J. H. Swanson, Crescent City, brother of William and N. Swanson, was born in Crescent City, Iowa, August 20, 1859. His boyhood and youth were spent on his father’s farm.

At the age of nineteen years, he obtained a position as teacher in a country school, and continued for two years subsequently to teach in his own and adjoining townships; then went to Iowa College, Grinnell; thence to Griswold College, Davenport, where he has since been though he still makes Crescent City his home.

His parents are Nelson and Johannah (Jensen) Swanson, natives of Sweden, he, born August 14, 1821, was a farmer by occupation, and died January 12, 1881; she, born December 27, 1824, died October 11, 1874. They had eleven children, four of whom are dead. He is a member of the I.O.G.T., and in politics is a Republican.