- Oscar A. Swenson
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Oscar A. Swenston 35th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives In office
January 1931 – January 1933Preceded by John A. Johnson Succeeded by Charles Munn Minnesota State Representative In office
January 1913 – January 1933Minnesota State Senator In office
January 1937 – January 1951Personal details Born March 27, 1877
New Sweden Township, MinnesotaDied June 20, 1951 (aged 74)
St. Paul, MinnesotaPolitical party Nonpartisan Conservative Caucus
RepublicanSpouse(s) Bertha Jenson Children Maurice, Bernhard, Constance, Clara, and Eda Residence Nicollet, Minnesota Alma mater Gustavus Adolphus College Profession Farmer Religion Lutheran Oscar A. Swenson ( March 27, 1877 – June 20, 1951) was a Minnesota politician and a Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He served two decades in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and another 14 years in the Minnesota Senate.[1]
Oscar A. Swenson born in New Sweden Township, Minnesota, the son of Swen Swenson, who also served in the Minnesota House. He attended New Sweden Township Rural Schools, Luther Academy, Albert Lea, Minnesota and Gustavus Adolphus College[2]
Oscar Swenson was elected to the House in 1912. He caucused with the Conservative Caucus in the then-nonpartisan body, and was selected as speaker in 1931, a position he held for two years.
Swenson left the House in 1933, but returned to the legislature after being elected to the Senate in 1936. He held that seat until 1951, serving as chair of the Senate agriculture committee. Swenson died in 1951 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Norseland in Nicollet County, Minnesota. His grandsons, Howard Swenson and Douglas G. Swenson both served the House of Representatives in the late 1990s.
Oscar Swenson was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Norseland, Minnesota. 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. The collection consisting of papers belonging to Oscar A. Swenson are contained in Memorial Library, Southern Minnesota Historical Center at the Minnesota State University, in Mankato, Minnesota.[3]
References
Political offices Preceded by
John A. JohnsonSpeaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
1931–1933Succeeded by
Charles MunnSpeakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives Territorial (1849–1858) State (since 1858) Bradley • Coggswell • Benson • Sherwood • Benson • Armstrong • Wakefield • Farmer • Davidson • J. Merriam • Hall • Kinyon • Gibbs • Gilman • Fletcher • Gibbs • W. Merriam • Graves • Champlin • Lee • Van Sant • Jones • Dare • Dowling • Babcock • Clague • L. Johnson • Rockne • Dunn • Rines • Flowers • Parker • Nolan • J. Johnson • Swenson • Munn • G. Johnson • Barker • Hall • Hartle • A. Johnson • Chilgren • Duxbury • Dirlam • Sabo • Searle • Norton • Sieben • Jennings • Norton • Vanasek • Long • Anderson • Carruthers • Sviggum • Anderson Kelliher • ZellersCategories:- 1877 births
- 1951 deaths
- Speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Minnesota State Senators
- American people of Norwegian descent
- American Lutherans
- Minnesota politician stubs
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