Renville County Biographies J. E. BASS, Tolley. of the forty-third legislative district, was born at Richland Center. Wis., January 3, 1867. Received his education in the common schools of Wisconsin and Minnesota, completing a commercial course in a business college. Came to North Dakota. May 29, 1899 and engaged in the occupation of farming. For seven years has been chairman of his township board. He is married and has two children. Was elected representative as a republican. [Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R.] O. J. CLARK. (Sherwood) of the forty-third legislative district, was born July 1, 1878, at Lincoln, Minn., and received his education at the Ortonville high school, and the Hamline university. Came to North Dakota in 1902. He has been president of the village board for five years and held other offices, and was elected to his present position as a republican. He is married and has three sons. He has been engaged in the business of banking and real estate for the past sixteen years. [Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R.] JOHN SWENSON. John Swenson, of Mohall, who is filling the office of states attorney of Renville county, was born in Kansas in April, 1877, a son of Nels and Betty (Anderson) Swenson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. In the year 1865 the father bade adieu to friends and native bind and sailed for the new world, attracted by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning the business opportunities that could be enjoyed on this side of the Atlantic. He made his way to Kansas, where he took up a homestead claim which he developed and improved throughout his remaining days. He died in December, 1902, while his widow survived until May, 1915. They were numbered among the worthy and respected residents of the community in which they long lived. John Swenson spent the period of his early boyhood in Kansas and attended the public schools, but when a lad of only thirteen years he left home and was employed as a farm hand for several years. Since that time he has been dependent entirely upon bis own resources and deserves much credit for the success which he has achieved. In 1901 he arrived in Renville county, North Dakota, and for five years was employed in a store in Mohall. Later he proved up on a homestead and afterward went to Grand Forks, where he became a law student in the State University. He was graduated with the class of June, 1910, and in the fall of the same year was elected states attorney of Renville county, which position he acceptably filled for two years. The succeeding two years were devoted to the private practice of law but in 1914 he was again elected states attorney and is now occupying that position. He is a strong-and forceful lawyer, clear in argument, logical in his deductions. He still owns his homestead property of one hundred and sixty acres and also a tract of equal size adjoining it, and his farming interests arc bringing to him a substantial return. Mr. Swenson has always voted with the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one. He is a Mason of high rank and has become a member of the Mystic Shrine. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft, which is based upon a recognition of the brother-hood of mankind. Whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own efforts, for by persistent energy he has worked his way upward, utilizing every opportunity that has come to hand, and, prompted by a laudable ambition, he has directed his efforts to a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability. History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by BZ HOME ©Genealogy Trails