eldest child was born in Chariton, the seven younger in White Breast township and all were reared upon the farm there.
The
usual experiences of the farm boy came to August T. Swanson,
who divided his time between the work of the fields and the
duties of the schoolroom.
After leaving the common schools he entered the Iowa
Business College at Des Moines and studied telegraphy. He was first
employed in the office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad Company at Chariton and in 1901 he became a
telegrapher for that road at Union Switch and afterward went
to White Breast, where he remained for six moths. He then located at
Troy, where he is telegraph operator for the same road.
About
four years ago Mr. Swanson began to study for the ministry and
is at present doing evangelistic work in connection with his
duties as telegraph operator.
Each year he spends his vacation in that way. He is a graduate of
the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, in which he has
completed two courses, and is now a licensed evangelist of the
Baptist church. He
is widely known in Chariton and throughout the county and all
who are acquainted with him speak of him in terms of the
highest regard. He
has a most clean record for business integrity and uprightness
and is a genial, earnest gentleman who possesses the courage
of his convictions. In
his Christian work he has been found to be an able, earnest
speaker and one whose zeal inspires and encourages others.
Mr. Swanson was married in 1904 to Miss Mary Alice Powell, who was born April 1, 1877, and was reared to womanhood in Lucas county, attending the public schools of Chariton, after which she began teaching, being connected at different times with the schools of Lucas and of Chariton. Her father, James Powell, is now deceased, but her mother, Mrs. Martha (Fletcher) Powell, is residing in Chariton. In their family were five children, of whom three are living: Emma, who is with her mother in Chariton; Mrs. Florence Malone, of Charles City, Iowa; and Mrs. Swanson. One son and one daughter are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson have become the parents of a son, Donald Odell, born in Chariton, January 14, 1910. Like her husband, Mrs. Swanson is an active worker in the Baptist church. It is his intention soon to take up evangelistic work altogether, his reading and studies being directed to that end. He now has a choice library filled with literature of the best kind, and his reading is constantly broadening a mind which has ready made its own many of the important thoughts that have been penned by writers of earlier days. Lucas county is proud to number him among her native sons, for his work is being attended with excellent results and his high moral courage marks him as a man who will accomplish great good in the world.