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Swenson, Oscar A.

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of Nicollet
Nicollet, MN

House 1913-14 (District 20); House 1915-32 (District 15); Senate 1937-50 (District 15)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Nicollet, Sibley

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 03/27/1877 Date of Death: 06/20/1951
Birth Place: New Sweden, Minnesota Birth County: Nicollet Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Lutheran
City of Residence (when first elected):  Nicollet

Occupation (when first elected):  Farmer

EDUCATION

New Sweden Township Rural Schools; At Least Elementary School;
Luther Academy, Albert Lea, Minnesota; Secondary; 3 years
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota; Attended College; 1 year course

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal GovernmentNew Sweden, Minnesota (Township Supervisor, 7 years) ??/??/1??? to ??/??/1???
Municipal Board/CommissionNew Sweden, Minnesota (Town Board, Chair, 4 years) ??/??/1909 to ??/??/1913

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Bertha Jenson (married on March 29, 1900)
Children: Five children: Maurice (died while his father was in office) and Bernhard (sons); Constance, Clara, and Eda (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Carl L. Swenson  - Brother
Douglas G. Swenson  - Grandson
Howard Swenson  - Grandson
Swen Swenson  - Father
Lars Swenson  - Uncle

GENERAL NOTES

He had Norwegian ancestry.

He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Norseland.

He died due to complications from a cerebral hemorrhage at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Norseland in Nicollet County, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Journal of the Senate, April 8, 1953.

Legislative Session: 56th (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Committees
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 55th (1947-1948)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 54th (1945-1946) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1942 Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 53rd (1943-1944)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1942 Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 52nd (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/8/1938 Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Finance
Insurance
Public Domain
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 51st (1939-1940)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/8/1938 Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Taxes and Tax Laws
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 50th (1937-1938) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1936 Term of Office: 12/17/1936 to 1/2/1939 (Special Election)
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Finance
Insurance
Markets and Marketing
Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
Public Highways
Taxes and Tax Laws
Workmens Compensation
Legislative Session: 47th (1931-1932)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/4/1930 Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/2/1933
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Legislative Session: 46th (1929-1930)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/6/1928 Term of Office: 1/8/1929 to 1/5/1931
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Markets and Marketing
Public Buildings
Public Highways (Chair)
Railroads and State Motor Transportation
Reforestation
Rules
Legislative Session: 45th (1927-1928)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/2/1926 Term of Office: 1/4/1927 to 1/7/1929
District: 15 Residence: Lafayette
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Markets and Marketing
Public Highways (Chair)
Railroads and State Motor Transportation
Reforestation
Rules
Legislative Session: 44th (1925-1926)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/4/1924 Term of Office: 1/6/1925 to 1/3/1927
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Civil Administration
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Drainage
Public Highways
Railroads and Motor Vehicle Transportation (Chair)
Legislative Session: 43rd (1923-1924)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1922 Term of Office: 1/2/1923 to 1/5/1925
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Drainage
Public Highways (Chair)
Railroads
Telephones and Telegraphs
Legislative Session: 42nd (1921-1922)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/2/1920 Term of Office: 1/4/1921 to 1/1/1923
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Public Highways (Chair)
Public Utilities
State and County Fairs
Legislative Session: 41st (1919-1920)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/5/1918 Term of Office: 1/7/1919 to 1/3/1921
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Banks and Banking
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Public Highways (Chair)
State and County Fairs
State Hospitals
Legislative Session: 40th (1917-1918)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1916 Term of Office: 1/2/1917 to 1/6/1919
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer/Secretary and Manager, New Sweden Creamery Association
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock
General Legislation (Chair)
Reorganization of State Government
Roads and Bridges
Rules and Joint Rules
State Hospitals
Legislative Session: 39th (1915-1916)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/3/1914 Term of Office: 1/5/1915 to 1/1/1917
District: 15 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer/Secretary and Manager, New Sweden Creamery Association
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock (Chair)
Elections
Grain and Warehouse
Roads and Bridges
State Hospitals
Legislative Session: 38th (1913-1914)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/5/1912 Term of Office: 1/7/1913 to 1/4/1915
District: 20 Residence: Nicollet
Counties Represented: Nicollet
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Republican
Committees:
Agricultural Schools
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Elections
Reapportionment
Roads and Bridges
State Hospitals

OTHER INFORMATION

Photographs
Senate committee on agriculture assembles to hear views on a bill affecting farmers (ca. 1941) From the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database

Articles & Books About
Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.

Oscar A. Swenson Memorial. Minnesota Journal of the Senate, April 8, 1953, p. 1589-1591.

Oscar A. Swenson Birthday Tribute. Minnesota Journal of the House, March 26, 1927, p. 845.




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