JULY 26, 1877 TO OCTOBER 29, 1958
Born July 26, 1877 in Burlington, Iowa. Died October 29, 1958 in Arlington, Washington
Albert Swanson was born in Burlington, Iowa. His mother Ellen Anderson was born in Sweden. Details are sketchy. She spoke Swedish. His father was Charles Swanson. We found a picture of his aunt, Anna Sarah Anderson, a couple of postcards and letters. Albert Swanson was not into talking about his family roots. He taught us a few sayings in Swedish, but preferred English.
Marriage of Ida Daisy Falconer and Albert Lewis Swanson
Albert and Daisy Swanson (Ida Falconer) were married July 5, 1905 in Wilton, N.D. where he owned a men’s clothing store for several years. Daisy and Albert had 3 children: Josephine, Elizabeth and Norman. Cousin Eddie speculated that the couple owned a theatre and restaurant while in Wilton. Daisy and Albert were married 53 years.
Albert, Daisy, Josephine, Elizabeth and Norman moved to Seattle in 1921. The Swanson family found a home in Lake Forest Park, Seattle. It was a vast improvement from North Dakota.
During the Depression work was hard to find. Albert worked as a security watchman for Frederick & Nelson Department Store in Seattle for many years.
Life would not be complete without a juicy scandal. Mr. Clint Lundy from Lake Forest Park, an old friend of Norm’s told us about the SWANSON SCANDAL. Josephine , the oldest Swanson child, appeared to have had many suitors. There was one sailor who was not so appealing. The belligerent “armed” suitor of Josephine’s came to the Swanson residence in Lake Forest Park, confronted and threatened the Swanson family. Albert Swanson according to the record, shot the fellow in self-defense. Evidently as the story goes, the sailor was threatening not only Josephine, but also the family. Mr. Albert Swanson was never charged with criminal conduct as he was acting in self-defense. All the neighbors stood up for his fine character. Even Aunt Jean Quistorff remembered the famous incident. Albert was found not guilty.
Albert and Daisy Swanson moved to Arlington from 1950-1958 and lived at 509 Hillcrest, Arlington. They enjoyed their grandchildren and neighbors. Albert Swanson died at 81 suddenly from a heart attack.
Information regarding the Swanson farm in Nebraska
Anna Sarah Swanson was born in Sweden. It appears from the information available that Anna was Albert’s Aunt. She lived in Burlington, Iowa and died at the age of 81 in Kearney, Nebraska. She was married to Andrew M. Swanson and had a daughter Minnie Swanson.
November 4, 1922 Andrew purchased property in Kearney, Nebraska for $8,000. In 1941 the records show that Minnie Swanson (Albert’s cousin) gave the property to Albert L. Swanson and Daisy Swanson. Legal Description of the property: SW Quarter of Sec. 34, Township 10, Range 16
Quit Claim Deed, December 1952 , Albert gave Ida F.(Daisy) Swanson the property in her name.
In 1978, Daisy Swanson gave the property to her three children, Josephine Larsen Wescott, Elizabeth F. Sipprell and Norman Swanson. Elizabeth F. Sipprell and Norman Swanson’s property went to their children
Information found in the Family Bible
Andrew Swanson was born August 10, 1837 and died November 4, 1922 at 85 . (Anna’s Husband)
Anna Swanson was born December 10, 1848 and died May 31, 1930 at 82. (Albert’s aunt)
Minnie Swanson was born January 31, 1875 and died November 12, 1940 at 65.
Mrs. A.P. Erickson (Bettie Anderson) was born in Skane Sweden.
Came to America in 1867. She was born May 18, 1851 and died Nov. 3?
Memories of Grandpa Swanson from Eddie Larsen
Grandpa was particularly tall and thin. He always complained that his stomach bothered him rather than spend money for expensive meals. Once on a trip to Las Vegas Eddie noted that if the food/breakfast was cheap Grandpa’s stomach miraculously improved and he ate everything. Eddie remembers helping Grandma and Grandpa harvest fruit and vegetables from the Swanson garden in Lake Forest Park during the Great Depression.
Memories of Grandpa from Elicabeth Ann Sipprell
Grandpa Swanson was always looking at ads in the paper. He would consult grandma before driving their old back Chevrolet to town for groceries. He taught me to say “Father is getting old in Swedish” “Four Honey Seqamma.” He didn’t want us to talk Swedish. What a sense of humor. He would tease us saying, “smell this” and tweak my nose with his middle finger and thumb.
Don and I visited the Nebraska farm near Kearney. It was very flat, perfect to raise corn, wheat and sorghum. When Albert and later Daisy Swanson died they left the farm to Josephine, Elizabeth and Norman which in turn went to their children. I appreciated my inheritance from the farm. It helped me buy my first home.