Swenson family of Allamakee Co. Iowa gen III

She was born in Postville, Allamakee Co. IA on December 11, 1877. She spent her childhood on a farm across from the Bethel United Brethren Church northeast of Postville. She played the organ for Sunday School & in 1897 was the organist for the Young People's Society in her church.

She married twice. She married first, Arthur A. Dresser in Allamakee Co. IA, on February 9, 1898. Arthur was born in IA October 6, 1875 and was the son of Alonzo Dresser & Sarah Smith. Their wedding was announced in the Postville Review on February 11, 1898: Married. DRESSER-SWENSON. "At the residence of the bride's parents, in Post township, at 12 o'clock noon, of Feb. 9th, 1898, by Rev. J.Q. Dickensheets, Mr. A.A. Dresser and Miss Maria L. Swenson, all of Post township. Both of the contracting parties have lived all their lives near Postville, and are favorably known to all. The groom is the only son of Alonzo Dresser, residing a half mile north of town, and the bride is the daughter of E. Swenson, Esq., residing at Bethel. Invitations were extended to relatives of both families and a few particular friends, about forty in all." and this small item in the same issue: "Mrs. N. Lamborn wishes us to thank her young friend, Miss Swenson, now Mrs. Dresser, for a nice lot of rich wedding cake."

Maria and Arthur lived for a couple of years with Arthur's parents. They had no children, but raised the youngest daughter of her brother Harry, Evelyn Swenson Burroughs, from infancy.

She married second, Ira E. Smith, a widower, on October 11, 1933. Ira was born in IA December 5, 1870. He and his first wife, Jennie, had 4 children. The Postville Herald, Nov. 16, 1949: "Miss Gale Swenson of Chicago visited her aunt, Mrs. Ira Smith, and other relatives last week" and "Mrs. Ira Smith left Thursday for Waterloo where she is spending a two weeks visit in the Foster Burroughs home."

Arthur Dresser died June 16, 1930 in Allamakee Co. IA, at 54 years of age. He is buried in the Postville, IA cemetery. Ira Smith died April 12, 1948 in Allamakee Co. IA, at 77 years of age. He is buried in the Smith Cemetery, Post twp. Allamakee Co. IA next to his first wife Jennie. Maria died April 1973 in Postville, Allamakee Co. IA, at 95 years of age and is buried in the Postville cemetery.

He was born in Allamakee Co. IA in June 1880. His birth announcement from the Postville Review, July 3, 1880: "Evan Swenson has taken a young gentleman border into his family. He intends to let him stay 21 years and perhaps longer if he behaves well."

On January 6, 1903 he married Magna Othelia Nelson, daughter of Andrew Nelson and Anna unknown. She was born abt 1878 in Clayton Co. IA. John and Magna resided near Frankville, Winneshiek Co. IA. They lost one of their children: Postville Review April 23, 1909: "The John F. Swenson family buried their infant child last Saturday."

John died October 1, 1943 in Frankville, Winneshiek Co. IA, at 63 years of age. He is buried near his parents in the Postville IA cemetery. I don't know when Magna died.

John Swenson & Magna Nelson had at least 2 children:

He was born in Allamakee Co. IA in March 1884.

He married Eva unknown in Allamakee Co. IA. Eva was ill with a mental depression for a time after her youngest child was born, and their youngest child was raised by her aunt Maria and uncle Arthur Dresser. Harry moved to North Yakima, WA and later to Hampton, MN.

Harry is buried in MN and Eva is buried in Elkader, Clayton Co. IA. I don't know their death dates.

Harry S. Swenson and Eva unknown had 6 children:

She was born in Post twp. Allamakee Co. IA in June 1885. In 1909 she was operated on for appendicitis at the Postville Hospital.

She married Jerome Van Allen. I know little about Jerome. On the 1880 census here is a young boy named Jerome Van Allen living with his g-grandmother Abbey Favell, 2 homes away is the Evan Swenson farm. In 1890 the Postville Review reported: Jerome Van Allen, step-son of W.I.A. Brainard, and Bion Linn, step-brother of Mrs. W.I.A. Brainard, are in Bethel from Chicago visiting friends, gunning, fishing and rusticating. In 1895, the same paper: Jerome VanAllen, a young Anakin (six feet and three inches) of Chicago, is visiting and enjoying the freedom of the woods judging from the excercise his vocal chords get now and then. He will return soon to where he is practicing the delicate touch of a telegrapher.

Katie and Jerome, by then working as a mail carrier, lived in Chicago, for a time in Washington state and Texas. In 1941 she attended a "Pioneer Homecoming" at the Big-Four-Fair in Postville. [read about the reunion]

Kate Swenson & Jerome VanAllen had 4 children:

She was born in Post twp., Allamakee Co., IA on May 3, 1888.

She married Chester B. Davenport of Roseville, IL, in Post twp. Allamakee Co. IA on October 4, 1910. Chester was born in 1887 and was the son of Robert B. Davenport and Eveline Jameson. The couple lived in various locations; Roseville, IL and Lincoln, NE. She was a teller of the First National Bank in Lincoln. May 1926: --They visited her parents for a family reunion, at the time they were living in Mt. Hope, WI

Amy died in 1952 and Chester died in 1954. Both are buried in the Postville, IA cemetery.

Amy Swenson & Chester Davenport had 4 children:

She was born in Post twp., Allamakee Co. IA on April 30, 1892.

She married Joseph John Nicolay in Postville on November 25, 1915. Joseph was born December 7, 1885 and was the son of Joseph Nicolay and Fredricka Reith.

Alma and John were both teachers. At the time of her mothers death in 1942, she and her husband lived in Edmonds, WA. I don't know if they had issue.

John died in Washington state in May 1965. I don't know when Alma died, nor where either are buried.

He was born in Post twp. Allamakee Co. IA on December 28,1894.

He married twice. He married Esther Orr in 1914 in McGregor, Clayton Co. IA. Esther was born in Postville, on February 27, 1896. She was the daughter of Darius S. Orr and Bertha J. Harris. This marriage ended in divorce. He married second, Betty unknown. By 1942, he was living in Cincinatti, OH. This is possibly where he married Betty. The Postville Herald, Nov. 16, 1949: "Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Swenson returned home Tuesday from a visit to their son, Roland Swenson and family in Chicago. They also visited Mr. and Mrs. Hall Swenson at Fort Thomas, Kentucky." They were still living in KY in 1965 and by 1973 Hall was living in Pompano Beach, FL.

Esther Orr died on September 9, 1961 and is buried in the Postville cemetery. Hall died in August 1973. Most likely he is buried in Florida.

He was born in Post twp., Allamakee Co. IA on November 19, 1896.

From the Iowa Volksblatt, Friday, March 19, 1915: "Allison Swenson is now employed in the C.W. Meier general store."

He married Betty Swenson. I don't know who her parents were, nor am I sure that her maiden name was Swenson. They lived in Cleveland, TN. It is highly likely that they divorced.

Allison died in February 1982. His final SS benefits were sent to Paris, TN.

Allison Swenson & Betty Swenson had at least 2 children:

She was born in Bethel,Post twp. Allamakee Co. IA on December 15,1902.

She married 'Joe' Charles Lewis Harris in Allamakee Co. IA,on August 22, 1924. Joe was born in Lybrand, IA February 3, 1900. He was the son of Charles Andrew Harris and Alida Louise Harrington. Joe was a teacher and a decorator and served in WWI. Lillian was a secretary. They lived in Seattle, WA.

They had no children.

Lillian died January 17, 1988 in Seattle, WA, at 85 years of age. Joe died May 16, 1989 in Seattle, WA, at 89 years of age.